ROCKFORD, IL - For the third time this week, the Prairie Fire took the pitch taking on Rockford, and in a physical afternoon match Knox scored a pair of goals in the second half after Dera's fourth of the week in the first, but ultimately fell short 4-3.
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Rockford got the scoring going early, scoring the first goal of the match in the 16th minute. They increased their lead to two goals ten minutes later.
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Down, but not out, Knox joined Rockford on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute when Kestervens Dera put a shot in the back of the net, scoring his fourth goal of the week.
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Rockford was able to net another shot in the 50th minute to regain a two goal lead early in the second half, but Knox fought back again. In the 71st minute Apostolos Karamperis found Carlos Rebello da Silva making the score 3-2.
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Despite bringing it back within one goal, Knox allowed another Rockford tally in the 80th minute before scoring one of their own off the foot of Landon Paulson in the 87th minute, assisted by Karamperis and Ethan Thomas.
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Knox's impressive offensive afternoon was not enough to take down Rockford's high octane offense as the time ran out with the score at 4-3.
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Rebello da Silva and Paulson both netted their first goals of the campaign, Dera buried his fourth, and Karamperis picked up his 2nd and 3rd assist.
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The Prairie Fire will continue their road stretch with a contest on Wednesday at Dominican at 2:00 p.m.
