MONMOUTH, Ill. – Grinnell College's women's soccer team continued its late-season charge straight into the Midwest Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers qualified for the league's postseason tournament for the fifth time in the last six seasons while extending their winning streak to five with a 2-1 decision over Monmouth College.
 
The victory streak is the longest for Grinnell since the 2011 season, and the tourney qualification marks the 15th time in the last 18 seasons that the Pioneers have made the postseason.
 
Grinnell will be the second or third seed for the tourney, which is slated for next weekend in Galesburg, Ill.
 
Saturday's contest was scoreless before Grinnell broke the deadlock right before half when Elyse Salpekar '19 scored off a deflection of a corner kick in the 42nd minute. It was her first goal of the season.
 
Grinnell got some breathing room with another goal in the 75th minute when Francesca Varias '18 scored on an assist by Nora Sahel '17. It was the first goal of the season for Varias and team-high second assist for Sahel.
 
Monmouth scored in the 81st minute, but it was too little too late as Grinnell ran its record to 6-2-1 in the MWC and 9-6-2 overall. Both records are the best for the team since the 2014 season.
 
Regan Kasprak '19 was the winner at goal keeper, making five saves in the process.
 
Grinnell won the shots battle 11-9, with Carolyn Silverman '17, Lilyrose Weiss '18 and Salpekar taking two each and Lauren Hurley '18, Hannah Truesdale '17, Sahel, Varias and Jordan Maddaus '19 taking one each.
 
Monmouth fell to 3-6 in the MWC and 6-9-2 overall with the loss.