Illinois-Chicago was in over its head against the NIU soccer team Wednesday night at Huskie Soccer Field.

NIU dished out a 5-0 beating to the inexperienced Flames, as the Huskies got their first win over a Mid-Continent Conference foe. NIU boosted its record to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-Continent. The Flames dropped to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

The Huskies’ coach Willy Roy said he felt for first-year UIC coach Sasha Begovic, but Roy wasn’t happy until junior forward Mark Siegwald chipped in a shot past Flame goalie Kurt Melcher for the fifth goal. Willy Roy, Jr. provided one of his four assists on the play with a long crossing pass from the left side.

“I feel for (Begovic) a little bit. I was in the same situation when I first started (at NIU), and I know what he’s going through,” Roy, Sr. said. “But, I wasn’t happy until we got our fifth goal. It really showed the difference between the two teams.”

The UIC bus was held up in the busy Chicago traffic and arrived 15 minutes late for the game. UIC might have preferred the busy Chicago bypass rather than NIU’s mosquito field.

“(NIU) is just a better team at the moment. I just came in last year and I didn’t get a chance to recruit. (NIU) has good coaching, good players, good recruiting and a deep bench, they can substitute any time they want to, and that’s everything a good school needs,” Begovic said.

NIU dominated with 20 shots on goal while allowing two. The Huskies also had an aggressive 31 fouls. “Everyone played a little loose, we knew we shouldn’t have too much trouble with UIC and it was a good break for us,” junior Frank Sparacino said.

Sophomore forward Todd Moore started the NIU scoring with 25:52 left in the first half. Roy, Jr. headed a centering pass from Sparacino towards Moore who chipped in a short 9-yarder from the left side.

The second goal came just 56 seconds after the first. NIU goalie Markus Roy punted the ball and Roy Jr. headed a pass that led Dave Weichman right to the goal. Weichman dribbled and slipped the net-finding shot to the left side.

Forward Per Ekholdt provided the third goal with assists from Chris Schneider who provided the centering pass and Sparacino who guided the ball towards Ekholdt.

Senior Jerry Pruzynski hit the fourth goal with yet another assist from Roy Jr.

“Overall, I was happy with my performance, but I screwed up a couple times. I should have had a couple goals. We’re capable of playing a lot, lot better which showed in the game up in Madison. We just have to be mentally prepared and live for the sport which is what everyone’s trying to do. We have a short season and we’ve got to give it everything we’ve got for two months,” Roy Jr. said.