MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's soccer team moved a giant step closer toward a Midwest Conference postseason berth with Wednesday's hard-fought 1-0 home win over Knox.
 
Sophomore Justice Toledo knocked in a penalty kick in the 57th minute and Cornell's defense made it stand as the Rams (5-7-1 overall, 3-1-1 MWC) jumped into a tie for third place in the league race with three matches to go.  
 
The Rams extended their MWC unbeaten streak to four matches with their third shutout win this fall. Knox dropped to (6-4-4 overall, 2-3-1 in the MWC).
 
Toledo delivered his team-leading seventh goal of the season, four of them now coming on penalty kicks in as many tries. His third game-winning score of the season scooted past Knox keeper Diogo Pereira into the right corner of the net.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Jack Massey earned the complete-game victory, recording six saves. He faced 19 total shots from the Prairie Fire, while the Rams attempted 18.
 
Javier Andrade-Martinez accounted for five of Cornell's shots, including three on goal. Kyriacos Photiou added four shots for the home team.  
 
Cornell's defense has now allowed just three goals through five MWC matches.
 
Coming up – The Rams are back home Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. test against No. 13 nationally-ranked Lake Forest (14-0 overall, 5-0 MWC).