GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College men's soccer team had already clinched a spot in the Midwest Conference Tournament, but the Pioneers were after more as they shut down Monmouth College 2-1 in a Senior Day contest Saturday afternoon at Springer Field.
 
Grinnell stretched its winning streak to three games while improving to 6-3 in the MWC and 8-8-1 overall. The Pioneers will be the fourth seed for the league tourney and play top-seeded Knox College Friday in the opening round at Galesburg, Ill.
 
Monmouth finished its season at 2-5-2 in the MWC and 3-13-2 overall.
 
Grinnell got on the board just 12 minutes in when Artis Curiskis '18 found the back of the net on an assist by Antonio DiMarco '18. DiMarco had the ball deep down the left side of the field and fed Curiskis with a beautiful cross on the right side of the net, and the latter put it in for the goal. It was Curiskis' third goal of the year and sixth assist by DiMarco, which ranks 10th-best for a season at Grinnell.
 
Additionally, it was the 21st assist of DiMarco's career, which ranks second in program history.
 
Grinnell got some insurance in the 74th minute when Thomas Pflipsen '20 scored his first goal of the season on an assist by Mikoto Kobayashi '20, his second assist of 2017. On the play, Kobayashi fed Pflipsen at the top of the box, who then delivered a forceful kick into the net.
 
Grinnell won the shots battle 21-9, with Noah Fluharty '19 and Pflipsen taking three each and Curiskis, DiMarco, Evan Sorenson '19, Jasper Yang '21, Kobayashi and Kyle Buse '20 shooting twice each.
 
Jared Cloutier '20 and Michael Spicer '21 shared time at keeper. Cloutier had two saves and Spicer one.
 
It was a banner day for Pioneer athletics, as for just the second time Grinnell's volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer teams all qualified for the MWC Tournament in the same season.