Nov. 28, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Photo Gallery   | Big Ten Network Video Highlights

EVANSTON, Ill. - A stiff wind and a stingy UIC defense prevented Northwestern from getting on the scoreboard as the Flames made the short drive north to hand the Wildcats a 2-0 defeat and end their season in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament Wednesday evening at Lakeside Field.

The loss ended Northwestern's season with a record of 12-5-3, while UIC improves to 12-5-6 and advances to a round of 16 matchup at eighth-seeded Creighton on Sunday.

"I want to congratulate UIC," Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. "They played well and prevented us from doing what we wanted to do.

"The game was played the way they wanted to play it. They set the tempo."

Heavy winds prevented either team from mounting a serious challenge in the first half as the Flames had three shots compared to one for NU.

The Wildcats appeared as though they were going to take the lead in the 49th minute as Matt Eliason played a beautiful through ball ahead to fellow freshman Piero Bellizzi. UIC keeper Jovan Bubonja misplayed the ball and Bellizzi appeared to have a wide open net, but defender Pat McMahon raced in to rob the Wildcats by wiping the ball off the goalline.

The Flames finally cashed in at 71:43 with the go-ahead score. Following a corner kick, Kevin Stoll was able to head home a goal past NU keeper Misha Rosenthal on the back post. Charlie Trout and Robert Younger were credited with assists on the play.

Northwestern pressured to try to get the tying goal and its best chance came with eight minutes remaining when Mark Blades played a cross into the box but his header went just above the crossbar.

The Wildcats continued to press forward but was unable to get the tying goal and Ian Sarachan iced the match for UIC when he raced in with an empty-net breakaway goal with just eight seconds remaining.

UIC finished with a slim 9-8 edge in shots on goal and had a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The match concluded the career of Wildcat seniors Will Briley Clark Kiesling, Mark Patterson, David Roth and Matt Witt who went down as the winningest class in school history.

"This is a special group to me," Lenahan said of the seniors. "They were a pleasure to coach from Day One."