UIC ousts Saint Louis in first round NCAA men's soccer tournament
Nov. 23, 2007
UIC 0, #12/11 Saint Louis 0 (UIC 6-5 in PKs) Box ScoreSt. Louis, Mo. - Freshman Matt Spiess made a triumphant return to his hometown Friday, converting a penalty kick in a shootout to push visiting UIC into the second round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. The Flames (11-5-6) ousted host Saint Louis (12-2-5) 6-5 in PKs after the teams played to a scoreless draw at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
Spiess, an adidas High School All-America selection while attending Chaminade Prep in St. Louis, beat Billiken netminder Pat Disbennett in the eighth round of the shootout after UIC goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja stopped Brandon Gasparovic. It was Bubonja's third save in the shootout. His two earlier saves helped give UIC a 3-1 advantage after three rounds. Bubonja also had the first of those three tallies, with Baggio Husidic and Cesar Zambrano also hitting the net. But SLU responded with two conversions and Disbennett rejected attempts by Charlie Trout and Pavle Dundjer, setting up sudden-victory rounds.Brian Grazier put the Billikens ahead 4-3, only to see Mike Giffin answe for the Flames. Eric Sweetin and UIC's Brandon Bilbrey each were successful in round seven, setting up Bubonja and Spiess' heroics.
Perhaps PKs was the most appropriate result for the teams, who battled through 110 minutes on even terms, according to the stat sheet. Each team had eight shots and three saves. Two of UIC's attempts came in the final 30 seconds of the second overtime stanza as Giffin's shot was blocked and Robert Younger sent the rebound over the crossbar.
The Flames held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks, with the Billikens called for 14 of the match's 27 fouls.
UIC was the only visiting team to advance among Friday's seven first-round contests. Another nine opening-round matches are scheduled for Saturday.
The Flames extended the Horizon League's run of success in recent history, as the League has now had a team advance to the second round in each of the last six national tournaments. Milwaukee won first-round matches for four consecutive years (2002-05) before UIC ousted Western Illinois in the opening round last fall.
Friday's match marked the tenth time in 22 matches this season that UIC has gone past 90 minutes. The Flames are now 4-0-6 in overtime in 2007.
UIC moves on to face ninth seed Northwestern on Wednesday night at Lakeside Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Central time / 8 p.m. Eastern).
