GALESBURG, ILL. - The Prairie Fire kicked off the 2026 campaign hosting the Falcons of Concordia (Wis.). Coach Arriaga's squad scored quickly and never surrendered the lead on their way to a 3-1 victory.
Diogo Pereira and the Prairie Fire defense was tested early, but stood to the test against an early Falcons attack in the first five minutes of the contest.
It took Knox's offense one attempt to get on the scoreboard in the season opener as Jayden Plancarte chipped the keeper off a long pass from Kestervens Dera.
Less than 10 minutes later, Plancarte repaid the favor by assisting Dera. Plancarte displayed some fancy footwork before dishing the ball to Dera who put it in the back of the net with his right foot from the top-left of the box. The remainder of the first half was back-and-forth with just one more shot attempt.
Concordia kept to their theme of attacking early in the half as they forced a quick corner kick, resulting in a header goal for the Falcons.
With 34:40 to play, Dera and Apostolos Karamperis worked a give-and-go to place Knox up 3-1 on the scoreboard. Dera dished a short pass to Karamperis before sneaking behind his defender, getting the ball back, and burying it in the bottom left corner of the goal.
The Prairie Fire came out firing and finished strong on their way to a 1-0-0 start to the season.
Dera played a part in all three goals for Knox, scoring two and assisting one.
Pereira owned his net in the second half, denying seven shots in the half.
Plancarte got the ball rolling with a goal of his own and an assist, and Karamperis tallied one assist in the victory.
Knox will return to the pitch on Saturday afternoon at Elmhurst at 4:00 p.m.
