For only the third time ever and the very first time in Chicago, BGSU men’s soccer (8-1-1, 3-0 in MVC) faces the UIC Flames (5-4, 1-1) in MVC in their fourth Midwestern Valley Conference (MVC) matchup of the season.
Matchup History
The Falcons have only faced off against the Flames twice in their history, and BG has a 2-0 record against their new MVC rivals.
Despite the two victories—a 6-1 win on 9/14/1991 and a 3-1 victory on Oct. 18 last year.
The Falcons have never played at UIC’s home field, with this match being the Orange and Brown’s first away game against the Flames.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green is on an absolute roll heading into their Saturday matchup against the Flames. The Falcons have won three games in a row and have not lost a game since Sept. 2 after a 0-2 loss to Michigan.
The dynamic duo of the season, junior forward Trace Terry and sophomore forward Bennett Painter, have now combined for 15 of the Orange and Brown’s 22 goals through 10 games.
The Falcons are currently in first place in the MVC with an 8-1-1 record for the season. Just behind them is Missouri State, with a record of 6-2-1 with a 2-0-1 record against The Valley.
UIC
The Flames enter the matchup with the Falcons with a 4-1 record in their last five games, coming off a 4-2 win over Northern Illinois in Dekalb.
The team is led by junior midfielder Rui Reis, who has 12 points in 10 games with four goals and four assists on the season.
Behind Reis is redshirt senior forward Bart Muns, who is second on the team in goals with three on the year.
With 18 goals in the season, UIC is looking for their first win against the Falcons at home.
Falcon Four players to watch
Goalkeeper – #33, Brendan Graves, Bowling Green
Graves has been one of the most consistent pieces of the Falcons team this season. The fifth-year goalkeeper has already won the MVC Defensive Player of the Week award earlier this season and did not allow a goal in the last two games against Eastern Illinois and Belmont, coming away with seven total saves in both games.
Forward – #21 Trace Terry, Bowling Green
The leader in total goals this season for the Falcons, Trace Terry, has scored five goals in the past three games in the Orange and Brown’s three-game winning streak.
Midfielder – #7, Rui Reis, UIC
A shifty midfielder with a knack for scoring, Reis is the leader of the Flames in goals, with four in the season and 12 points.
Defender – #3, Jesus De Vicente, UIC
De Vicente is coming off a stretch of the last two games with one goal and one assist. Vicente is second on the team in assists, with three on the season.
