GALESBURG, Ill. – Cornell's memorable 2019 women's soccer season ultimately ended on a second-half penalty kick, dropping a tough 1-0 semifinal match to third-seeded Monmouth in the Rams' Midwest Conference Tournament debut Friday at Van Dyke Field.   

Picked eighth in the MWC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Coach Jose Fajardo's squad made tremendous strides and earned the No. 2 seed in the tournament field. The Rams bowed out with a 12-6-2 overall record, marking the third-most wins in program history.

Monmouth (14-4-1) advances to Saturday's 11 a.m. championship match against top-seeded Knox (13-5-2) for the MWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Knox moved on with a 1-0 win over Lake Forest.

Friday was Cornell's first postseason appearance since 2008 (Iowa Conference Tournament) and the Rams came out ready, battling the Fighting Scots to a scoreless opening half.

Monmouth caught the break it needed at the 54-minute mark, drawing a foul in the box for a penalty kick opportunity. Kara-Jade Gordon converted against Cornell goalkeeper Elise Thomason-Larsen (SO/Superior, Colo.), providing the lone goal of the 90-minute contest.

It was only the fourth goal surrendered by Cornell in its final nine matches. It was the first penalty kick the Rams had allowed all season.

Cornell's strong defensive unit was tested throughout, facing 15 total shots, 11 coming after intermission. Thomason-Larsen finished with nine saves in the complete-game effort.

The Rams were limited to five total shots. Scoring leader Sofia Schnur (SR/Redwood City, Calif.) had two shots on goal. Avery Wyse (JR/Arvada, Colo.), Sam O'Brien (SO/Evergreen, Colo.) and Emma Daugherty (SO/Herriman, Utah) had one attempt apiece.

Cornell squashed six corner kick chances by the Fighting Scots, while the Rams attempted none.

The Rams finished 6-1-2 in the MWC regular season, which included a 3-0 win at Monmouth and a 1-0 triumph over three-time defending champion Knox in the Nov. 3 home finale.

Cornell registered its first 10-win season since going 13-6-1 in 2002. The 1998 squad (15-5-0) is the only other Ram team to win more matches than this year's group.