MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's women punctuated an outstanding regular season with a 1-0 home win Sunday afternoon over four-time defending Midwest Conference soccer champion Knox.

Coach Jose Fajardo's Rams (12-5-2 overall) jumped to second place in the final regular-season standings at 6-1-2. Cornell finished just two points behind the Prairie Fire (12-5-2, 7-1-1 MWC), who were dealt their first conference setback of the fall.

The pivotal victory gives Cornell the No. 2 seed in next weekend's MWC Tournament, which will be hosted by Knox Nov. 8-9 in Galesburg, Ill. The Rams, first-time MWC Tournament qualifiers, will face No. 3 seed Monmouth in a semifinal Friday.

The Rams recorded their 10th shutout of the season, snapping Knox's six-match winning streak in the process. The team's 12 victories are the most by a Cornell team since 2002, when the Rams won 13 times.  

Senior Sofia Schnur (SR/Redwood City, Calif.) delivered the lone goal on a penalty kick in the 32nd minute of the opening half. The opportunity was set up on a foul drawn by Layne Pullen (JR/Vail, Ariz.).

Schnur capitalized with her team-leading 11th goal of the season, her first via penalty kick.

The Rams were tough defensively once again, holding Knox scoreless on 14 shot attempts. Goalkeeper Elise Thomason-Larson went the distance for her fourth complete-game shutout of the fall. She had four saves, three coming in the first half.

Schnur accounted for four of Cornell's eight total shots. Avery Wyse (JR/Arvada, Colo.) added two attempts.