Soccer still undefeated

In the end, the stats from Friday night shouldn't surprise anyone. Baggio Husidic and Charlie Trout scored their fifth and fourth goals of the season, respectively. Jovan Bubonja recorded a clean sheet. 1,010 fans filled Flames Field on Red Out night. #11 UIC soccer (5-0-1) defeated Princeton (1-3-0) and stayed undefeated.

The way the Flames arrived at their fifth victory in six games was not as simple, but as the maxim goes, a win is a win is a win.

"It was a tough one," said Bubonja. "In the first half they had a couple of good shots. The second half we cleaned it up pretty well though."

The fourth-year goalkeeper had to make four big saves, none of them easy, to preserve the shutout. It was a night where the Flames weren't at their best, but Husidic and Trout found a way to win up top with Bubonja, a preseason All-American, keeping a lid on the goal.

"Princeton is a pretty good team," said UIC head coach John Trask. "We didn't play well, there's no question about it. Maybe we have a special team where when you don't play well, you still win games."

The Flames struggled organizationally on defense and in the midfield, allowing Princeton a few open looks at Bubonja in the first half.

"They were very close a number of times I thought," said Trask. "Whether they were going to get a foul in the box or around the edge, get a deflection and knock it by. They had numbers going forward a number of times."

All four of Bubonja's saves came in the opening period, as the nationally recognized goalkeeper had to work hard for the first time in a great while.

"I was kidding the team after the game, 'I had forgotten why we pay him so much,'" joked Trask, about Bubonja. "He hasn't been doing much the last few games and he was probably getting bored back there. He's a very special goalkeeper. It's a high level he plays at, and it always has been. That's why he's a preseason All-American."

It took the teams 39 minutes to open the scoring, though each team had chances early.

Immediately following a questionable Princeton tackle of Husidic inside the penalty area, the Flames earned a corner kick. Trout delivered a well-placed ball to the head of Husidic, who clobbered the ball past two Tigers and into the back of the net.

"The corner kick goal by Baggio was crucial," said Trask. "I would not have wanted to start the second half 0-0."

UIC waited another 40 minutes to seal the victory with their second goal. Baggio's older brother Alen willed his way through multiple Princeton defenders, delivering a pass to a wide open Trout in the center of the box. The UIC captain steadied the ball and put it out of reach for Princeton keeper Sean Lynch and into the back of the net.

"Charlie and Baggio are on this year and I'm enjoying it," said Bubonja. "After the Michigan game where we won 4-1, I told them that it's a pleasure for my eyes. I just go out there and watch with a jersey on."

"5-0-1 is a pretty good record that not many schools can say they have. We had a packed house tonight. I wish we could have this every other night. If we keep winning, they might need to rent some more bleachers out."