Decatur, IL – A late goal was the difference as Millikin University defeated the Prairie Fire 2-1 in a non-conference match on Wednesday.

The win by the Big Blue (4-9) ended a stretch of five straight losses.  Knox (5-5-2) continues to seek its first win since a 7-1 victory at home against Eureka College on September 26.

Millikin struck first at the 4:21 mark of the match and took a 1-0 lead into the break. 

Both teams got off five shots in the first half of the contest.  Three of the Prairie Fire’s shots were on target but were stopped by MU goalie Daniel Sinclair, who finished with seven saves.

Knox tied the match at 1-1 on a goal by first-year Nathaniel Logie (Trinidad and Tobago, Queens Royal College), his second of the season, at 84:42.  Sophomore Jacob Polay (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) and junior Max Gatyas (Plymouth, WI, Plymouth ) each received credit for an assist on the score.

The Big Blue, however, took the momentum back just 35 seconds later.  A shot by Austin Swift 85:17 into the match found the back of the net and gave the hosts a 2-1 lead they’d never relinquish.

The Prairie Fire outshot Millikin 17-9 overall, including 12-4 after the intermission.  Eight of the Prairie Fire’s shots were on goal while the Big Blue lined up five shots at Knox first-year goal keeper Sean McGovern (Chicago, IL, Niles Notre Dame).

Knox will try again on October 13 at Lake Forest College for its sixth win of the season, which would be the most for the men’s soccer team since the 1999 squad won seven matches.  That was the same year the Prairie Fire last defeated LFC (2-1 in OT).

Opponents have found beating the Foresters tough to do.  Lake Forest (10-2-1, 6-1-0 MWC) has a slim lead in the Midwest Conference over second place Carroll University (7-6, 5-1 MWC).  The Foresters have won four straight matches and are 7-0 at home this season.

Lake Forest lost its first match of the season at Aurora University 3-2 in overtime on August 31 before going seven matches without a loss -- six wins and a tie.  Knox also played at Aurora this season and lost 3-1 on September 11. 

The only MWC team to beat the Foresters so far is Beloit College (9-3, 4-2 MWC), which posted a 2-1 win at home on September 25.

The Prairie Fire and Lake Forest play at 3:30 p.m.  The match will be streamed live on the Web at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/lfc.portal# beginning at 3:20 p.m.

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