MONMOUTH, Ill. – The Grinnell College men's soccer mixed together a perfect blend of offense and defense Saturday afternoon to shut down Monmouth College 2-0 in its regular-season finale.
 
Grinnell's victory proved a good tune up for next weekend's Midwest Conference Tournament as the Pioneers moved to 6-2-1 in the league and 10-6-1 overall. The conference record is Grinnell's best since the 2010 season and the overall mark the best since 2008.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute on Zach Reeves '20 first career goal on an assist by Mikoto Kobayashi '20. On the play, Kobayashi beat his man to the end line and delivered a low liner of a cross, which Reeves beat his mark to and finished it.

The Pioneers were still up by a goal at half before sealing the win when Nick Brule '17 scored his team-high 11th goal in the 80th minute on an assist by Antonio DiMarco '18. DiMarco now has a Pioneer-high six assists.
 
Major May '17 tallied his third shutout of the season at keeper, saving one shot in the process.
 
Grinnell won the shots battle 12-7, with Juan Marin '18 taking three shots, Evan Sorenson '19 and Brule two each and Francisco Sanchez-Conde '18, DiMarco, Carlos Piedrasanta '20, Nikolai Harroun '18 and Noah Fluharty '19 adding one each.
 
Grinnell will be the fourth seed for the MWC Tournament with an opponent and site yet to be determined.
 
Monmouth finished its season at 4-5 in the MWC and 5-11 overall.