Kestervens Dera
Knox College
Sophomore Kestervens Dera has scored seven goals in the last three games.
2
Lawrence LAW (2-9-4, 1-3-2)
3
Winner Knox KNOX (7-7-2, 4-2-1)
Lawrence LAW
(2-9-4, 1-3-2)
2
Final
3
Knox KNOX
(7-7-2, 4-2-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Lawrence LAW 0 2 2
Knox KNOX 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Another Dera Hat Trick All Knox Needs to Beat Lawrence

Kestervens Dera recorded his second hat trick in three games in the 3-2 win

GALESBURG, Ill. — The reigning Midwest Conference Men's Soccer Offensive Performer of the Week will certainly be considered to defend that honor this week. Knox College sophomore Kestervens Dera recorded his second hat trick in three games to steal the Senior Day show and lead the Prairie Fire (7-7-2, 4-1-2 MWC) to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Lawrence University Vikings (2-9-4, 1-3-2 MWC) on Saturday in front of a throng of a homecoming crowd.

Dera provided the lone goal of the first half in the 29th minute when junior Emmanuel Mariano fed him a pass at the top of the box. One step and a right foot later, Dera sizzled a shot past the Viking keeper in the lower left corner. 

Little more than 11 minutes into the second half, Dera hit the jackpot again, this time thanks to a helping foot from first-year Joao Gaspar. A long pass down the far sideline was perfectly placed to Dera, who dribbled down the field, into the box and beat the keeper on the near side for a 2-0 lead.

Lawrence had a quick response as Rodrigo Angulo went top shelf in the left corner 17 seconds later. Dera took advantage of a Viking mistake in the 66th minute, however, when a corner kick slipped right through the keepers hands to the front of the goal where the forward was licking his chops at the opportunity, which he did not waste.

With under nine minutes to play, Lawrence made the Prairie Fire sweat by closing the gap to one again on a header by Noud Geerdink off a beautifully lofted pass over the defense into the box. But that was all the Vikings could manage as Knox pulled of its fourth straight victory.

  • The Prairie Fire could clinch a spot in the Midwest Conference Tournament without even playing; should Ripon lose at home to Lawrence, Knox (currently in third place in the league standings) would have its ticket punched.
  • Should the Red Hawks defeat the Vikings, a showdown at Ripon on Saturday could decide which team is in and which is out (how Grinnell fares could still come into play).
  • A Prairie Fire victory or tie at Ripon would secure their place no matter what happens in any other game.
  • Knox recognized seven graduating players prior to the game — seniors Adrian Segura and Joel Sanchez, fifth-years Eusebio King-Mills, Shea Kosyla, Nicolas Lantzendorffer and Taro Tsukahara, and sophomore Thanuwat Kraiwan.

The game against Ripon kicks off on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. Live video and stats will be available through the official athletics website of Knox College, PrairieFire.Knox.edu.

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