INDIANOLA, Iowa— The Prairie Fire women's soccer team fell to the Simpson College Storm today, getting shut out 1-0. The defeat drops their record to 5-3-1, as they look to start off strong in their upcoming conference schedule.
 
The Storm got off to a thunderous start, with Cami Schmalz scoring the game's only goal less than a minute into the game. This precipitated an offensive barrage by Simpson, with the Knox defense managing to fend off the intense pressure brought onto them. The Prairie Fire and the Storm then began to settle in and trade shots, with neither team managing to find much penetration. Despite excellent efforts by Michaela Thawley and Olivia Grierson for Knox, the Prairie Fire were unable to mount much of an attack, and as a result they entered the half with the score still in favor of Simpson. 
 
Knox began to turn up the pressure as the second half began, with Thawley again pushing the pace and creating excellent opportunities for herself. Unfortunately, Simpson's keeper Rachel Neumann was up to the task, making several outstanding parries and largely carrying the Storm defense. The Prairie Fire increased the tempo even further, making a frantic effort to try to level the score. Lydia Mitchell and Emma McCormick had opportunities to tie the game up, but could not convert their shots. A toughening opposing defense made good looking shots harder to come by later on, with Knox's offensive output sputtering as the second half itself wound down. Despite a late attempt by McCormick to put forward one last shot, Simpson came out of a competitive half on top. 
 
"We have faced a tough non-conference schedule and definitely held our own," said head coach Taylor Houck. "Now we prepare for the conference season."
 
The Prairie Fire look to win the first game of their conference schedule away at Ripon College this Saturday at 11:00 a.m.