GALESBURG, Illinois - The Knox Prairie Fire men's soccer team defeated the Simpson College Storm this Saturday at Jorge Prats Field, needing just a single goal to claim victory. With the win, their second shutout in a row, their record now sits at 3-4.

The opening minutes of the first half set the tone for the rest of the game, as it was clear from the beginning that neither team had a decided advantage in any facet of the game. Both Knox and Simpson traded shots on goal, but neither team looked very threatening on the offensive end. The Prairie Fire outshot the Storm 5-3 total in the first half, and an Adrian Segura strike in the 41st minute nearly found its way through to goal. Despite these promising signs at the end of the half, neither team made an impact on the scoreline as the halftime whistle blew.

The second half saw an increase in offensive efficiency from both teams, as Simpson began hammering the Prairie Fire goal with shot after shot. Fortunately, Nicholas Lantzendorffer made several fantastic saves and proved to be a steadying force for Knox at a shaky point in the game. With his commanding presence in front of the net, the Prairie Fire began to turn the tide, sending several impressive shots of their own at Simpson. As the half was winding down and a draw seemed like the likely outcome, Joey Dorgan, Jr. scored in the 83rd minute, sending the fans into a frenzy and giving Knox a late lead. The Prairie Fire managed to hold on and secure the win, capping off a captivating match.

"That was a good win in a very open game," said head coach Brian O'Connor. "We need to clean up our play in the final third and find our finishing touch. But in the end, a good win against a very good Simpson team and it is nice to be on the front foot going into conference."

Kox will attempt to win their third game in a row when they host Grinnell College this Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.