UIC score its three first-half goals in a 20-minute span. Dennis King put in his sixth of the season at the 13:47 mark, Sinisa Ubiparipovic netted the eventual game-winner and Roberto Gallo rounded out the first half scoring.
NU controlled much of the second half. Brian Heckenbach (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) filled in for starting goalkeeper J.D. Martin (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) in the second half and pitched a shutout. Heckenbach picked up three saves.
Lesch headed home a cross from Steve Jedlinski (Palatine, Ill./ Fremd) in the 79th minute. Jedlinski, who has two assists this season and 10 in his career, is ninth on Northwestern's all-time assists list.
With the loss, Northwestern fell to 5-8 on the season, and Illinois-Chicago improved to 6-6-2. The Wildcats return to action at 3 p.m. Sunday against IPFW at Lakeside Field.