Prairie Fire women's soccer focuses on the development of the whole player, on and off the field. On the field the program concentrates on technical and tactical play, engaging in practices that bring out the best in each player. Off the field, their dedication, commitment, and discipline shown in soccer help them balance the rigorous academic expectations. Players seeking a balance of competitive athletics and strong academics thrive at Knox and are able to find success in both.
Competing in the Midwest Conference gives Knox soccer players the chance to go up against some of the best NCAA Division III soccer teams in the Midwest. Jorge Prats Field, where the Prairie Fire's home games are played, is located on campus and provides easy access not only to the players, but also to the fans who cheer for the team. The pride of stepping onto the field before each practice or game is a special privilege for the team, as the players honor the traditions and successes that preceded them.
The goal of the Prairie Fire soccer team is to be considered an annual contender for the Midwest Conference title and receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This past year the Knox Prairie Fire Women's team was able to achieve their fourth Midwest Conference Tournament in a row. Along with that first-year, Jenna Li received MWC Newcomer of the Year and Second Team All-Conference, and senior Annie Peterson received Defensive POY and First Team All-Conference. Through recruiting, updated facilities, and hard work, the team is on the way to reaching this goal once again the upcoming fall term.
Prairie Fire soccer players have gone on to a wide variety of successful careers. Sara Burton '91 (Anthropology-Sociology) is the head women's soccer coach at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Laurie Rompala '94 (Anthropology-Sociology, Women's Studies) is a litigation attorney at Donohue, Brown, Mathewson & Smith in Chicago, Illinois. Stephanie Akin '99 (Journalism) is a reporter at the Eagle-Tribune in New York City. Elizabeth Mandel '02 (Biology) worked on her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of North Carolina.
For more information, submit the Recruit Me form or e-mail head coach Annie Gerdes at agerdes@knox.edu.
