Women's Soccer Jami Sponaugle

UIC Scores Back-to-Back Goals, Defeats Indiana State in MVC Quarterfinals

Flames defeat Sycamores 2-1, advance to MVC Semifinals

Terre Haute, Ind. – Securing the No. 6 seed, the UIC women's soccer team traveled south to take on the No. 3 seed Indiana State Sycamores in the opening round, quarterfinal match of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Women's Soccer Championship. The Flames (8-7-4, 3-3-3 MVC) and Sycamores (8-6-6, 4-2-3, MVC) battled to a nil, nil draw in the first half. With 45 minutes down and 45 to go, all the action came in the second half. The Sycamores opened the scoring in the 54th minute, but it would be the Flames that came out on top. 10 minutes after the Sycamores scored, the Flames tied the contest. Then, just two minutes later, the Flames scored the game-winning goal as they went on to defeat No. 3 Sycamores 2-1 to advance to the MVC semifinals. 
 
Underway at Memorial Stadium, the Flames and Sycamores kicked off the MVC semifinal match. Through the first 45 minutes of action, the Flames found themselves on the defensive end. UIC would face seven shots from Indiana State, while the Flames only recorded one. Sophia Jaime picked up the Flames' lone shot of the contest in the 17th minute but hit it off the woodwork. In the 20th minute of the contest, Emmy Higgins came up with a goal-line save to keep the score even at 0-0. Just before halftime, Francesca Faraci recorded her only save of the contest, sending the Flames and Sycamores into the locker room tied nil-nil. 
 
Coming out of halftime, the Sycamores capitalized on their first opportunity, scoring in the 54th minute to take a 1-0 lead. With everything on the line, the Flames responded with all they had. 10 minutes after the Sycamores' goal, the Flames tied the contest when Katelyn Nardulli found the back of the net. Picking up a header clearance, Hannah Gryzik took control of the ball before passing it forward to Nardulli. Receiving the ball 21 yards out, with her back turned towards goal, Nardulli took a settling touch before turning and shooting a right-footed shot towards goal. Splitting the Sycamore defenders, Nardulli's shot sailed right past the Sycamore diving goalkeeper and into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1 in the 64th minute. Two minutes later, Gryzik scored the game-winner. Earning a corner kick, Kaysey Castro sent a high cross into the far corner of the 6-yard box. Jumping over her defender, Gryzik headed the cross down and into the center of the goal, giving the Flames a 2-1 lead. The Sycamores would up the pressure for the remainder of the half, but the Flames remained strong. In the final seconds of the match, the home team received a free kick nearly 30 yards out. The kick would be sent into the 18-yard box, where a Sycamore player deflected the ball towards the goal. As the ball sailed towards the goal, Sara Sanabria would make a jumping save, push the ball off the crossbar, and out of the goal, ultimately securing the Flames' 2-1 victory and advancing the team to the MVC Semifinals. 


UP NEXT
With the win, the Flames will return to action on Thursday when they travel south to take on the No. 2 seed Murray State Racers. The game will kick off at 1:00 p.m. CT in Murray, Ky., on Cutchin Field.