We're in the HL Finals!!

[soccer fan]

UIC plays a crappy game and plays even with Milwaukee for most of the night, but in the first overtime scores the game-winner off a corner kick.

Thrilling finish to a boring game, but who cares, we're in the finals. One more victory and we're in the NCAA tourney!!

Go Flames!!!!!

[Pep]

Who scored for UIC?

[soccer fan]

I think it was Stoll.

If I'm wrong, forgive me, but there was no replay and the stream was really bad.

Anyway, I'm glad its over AND WE'RE ONE GAME AWAY FROM THE NCAA TOURNAMENT!

go. flames.

[FuryJP]

I had great time at the game, and I think we had a pretty good turnout for the semi-final. Hopefully the free bus trip on Sunday will spark some interest. But i already know some who aren't going cuz of the Bears game. Psht!

[FuryJP]

ps......the almost ONLY UW-Milwaukee fan that was at the game (who we shut up pretty much for the entire game) said "We'll see you for Basketball when we beat you by 50" and "Jimmy Collins is a douche bag" and "Ooooh Othyus!" Well, something along those lines at least.

[panther alum 14]

I know that UWM fan. That's Jim Lemke, the sports editor at the school paper. He's a good guy, believe me. He was pretty frustrated because he's friends with a bunch of the seniors on our team, and no one at UWM likes to see us end the season in the conference tournament when we were accustomed to advancing in the NCAA tournament. I'm sure you all understand that.

Talked to him on the phone as we were on our way back from Chicago (separate cars, and we didn't sit with each other at the game). He said he struggled with the flu and he started losing his voice 10 minutes into the game, but I don't think things would have been much different if he were 100% healthy - it's hard for one guy to be heard over 50 (even with a booming voice like his...it's unnatural).

The other three guys he was with were all saying stuff to you guys, it wasn't just him. But some of the things I heard from UIC fans on our way out, I definitely didn't want my daughter to hear (luckily we were far behind most of the yelling, but familiarity allows me to know who was yelling for us). Both sides were immature after the game, but I haven't heard that kind of personally disgusting taunts from an opposing team like I did from UIC students tonight. I'm not saying that Lemke and his friends were in the right, but they were definitely provoked by some UIC students that were saying some pretty disturbing things.

We all need to take a step back and think about the things we say. I'm not saying don't razz people, but s@#!, that was a college soccer game. UIC and UWM students (and some older UIC fans as well) should recognize that people bring their young kids to games and they can be a lot better fans than they were tonight. I don't like sounding like some kind of pansy, but both Lemke and his boys and the UIC fans at the game were out of line and they need to recognize that for future games (Jim will definitely be at the basketball game in Chicago, he told me as much tonight). I'll say to UIC fans the same I said to Jim Lemke: if you want to go low like you did tonight, remember that you represent your institution. He was kind of taken aback at that and I think he put it into perspective, because he loves UWM. And I know UIC has some of the most loyal fans in the Horizon League, so you can understand where I'm coming from when I say that.

I was in the stands for the game. No one will argue that UWM is the better team, but they played higher than their level because it is the two best programs in the conference and it is the big soccer rivalry, even though UWM is on an off year. UIC got it right when it mattered, and they missed a few opportunities to score. All in all, UIC had more chances than UWM, but neither team could capitalize in regulation. The better team won tonight, I can admit that.

Congratulations to you guys, it should be a great game on Sunday. Let's just remember that we represent our schools, so be classy.

[soccer fan]

I second the sentiment. Razzing, booing, and clowning around are fine and make for a more entertaining time at the game. Four-letter words are not.

But keep this in mind: this isn't "just a college game". This is UIC soccer. And since soccer is THE sport to the students at UIC, this is THE season. When you add to the mix the UIC-UWM rivalry, a cold night, and a few liquid warmer-uppers, you've got a potentially volatile situation.

If there were no fistfights, car windows smashed or tires slit, I'd call it a sucessful evening, and with all due respect to Mr Lemke, anybody who would mix it up with a hostile crowd of drunk Chicago boys should be grateful they got home with their virginity entact. I am not saying it is right, but I am saying that if I go to a game at Milwaukee, you'd better believe I'm going to keep a low profile.

I hope you realize by now that the whole UIC-UWM thing just Bears-Packers lite, so don't take it personally. There is no rhyme, reason, or logic behind the rivalry, nor is there anything classy or cool about it, either. Its the city rats vs the cheeseheads, plain and simple, 0% logic, 100% emotion, and a fact of life in this part of the world.

Finally, best of luck to the Panther's soccer program. This season started out looking like a train wreck, and I was extremely impressed by the way they turned it around. I know they'll be back on their feet next season, and UIC will have to play them in Milwaukee.

[uic53]

Congratulations Flames! Please beat Green Bay and get back to the tourney! I believe you have some unfinished business in the tourney! Good luck!

[FuryJP]

*FREE FAN BUS leaving from the FAC at 11:45am tomorrow*

Come with us!

[Big D]

Congrats to UIC for making the finals....hopefully they can pull through for one more win....

Further congrats for knocking off UWM, a team that I enjoy smacking around regardless of sport. I figure we better get them now anyway, because come basketball time, we're probably in trouble....

How 'bout that GK of the year....should've been Bubonja....they guy they gave it to gave up 2 goals in the loss against WSU in the first round....boo!

[guest]

furyjp said:

*FREE FAN BUS leaving from the FAC at 11:45am tomorrow*

Come with us!

I got an email from the AD, and apparently the fan bus is open to the public.

So all you fence-sitters can get off the fence, wander down to the FAC by noon, and get a free ride to Loyola!

[Black Panther]

Hey, this is Jimmy Lemke. I was a little surprised to come on here and see my name on the UIC board.

Yeah, we were stupid. But soccer fan said it best. In this rivalry, it is 0% logic and 100% emotion. Perfect description.

We all said some pretty dumb stuff on Friday night, I think we can all say that. We, the Panther fans, were responding to the stuff that the UIC students were saying on their way out. To be honest, we were just standing around talking about the season. When the students came walking by, we offered congratulations just to hear the same crap we always hear, and some pretty terrible stuff on top of it.

Seriously, if I hear from one more UIC student that he hopes my kids are born retarded and have to be in a wheelchair for their entire lives, I'm going to go off.

I'm still shaking off the effects of strep throat, not the flu. Thought it was the flu until my doctor said I had strep throat, and I most definitely shouldn't have made a trip to Chicago. Haha, oh well. Good news is it's pretty much gone, but that's why I was absolutely pitiful on Friday night. Usually I'm much louder, and it's a let down when I can't be loud. I'll make sure I'm well rested when we come down for the UIC-UWM bball game

BTW, I said "Wait til we beat you in men's basketball by 15." I didn't say 50, that wouldn't exactly make sense, ya know? I called Jimmy Collins a douchebag, but I've got some basis for that. When I was a freshman and you guys came to the Cell and beat us (a big win for your program, even if we didn't have Tigert), I was writing that game for the Post. So I waited in the corridor before the press conference, and down the hall comes Collins and a couple players. And he's b!tchING about the REFEREEING. He just came in, beat an NCAA round of 32 team, and he's b!tching about the refereeing. "Aww, man, we should have got this call and this call blah blah blah." But in the press conference, he didn't mention it once, even when asked by a reporter, not me. That's why I don't have a very high opinion of Collins.

Looking back, we should have probably toned it down a bit. But I expect you guys to continue to "razz" us and we'll continue to "razz" you. I like committing to a real rivalry like this.

[spike1057]

Wow I have not seen this much trash between UWM and UIC in a few years. Nice to see to say the least. Jimmy those comments made about your future kids are horrible and I hope these fans feel stupid for the things they said. No one should wish these things upon anyone.

Again its nice to see a UIC team play well. Great to see the rivalry heat up.

[FuryJP]

Long story short.....UIC defeats UW-Milwaukee once again. And now we're HL champs.

[soccer fan]

spike1057 said:

Wow I have not seen this much trash between UWM and UIC in a few years.

That's because there hasn't been a game between these schools that had any major ramifications for quite a while. We knocked them out of the HL basketball tourney last season, but since both UIC and UWM were having down years, it was not a big deal.

Friday's game was a different thing altogether, #2 and #3 seeds meeting in a quarter final match, both serious contenders for the conference title with the loser's season over. Perfect for jump-starting a rivalry, and the Fury delivered.