GALESBURG, Ill. — Playing its season and home opener for the 2024 season, the Knox College women's soccer team fell to the visiting Millikin Big Blue on Saturday afternoon at Jorge Prats Field, 4-1. Senior Aleene Ramirez recorded the lone goal of the contest for the Prairie Fire (0-1), while Millikin defeated Knox in its season opener for the second straight season.
After the Big Blue took a 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute, it wasn't terribly long before the Prairie Fire answered back. Junior Isabella Shubert dribbled upfield down the far sideline and sent a cross into the box that skipped past a pair of Millkin defenders to Ramirez, who put it away for her second career goal and Shubert's first career assist. But the visitors responded less than a minute later off a corner kick and never looked back.
- Knox first-year goalkeeper Darby Wallig minded the net in the first half, allowing just one goal while thwarting five shots, then returned for the final 16-plus minutes and finished with nine of the team's 14 saves.
- Millikin kept the pressure on all afternoon, enjoying a 26-1 shot differential and 8-0 advantage on corner kicks.
- Adrianna Gudaitis tallied the game-winner for the Big Blue, assisted by Grace Pelz.
Knox will take to the road next weekend for a pair of games in Indiana. The first will take place at the Sportsplex in Crown Point against NAIA Governors State University on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. The following day, the Prairie Fire will play at Saint Mary's College (Ind.) at 11 a.m. EDT.
