MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's women's soccer team went scoreboard watching late Saturday afternoon and got the result it needed to secure the fourth and final spot into next week's Midwest Conference Tournament.
 
The Rams dropped a 1-0 battle with visiting Beloit in Saturday's Senior Day home finale. But coach Jose Fajardo's squad learned a couple hours later they are postseason bound with Monmouth's 2-2 tie against Lawrence.
 
Cornell (4-12-3 overall, 3-3-2 MWC) finished fourth in the final MWC standings, one point ahead of Lawrence (3-4-1 MWC), and head back to the postseason for the first time since 2019.
 
The Rams will face top-seeded Grinnell in a semifinal Friday in Grinnell.
 
Prior to Saturday's match, the Rams recognized the accomplishments of their senior class – Georgia James, Sam O'Brien, Sanne Croes, Maddalin Doran and Sydney Hancox. All five players started against the Buccaneers (8-4-2 overall, 6-2 MWC).
 
Cornell hung tough defensively throughout, limiting Beloit to seven total shots in a match that was scoreless for one half. Beloit's lone goal came off a long free kick that was mishandled and redirected into the net at the 48-minute mark.
 
O'Brien accounted for three of Cornell's six shots. James, Hancox and Wies Kleingeld each had one attempt.
 
Goalkeeper Sabrina Ibanez worked the entire 90 minutes.