GALESBURG, Ill. — Needing a win to clinch a berth in next week's Midwest Conference Tournament, the Knox College men's soccer team was unable to find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss to visiting Grinnell College on Saturday afternoon at Jorge Prats Field. The Pioneers (5-7-5, 4-2-2 MWC) ended the regular season tied for second to secure their spot at the conference tournament, while the Prairie Fire saw their season come to a close at 7-5-4 overall and 3-4-1 in the league.

Knox had the upper hand in the opening half, outshooting Grinnell by a 5-3 margin, though both teams put just one shot on goal apiece. The second half was a different story, however, as the Pioneers cranked up the pressure, taking eight shots to just two for the Fire.

The fateful goal came to fruition in the 60th minute when Grinnell controlled the ball near the right corner of the Knox half of the field. Demi Oni crossed the ball into the box, and Oliver Northing headed the ball off the left post and into the net, their fifth shot in the first 15 minutes of the stanza.

Senior Arito Nakamichi was able to get two shots off within a seven-minute span, one of which was off target, the other saved by Pioneer goalkeeper Jack Alexander, one of his two in the contest.

• Grinnell now has a 37-15-3 lead in the all-time series with Knox, though over the last 13 meetings, the Fire have won eight and tied two others.
• The Prairie Fire outscored their conference opponents this year, 11-10.
• This is just the second time in the last 11 seasons that Knox did not quality for the conference tournament (2023).