The University of Illinois-Chicago’s Dennis King scored a pair of goals, leading the Flames to their seventh consecutive win over the NIU men’s soccer team Wednesday in Chicago.

King outshot NIU by himself in the first half en route to a 4-0 win over the Huskies (2-8-2).

UIC pulled ahead 2-0 heading into halftime, with King’s goals coming at 33:54 and 21:04.

“They were quicker and sharper in the first half,” NIU coach Steve Simmons said. “But even down 2-0, I felt we had a chance to get back into the match if we could get that first goal.”

Even though NIU outshot the Flames 10-6 in the second half, it never found that first goal Simmons was looking for.

UIC switched goalkeepers at halftime, subbing in Roman Tulis for Ross Cain. The two combined for five saves – the same number of saves NIU freshman Matt Corcoran tallied for the game.

The Huskies attempted to crank up the offense in the second half. Leading the way was freshman Mike Corvo, who had four shots on goal.

However, it was UIC that knocked in two insurance goals within the last 10 minutes of regulation to shut out the Huskies.

NIU’s leading goal scorers, Tony Deldin and Matt Stukenberg, did not start the game. Stukenberg said the Huskies had chances to score in the second half; they just didn’t convert.

“They were a pretty solid team,” Stukenberg said. “It’s hard to keep our defensive integrity when we don’t score goals.”

This marked the fifth time in a row NIU has been shut out by UIC, and the fifth game the Huskies have gone scoreless this season.

“We had our chances in the second half with a couple of point-blank opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage,” Simmons said. “We didn’t punish them for their sloppiness in the second half like we should have.”