Men's Soccer

Warden's Match-Winner Propels UIC to MVC Semifinals

Flames Earn First MVC Championship Victory, Will Face Missouri State Wednesday

CHICAGO (Nov. 5, 2023) – The third-seeded UIC men's soccer team opened play in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Sunday, as it hosted the number six seed Belmont at Flames Field in a quarterfinal matchup. After a first half that saw the Flames out-shoot the Bruins 7-1 but remain scoreless, UIC tallied the match opening goal on a penalty kick before surrendering an equalizer to the Bruins. The Flames then got the match-winning goal from Sidney Warden to propel them into the next round of the MVC Championship.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS
"I thought our overall performance was solid," commented head coach Sean Phillips postgame. "We faced adversity like we have all season, and our group showed once again that they can handle those situations. We are thrilled to be a part of history for our program, but we know that the job is far from complete."
 
FIRST HALF
  • The Flames wasted no time launching an offensive attack in Sunday's match, as UIC sent seven shots towards the Bruins net in the first 45 minutes.
  • Belmont keeper Grant Calvert made two saves in the first half, as UIC maintained offensive control.
  • UIC held the Bruins to just one shot in the first half, and the two sides entered the locker room in a scoreless draw.
SECOND HALF
  • The mounting UIC attack finally wore the Bruins down in the 51st minute, as Joshua Torres (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) drew a penalty kick in the box after being taken down by Belmont's Alex Johnson. Jesus De Vicente (Casas Bajas, Spain/Iowa Western CC) stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the penalty kick into the bottom right corner of the net, giving UIC a 1-0 lead.
  • Against the run of play, the Bruins earned a free kick from just outside the Flames' 18-yard box in the 56th minute, and a deflected shot from the foot of Jansen Wilson found its way into the Flames' net to draw the match level at 1-1.
  • UIC out-shot the Bruins 8-2 for the next 24 minutes, and the Flames finally got the breakthrough in the 80th minute, as Sidney Warden (London, England/Mercyhurst) found the ball at his feet deep in the Belmont box and slotted his first goal since Sept. 1 to give UIC the 2-1 advantage. Warden's goal would prove to be the match-winner, his third-such goal this year.
With the victory, the Flames advance to the semifinals of the MVC Championship, where they will take on Missouri State on Wednesday in Kalamazoo, Mich. at 10 a.m. CT. Visit the MVC Championship Central for an updated bracket, as well as information regarding tickets and matchup info.