GALESBURG, Ill. — After playing the first half to a draw, the Knox College women's soccer team could not contain visiting Grinnell College in the second half as the Pioneers (6-7-4, 3-3-2 Midwest Conference) left Jorge Prats Field with a 3-0 victory. With the win, Grinnell secured a berth in the Midwest Conference Tournament next week as the four seed. The Prairie Fire ended their season with a 4-10-3 overall record and 1-5-2 mark in the league.
The first half was promising for Knox as it controlled the ball for the majority of the half. The defense was stifling as it did not allow Grinnell to get off a single shot. The Pioneers' defense was no picnic, either, but the Prairie Fire did get off a pair of shots, including one by Natalia Nuño (who scored the game-winner at Cornell College earlier in the week) in the sixth minute that was saved by Grinnell goalkeeper Peyton Dixon.
The Pioneers made some adjustments at halftime, though, and dominated play after the intermission. Knox was unable to get another shot off while Grinnell attempted nine, six on goal. The first was by Anna Curtin unassisted and ended up being the first goal of the game in the 50th minute. Prairie Fire keeper Bri Mahoney stopped the next shot three minutes later, but in the 60th minute, another shot sneaked through for a 2-0 Pioneer lead. Maya Mozena added the icing to the Grinnell victory with her goal in the 80th minute.
- The Pioneers have won the last three meetings since Knox went 8-0-1 in the previous nine.
- Five of the Prairie Fire's 11 goals on the season were scored by first-year Galesburg native Eliana Juarez.
