DECATUR, Ill. — The Knox women's soccer team opened up its 2025 season on Friday evening under the lights at Millikin University's Frank M. Lindsay Field, but the host Big Blue were able to handle the Prairie Fire in a 4-0 final.
Millikin attacked early and often, firing off its first shot not even three minutes into the affair, only to be thwarted by Knox sophomore goalkeeper Darby Wallig. But the next shot by Melis Barutcu at 5:04 snuck past her for an early 1-0 Big Blue lead. By the time halftime arrived, Millikin enjoyed a 3-0 lead on goals by Danielle Piper and Elly Hermanson.
The Prairie Fire had a couple of scoring opportunities in the first half, the best coming on a rocket off the right foot of first-year Eliana Juarez from about 22 yards out that banged off the cross bar.
The final tally of the day came in the 76th minute, courtesy of the Big Blue's Alanna Smith.
- Wallig had three saves on the evening, two in the first 10 minutes of the match.
- Millikin has won four straight in the series since a 1-1 tie in the 2019 season.
Knox will hop right back on the saddle with its next game on Monday, Sept. 1 at Webster University at 1 p.m.
