GALESBURG, Ill. — On a day when the seniors of the Knox College women's soccer team were recognized in a pregame ceremony, sophomore goalkeeper Darby Wallig provided another shutout as a gift to the Class of 2026, thanks to saving seven Franklin College shots on goal. But the Prairie Fire (2-2-1) were unable to find the back of the net at the other end of the pitch, resulting in a scoreless tie with visiting Grizzlies (1-3-1).

Franklin controlled the early part of the game, firing off two shots on goal in the first eight minutes of action, but Wallig was there in both instances. The Grizzlies attempted two more shots before Knox got some offense going late in the half with a shot by senior Isabella Shubert and another on goal by first-year Grace Johansen that led to a diving save by the Franklin keeper.

The Prairie Fire defense was tested further after the break on the hot and sunny afternoon. The Grizzlies outshot Knox during the second half, 7-1, with four of those shots on net. But Wallig denied each Franklin effort, and the one Prairie Fire boot was also turned away by the Grizzlies to end the game knotted at naught.

"Today was a tough battle for both teams in some extremely hot weather," Knox Head Coach Annie Gerdes said. "Our defense worked well together to keep them off the board and hold the shutout."

• The Prairie Fire last turned in three straight shutouts in the final three games of the 2021 season.
• Wallig leads the Midwest Conference with her three shutouts.
• Knox lost the first four meetings between the two schools, all of which were played between 2008-11, before breaking that personal skid with the tie today.

Knox goes back on the road for its next two contests, starting with a tilt at Eureka on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. Live stats for the match will be available through the official website of Knox College Athletics, PrairieFire.Knox.edu.