GALESBURG, Ill. — The Knox College men's soccer team did not let the opportunity of playing the first-ever outdoor night game on campus go to waste as the Prairie Fire handed visiting Monmouth College a 3-1 defeat on Tuesday night at Jorge Prats Field. Knox (6-3-3, 2-2 Midwest Conference) got goals from junior Apostolos Karamperis, sophomore Ethan Thomas and senior Arito Nakamichi to carry them to victory over the Fighting Scots (3-5-2, 0-3 MWC) for the 10th consecutive meeting.

After a scoreless and evenly played first half, Knox took control of the match less than 10 minutes into the second stanza. Sophomore Chrisangel Djambazian, fresh off being named the Knox Male Athlete of the Week, found junior Apostolos Karamperis in the middle of the box all by himself, and he blasted a shot past the Monmouth keeper for the first goal of the game.

Little more than five minutes later, the Prairie continued to put the pressure on the Fighting Scots defense. Nakamichi took a pass off a free kick into the right side of the box and fired a shot across the goal that clanged off the left bar. The disappointment for the throng of fans on hand to witness history did not last long, because on the rebound, junior Kestervens Dera was able to dish off to a nearby Thomas, who rifled a shot past the keeper from no more than 10 feet away for his fourth goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.

Monmouth would not quietly, however, closing the gap to one in the 72nd minute on a Paul Oros goal. Nakamichi responded in kind barely seven minutes later with a perfectly placed boot into the back of the net.

"What an awesome spectacle for the campus!" Knox Head Coach Tyler Sheikh said after the win. "We are so appreciative of the school's support and want to thank all the stakeholders that brought lights on Prats into fruition. The atmosphere was electric and our lads grew into the game well. We'll be kicking ourselves for conceding, but proud we saw an always passionate fixture through to the end."

• Knox enjoyed a 12-4 shot advantage on the night (9-2 in the second half). 
• The Prairie Fire are 33-19-4 against Monmouth since 1978.

Knox is back on the road this weekend for a tough match at Ripon (7-4-1, 1-2 MWC), which has only lost once in seven games on their home turf. The contest will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 and can be watching live through the Knox portal on Hudl — watchmidwestsports.com/knox — with live stats also available on the official website of Knox College Athletics, PrairieFire.Knox.edu, courtesy of Ripon College.