LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University men's soccer team dropped the home opener against Knox College 1-0. The Regents did have the advantage in saves, with a seven-save outing from
Juan Sarmiento. Unfortunately, they found it tough to get things going offensively with the Prairie Fire having an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal. However, the match was a battle, with neither team able to find the back of the net, until Knox was able to get on the board with a goal in the 62nd minute. While the Regents did battle until the end, the Prairie Fire were able to hold on and walk out with the win.
- The Regents threatened early in the match, firing off two shots before the 10th minute, one by Abraham Gonzalez and one by Javier Palacios, unfortunately, both attempts were unsuccessful.
- Knox responded with two shots of its own in the 12th and 24th minutes, one going wide and the other saved by Regents' goalkeeper Juan Sarmiento.
- The Regents and Prairie Fire continued to battle for the remainder of the first half, with neither team able to break through the scoreless tie. Knox was able to fire off two more shots on goal in the 38th and 44th minutes, but neither broke the scoreless tie.
- Rockford started the second half similarly to the first, firing off two shots early in the half, both by Abraham Gonzalez, but unfortunately both chances were unsuccessful.
- Both teams continued to battle in the scoreless affair until Knox was able to break through in the 62nd minute on a goal by Luca Lo Conte, assisted by Ali Kimanthi, to put the Prarie Fire ahead.
- Rockford tried to respond, with two shots from Lincoln Burns in the 71st and 75th minutes, but unfortunately neither attempt found the back of the net.
- Rockford was not able to get anything else going for the remainder of the match and Knox was able to walk out with the 1-0 win.
