APPLETON, Wis. - A pair of late Lawrence University goals brought a heartbreaking end to the Prairie Fire's 2026 campaign Tuesday evening, as Knox fell 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Midwest Conference Tournament despite holding the lead for much of the contest.
The sixth-seeded Prairie Fire struck early against the third-seeded Vikings, taking a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the contest. Analeis Ming found the back of the net in the seventh minute off an assist from Eliana Juarez, giving Knox an early advantage.
The Prairie Fire held onto that lead throughout the first half, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Bri Mahoney, who made eight saves before halftime to keep Lawrence off the scoreboard.
Knox continued to withstand the Vikings' offensive pressure in the second half, maintaining its one-goal advantage deep into the contest. However, Lawrence finally broke through on a penalty kick in the 85th minute to even the score at 1-1.
Just under three minutes later, the Vikings struck again in the 87th minute after a handful of corner kicks, completing the late comeback and bringing Knox's postseason run to an end.
Mahoney finished with 10 saves in goal for the Prairie Fire.
Knox concludes the season with a 7-10-1 overall record and a 4-4-1 mark in Midwest Conference play. The Prairie Fire earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament, making their first postseason appearance since 2021.
Offensively, Ming finished the season with seven goals and three assists for a team-leading 17 points. Aniela Rossi also scored seven goals, finishing with 15 points. Both players played key roles in helping Knox return to the conference tournament.
The Prairie Fire also received significant contributions from a talented group of first-year players throughout the season. Ming, Ellie Henderson, Regan Toney, and Gwendolynn Stewart all played meaningful minutes and a huge role in bringing Knox back to the Conference Tournament. The group provides a glimpse at the bright future for the Knox program.
The Prairie Fire's season was highlighted by their return to postseason play, with the team battling for a tournament berth until the final weekend of the regular season. Tuesday's narrow defeat brought an end to a campaign that saw Knox earn seven victories and compete in the Midwest Conference Tournament for the first time in five years.
