SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

CHICAGO, Ill. - Ivan Stanisavljevic's golden goal in the 110th minute (109:42) lifted UIC (Illinois at Chicago) to a 3-2 double-overtime victory past Drake in men's soccer action on Sunday (Sept. 18) at the UIC Soccer Classic.

The physical contest featured seven cards being issued, including a red card handed down to each side.

"Obviously to lose with 18 seconds left in double overtime is a little gut-wrenching," Drake head coach Sean Holmes commented.  "You can't give up six goals in a week and expect to get positive results."

"Today we were very good for long periods of time, but ultimately that is meaningless if you don't protect our goal better than we did.  Rich (Gallagher) in only his third start this season was again solid, but we didn't do as good a job as we needed to do protecting him."

The Flames got the scoring started in the affair as Stanisavljevic found the back of the net at the 5:55 mark. 

The advantage held until senior Matt Kuhn (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) delivered his third goal of the season in the 41st minute (40:34), beating UIC goalkeeper Piotr Kikolski near post from midway through the 18-yard box.

The lead was short-lived as Stanisavljevic added his second tally of the afternoon at the 42:55 mark on a penalty kick.

After the Flames were whistled for a foul in the box less than a minute later, Kuhn again stepped up in the 44th minute (43:43), connecting on a penalty kick for this team-leading fourth goal of the year.

"Matt (Kuhn) was at the heart of our better moments and his two goals were a good reward for his efforts," said Holmes.

The Bulldogs outshot UIC in the initial stanza, 11-7, including 6-4 on goal.

The second half was distinctly in favor of the Flames as UIC outshot Drake, 13-3.  The final 45 minutes of regulation featured four cards being issued, including a red card to the Bulldogs in the 81st minute (80:37).

"The red card that we got was ultimately our undoing, but it was evened up late in overtime," Holmes explained.  "We still expended a tremendous amount of energy playing down a guy in torrential rain on the road."

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Rich Gallagher (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest Academy) pulled in a game- and career-best nine saves in the affair, while Kikolski recorded six stops.

The Flames won the battle of shots, 27-16, including 7-2 in overtime.

Kuhn and fellow seniors Charles Schwartz (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf), Hunter Kennedy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) and Michael Noonan (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) registered four, four, three and two shots, respectively, for Drake. Stanisavljevic posted a game-high nine shots for the Flames, including all three goals.

"What is somewhat frustrating after playing six of our first eight games away from home is that our forward line has accounted for so few goals," stated Holmes.  "Though they have worked hard, ultimately, we need more production from our guys up front."

While pleased with some of the Bulldogs' efforts off the bench, Holmes lamented on a lost opportunity this weekend.

"On the second game of the weekend, we had some good efforts off the bench, but at the end of the day we should have done better than two losses this weekend. Playing some very good teams thus far we have found something out about ourselves and no team, no matter how good they are can afford to get red cards on the road and expect anything better than we got."

Kuhn and Schwartz were both named to the all-tournament team at the UIC Soccer Classic.

The Bulldogs return this week for the start of a four-game homestand beginning on Wednesday (Sept. 21) versus DePaul.  Game time at the Cownie Soccer Complex is set for 7:00 p.m.

"I think everyone we've lost to this year will find themselves in the NCAA Tournament and these are the type games we want to play," Holmes commented.