Box Scores

Knox College won its season opener for the first time in six years with a 3-2 non-conference victory at home against Eureka College.

Sophomore Erin Majewski (Tinley Park, Illinois) found the net 34:30 into the contest to put the Prairie Fire on the board first.  Junior Emma Swanson (West Des Moines, Iowa) assisted on the score. 

Eureka's Kesli Blankenship responded with an unassisted goal at the 61:38 mark to pull even with the hosts at 1 apiece.  Knox answered back less than six minutes later when junior Laura Johnson (Sharpsburg, Maryland) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on Swanson's second assist of the match for a 2-1 lead.

Swanson joined in with her first goal of the season, an unassisted tally, in the 80th minute of play to put Knox up 3-1.  Kate McLaughlin capped off the Red Devils' scoring in the game with a goal at the 85:33 mark to account for the final margin.

Knox outshot Eureka 26 to 12.  First-year goal keeper Rachael Koene (Golden Valley, Minnesota) recorded six saves in her Prairie Fire debut.

Knox head coach Nikki Ayers says it was nice to start the season with a win.  "We played really well when we controlled the game.  The season looks promising from here."

The season-opening victory for the Prairie Fire women's soccer team is the program's first since 2004, when Knox blanked Lincoln Christian 9-0.

Ayers says the team has to shore up a few things the next time out.  "We need to finish our opportunities."

Up next for the Prairie Fire is the Midwest Conference opener against Lake Forest College.  The match is Saturday at home at 1:00 p.m.