DES MOINES, Iowa - Surrendering three second-half goals, the Drake men's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision versus UIC (Illinois at Chicago) on Saturday (Oct. 13) at the Cownie Soccer Complex. 

The Bulldogs (4-8-3) saw their four-game unbeaten streak snapped by the Flames (6-5-2) in the third-annual Ralph Gross Alumni Classic.  The contest also served as Drake's fourth-annual "Greenest Game on Grass."

The Bulldogs came out of the gates with a strong start in the tilt but struggled to get shots off against a pesky UIC squad.

Neither side was able to garner a goal in the opening 45 minutes, with the Flames owning a 7-1 advantage in shots during the initial stanza.

Zach Kaleta broke the stalemate connecting on his second goal of the year at the 46:20 mark to give UIC a 1-0 lead.  The tally was set-up by an assist from Jorge Alvarez.

Junior Addison Eck (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin) drew a foul in the box for Drake in the 52nd minute (51:45) that resulted in a penalty kick. 

Senior Michael Thaden (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) stepped forward and nailed the kick to square the game at one on the strength of his team-leading fifth goal of the year.

The Flames regained the lead, 2-1, at the 74:43 mark, when Slobodan Aleksov registered the game-winning goal, his third of the year.

UIC tacked on an insurance tally in the 85th minute (84:58) on Ivan Stanisavljevic's goal.  Jesus Torres earned the assist on the score.

The Flames posted an 18-8 advantage in shots in the affair, led by a game-high six shots from Stanisavljevic.  Sophomore Thomas Schermoly (Olathe, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) paced the Drake attack with a team-high two shots.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Rich Gallagher (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest Academy) pulled in eight saves for the Bulldogs, while his counterpart for the Flames, Piotr Kikolski, netted two stops.

Drake returns to action on Wednesday (Oct. 17) with a key Missouri Valley Conference showdown at Bradley.  Game time versus the Braves is set for 6:00 p.m.