Franklin College, coming off of one of its most successful seasons in school history, continued its solid play Friday night with a 7-0 win in its home opener against the Prairie Fire.

Knox (0-1) playing its season-opening match, fired 10 shots -- but only three were on goal.  The Grizzlies, after posting eight victories a year ago and qualifying for its conference tournament for the first time in nearly two decades, outshot Knox 18-10.  Thirteen of Franklin's 18 shots were on goal.

The hosts scored first at the 4:30 mark of the match when Craig Wood dropped in the first of his three goals.  He scored again at 15:03 and 30:26.  Joel Fisher's unassisted tally at 7:53 score gave Franklin (1-1) a 2-0 lead.  Kaleb Sullin made it a 5-0 lead at the intermission when he found the back of the net at 31:11.

Ray Pena completed the scoring for the Grizzlies with a pair of goals in the second half (73:57, 75:53).

Junior Donald Tchopya (San Francisco, California) led the Fire with four shots, two of which were on goal.  Lucas Hill and Brad Phillips teamed up in goal to shut out the Prairie Fire.  The two goalies combined for three saves. 

Sophomore goalie Franz Huebner (Heredia, Costa Rica) stopped six shots in his Knox College debut.

The Prairie Fire plays its home opener September 5 against MacMurray College.  Knox defeated the Highlanders 3-0 last year in Jacksonville, Illinois. 

The match against MacMurray at Jorge Prats Field is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.