ROCHESTER, Mich. - After a two-game road stint to start the season, the Golden Grizzlies return home to play their first match at the Oakland Soccer Field, where they will face UIC.

The Golden Grizzlies are looking to bounce back after a 5-0 loss to the Badgers on Aug. 23, aiming to replicate their season-opening performance when they played Marquette to a 2-2 draw on Aug. 20. Against the Golden Eagles, Oakland capitalized on its offensive chances and applied consistent pressure, especially in the second half.

Oakland will host the Flames, an old Horizon League foe that now competes in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). UIC is also 0-1-1 entering its match with Oakland after falling 1-0 to Tulsa on Aug. 20 and playing Oral Roberts to a 1-1 draw on Aug. 23. The Flames will be playing their third of four consecutive road contests to start the season.

UIC had a successful 2025 season, going 10-3-5. Despite winning just two conference games (2-1-4), the Flames advanced to the MVC Tournament semifinals, where they fell 4-1 to Evansville.

While losing 2025 MVC Player and Forward of the Year Edouard Nys, the Flames do return midfielder Darrell Turcios, who scored five goals and recorded four assists last season.
Oakland has beaten UIC just twice in 12 all-time matchups, but both wins came in Rochester, with the most recent Oakland victory coming in 2021. The teams last played in 2024, when the Flames earned a 1-0 win in Rochester.

The teams will face off in a sure-to-be entertaining match to close out Oakland's soccer doubleheader on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 6 p.m.