MOUNT VERNON – Coach Jose Fajardo's Cornell Rams are seeking the program's first Midwest Conference championship and NCAA berth later this week at the MWC Women's Soccer Tournament, hosted by Grinnell College.
 
The Rams (3-3-2 MWC) qualified as the No. 4 seed and face regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Grinnell (7-0-1 MWC) in a semifinal at 11 a.m. Friday at Springer Field.
 
No. 2 seed Lake Forest (7-1 MWC) and No. 3 seed Beloit (6-2 MWC) square off in Friday's second semifinal at 2 p.m. The winners meet in the final at 2 p.m. Saturday for an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
Cornell is back in the postseason for the first time since 2019, when the Rams dropped a 1-0 semifinal decision to Monmouth as the No. 2 seed.
 
Cornell's last title match appearance was 2002, as a member of the Iowa Conference.
 
The Rams look to avenge a 2-0 road loss to Grinnell on Oct. 5. The first meeting was scoreless through 69 minutes.
 
Cornell lost tight matches to Lake Forest and Beloit, both by 1-0 margins. 
 
The Rams enter as one of the league's top defensive teams, having allowed only five goals in eight MWC matches this fall. Freshman goalkeeper Sabrina Ibanez has recorded 79 saves overall with four shutouts in conference play.
 
Cornell is led offensively by Elise Hermiston and Sanne Croes with four goals apiece. Elissafe Moreno has three goals on the year.
 
Beloit is the defending MWC Tournament champion. Lake Forest last won the tournament in 2014, Grinnell in 2006.