BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team dropped their second game of the season on Wednesday, Sept. 14, losing 2-0 to Knox College. Knox scored goals from the top of the box in each half to earn the victory. With the loss the Titans fall to 2-2-1 while the Prairie Fire move to 3-3-0, snapping a three-game losing streak.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Alex Ruckstaetter gave up his first two goals of the season on Wednesday, making four saves on six shots on goal. Ruckstaetter now holds a goals against average of .62.

On the offensive end the Titans out-shot the Prarie Fire 14-to-10, but were outdone by the Praire Fire when it comes to shots on goal 6-to-5. IWU controlled the pace of the game out of the gate, posting four shots in the first fifteen minutes of play. Defensively, Knox was held without a shot until the 24:48 mark of the first half. 

At the 36:42 mark in the first half, Knox's Jun Min broke the ice with his first goal of the year, forcing Ruckstaetter to make an attempt at his third save in four minutes. After the Titans survived three corner kicks in the final two minutes of the first half they opened the second half strong with six shots in the first 15 minutes of play. Unfortunately for IWU, two were saved and one was blocked by a Knox defender. From then on out the Praire Fire tightened up on defense, allowing the Titans two shots in the final 30 minutes of play.

Five different Titans recorded shots on goal including starters senior Connor Allen and junior Alex White.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan plays twice at home this weekend facing Wartburg College on Saturday, Sept. 17 before facing Coe College on Sunday, Sept. 18. Wartburg enters play on Saturday with a record of 3-1-1, having defeated Knox 2-1 in their last match. Coe has yet to record a victory this season at 0-4.