Early Exit for UIC Soccer
Shootout loss in HL semifinals forces Flames from league tournament
Chris Burrows
Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: Sports
Media Credit: Ashur JosephMidfielder CHARLIE TROUT
A hollow Flames offense brought an early end to their season when the UIC men's soccer team was doused by Cleveland State in the opening round of the 2009 Horizon League Tournament last Tuesday in Ohio. The double overtime match was nothing new for the Flames (6-6-7); their season included nine 2OT ventures with a record high seven ties.
After 110 minutes of play neither side had lit the scoreboard with the fourth-seeded Cleveland State Vikings out shooting the fifth-seeded Flames 7-6. Both teams combined for just five shots on goal with two saves attributed to Cleveland's Brad Stuver and three to senior UIC goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja.
The match went to a penalty kick shootout for the decision and Bubonja chose the Flames' kicker lineup and led off. True to tradition, Bubonja's kick fluttered into the goal but those of Ian Sarachan, Kevin Stoll and Derek Huffman didn't find their mark. Cleveland made three shots and that was enough for the win and the advancement.
Junior forward and future team leader Kevin Stoll contributed the Flames' only two shots on goal in the defensive battle, while the match was Bubonja's last in a UIC kit and marked a record 39 clean-sheet shutouts with the team. The Flames will also be bidding farewell to five other seniors: Ian Sarachan, Zach Tierney, Mike Giffin, Paul Kopec and Charlie Trout.
Cleveland went on to lose to top-seeded Butler in the semis last Friday. Both of the two top seeds, Butler and Green Bay with a 3-1 win over Valparaiso, advanced to the final round of the tournament.
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After 110 minutes of play neither side had lit the scoreboard with the fourth-seeded Cleveland State Vikings out shooting the fifth-seeded Flames 7-6. Both teams combined for just five shots on goal with two saves attributed to Cleveland's Brad Stuver and three to senior UIC goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja.
The match went to a penalty kick shootout for the decision and Bubonja chose the Flames' kicker lineup and led off. True to tradition, Bubonja's kick fluttered into the goal but those of Ian Sarachan, Kevin Stoll and Derek Huffman didn't find their mark. Cleveland made three shots and that was enough for the win and the advancement.
Junior forward and future team leader Kevin Stoll contributed the Flames' only two shots on goal in the defensive battle, while the match was Bubonja's last in a UIC kit and marked a record 39 clean-sheet shutouts with the team. The Flames will also be bidding farewell to five other seniors: Ian Sarachan, Zach Tierney, Mike Giffin, Paul Kopec and Charlie Trout.
Cleveland went on to lose to top-seeded Butler in the semis last Friday. Both of the two top seeds, Butler and Green Bay with a 3-1 win over Valparaiso, advanced to the final round of the tournament.
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