GALESBURG, Ill. — Playing its first game under the lights at Jorge Prats Field, the Knox College women's soccer team took an early lead but was unable to keep visiting Monmouth College at bay as the Fighting Scots (6-3-2, 2-0-1 Midwest Conference) battled back to take a 2-1 decision. The Prairie Fire fell to 3-8-1 on the season and 0-4 in the league.
It did not take long for the Fire to celebrate their first night game at home as sophomore Isabella Urrutia Flores headed in a corner kick from senior Isabella Shubert for a 1-0 Knox lead not even three minutes into the contest. But after the Monmouth keeper denied a couple more Prairie Fire scoring opportunities, Morgan Kistler knotted the score in the 16th minute off passes from Allison Griffin and Mariah Hobson.
The score remained tied into halftime, but like Knox in the first half, Monmouth struck barely three minutes into the second stanza. A Fighting Scot was taken down in the box, and the ensuing penalty kick by Kiersten Medinger just snuck under Prairie Fire goalkeeper Bri Mahoney for a 2-1 Monmouth lead.
Knox continued to pressure the Fighting Scot defense, finishing the game with a 12-8 edge on shots, 8-3 on goal. But the equalizer never came and Monmouth held on for its third straight win in the series.
- With under seven minutes to play, Knox nearly duplicated its early goal as Shubert sent a corner kick into the box and Urrutia Flores headed the ball about two feet over the crossbar.
- The Prairie First have lost six straight since a four-match unbeaten streak.
Knox next plays at Ripon College (3-6-3, 1-1-1 MWC) on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. The Red Hawks have won the matchup by a 1-0 score each of the last two years. Fans can watch a live stream and keep up with the stats through the official website of Knox College Athletics, PrairieFire.Knox.edu, courtesy of Ripon.
