Galesburg, IL – The Midwest Conference has recognized a Prairie Fire women's soccer player for her outstanding effort in the team's season-opening win.

Junior forward Ella Petersen (Wilmette, IL, Lake Forest Academy) scored a career-high four goals and had two assists in a 10-0 Knox win over Robert Morris University on Sunday at Jorge Prats Field.  The 10 points Petersen tallied against the Eagles are the most by a player in the program since the 1999 season, and earned her the first Midwest Conference Offensive Performer of the Week award of the season in women's soccer.

The school record for goals in a game is five, set by Lloy Brodnicki against Illinois College during the 1993 season.  Knox also established the program's record for goals in a match, 11, in the 1993 contest against IC -- won by Knox 11-2.

Petersen and teammate, sophomore forward Madison Dana (Lafayette, CO, New Vista), accounted for eight of the Fire's 10 goals against RMU.  Dana also scored four goals, the first of her career, marking the first time in recent memory that the women's soccer team had two players score four goals in the same match.

Petersen was second on the team with seven goals last season.  Her previous best scoring effort was a three-goal performance – at home against Robert Morris University – on October 8, 2012.

The Midwest Conference release announcing Petersen as the performer of the week is available by clicking here

Petersen and the Prairie Fire go for a second straight victory to begin the new season on September 6 against Finlandia University at the Northland College Tournament in Ashland, Wisconsin.  Knox also plays host Northland on September 7 in the tourney.

The Prairie Fire are back at home on September 13 for a non-conference match against Westminster College (MO) at 4:00 p.m.

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