Beloit, Wis. -- The Prairie Fire defeated Beloit College 1-0 on October 27  to secure a spot in the Midwest Conference Tournament

Knox (13-4, 6-3 MWC) will try to close out the regular season with another victory on November 2.  No matter what happens in the regular season finale, the Prairie Fire -- picked to finish ninth in the 2013 MWC preseason coaches' poll -- earned a berth in the four-team tournament for the first time since 1988.  Knox also won the tournament that year.

First-year Terence Lau (Shanghai, China, Shanghai American School) provided all of the offense the Prairie Fire needed with his fifth goal of the season, assisted by sophomore Nathaniel Logie (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Queens Royal College), 35:27 into the match. 

Knox held an 8-2 advantage in total shots in the first period and wound up outshooting Beloit 17-4, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal.

Junior Sean Dockrell (Dublin, Ireland, San Bernadino CC) had 1 save in goal and posted his school record ninth shutout of the season.  He's now second in Midwest Conference history for shutouts in a season and needs one more to tie the record of 10 shared by two former Grinnell College goalies in 1994 and 2002.

The Prairie Fire bounced back against Beloit (0-13-2, 0-7-1) following a 1-0 setback at Carroll University on a late goal by the Pioneers on October 26.  The win over Buccaneers is the first for Knox in men's soccer since September of 1989.

Knox, with six conference wins, has 18 points and is in fourth place in the Midwest Conference team standings. 

The Prairie Fire's last regular season match is at conference rival Monmouth (4-12-1, 2-7 MWC) on November 2 at 1:30 p.m.