APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University men's soccer team dominated nearly every aspect of Saturday's game with Monmouth College, but the Scots managed to pull out a 1-0 Midwest Conference win on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.
    Despite the loss, Lawrence claimed a berth in the Midwest Conference Tournament because Grinnell College won at Lake Forest. Lawrence will face top seed Knox College in the tournament semifinals, and Cornell College takes on Grinnell in the other semifinal. The tournament winner receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
    This is Lawrence's first trip to the conference tournament since 2011.
    Lawrence posted a 17-10 edge in shots for the match, and the Vikings owned a 65-35 percent edge in possession.
    Monmouth goalkeeper Marcos Garibay made 10 saves to preserve the shutout and twice Monmouth defenders cleared away balls headed for the back of the net. Lawrence goalkeeper Hunter Lanton stopped six shots for the Vikings.
    Monmouth took the lead on Nicholas Esparon's goal in the 41st minute, and the Vikings looked like they had tied it late in the match.
    With more than six minutes left, Lawrence took a corner kick and defender Zach Dale headed the ball into the back of the net for an apparent tie. However, a ball had rolled onto the field while Lawrence was scoring. The referee conferred with the linesman, and the goal was waived off.
    Lawrence (8-1-0, 5-3-0 MWC) had a few more scoring chances in the final minutes but Monmouth (1-12-2, 1-7-0) hung on for the victory.