GALESBURG, Ill. – Saturday's anticipated first meeting since Cornell and Knox battled in last year's Midwest Conference men's soccer championship match went in favor of the Prairie Fire, 4-2, at Jorge Prats Field.  
 
Knox, the defending MWC champion and preseason favorite, capitalized on a three-goal, three-minute scoring spree in the first half and then held off Cornell's comeback bid in the MWC opener for both 2022 title contenders.
 
The Rams (3-3-1 overall, 0-1 MWC), projected second in the MWC preseason poll, dug themselves a 4-0 hole in the opening half. Cornell got two goals back in the second half with strikes from Aidan Lerch in the 51st minute and Cian McNamara in the 58th minute, pulling the Rams within 4-2.
 
Knox (2-7, 1-0) was able to stop Cornell's rally over the final 32 scoreless minutes of regulation.
 
The Prairie Fire started the scoring at the 20-minute mark. Knox was then aided by an own goal 25 seconds later, pushing the home team ahead 2-0. The Prairie Fire scored twice more before the break to claim a commanding 4-0 halftime lead.  
 
Knox fired 14 of its 17 total shots in the first half. Five of Cornell's six attempts came after intermission. Emerson Roy led the Rams' attack with two shots.
 
Cornell's Will Bickel posted six saves while working the full 90 minutes at goalkeeper.  
  
Coming up – Cornell is home Wednesday to face nonconference foe Central at 4:30 p.m.