The Lake Forest College men's soccer team defeated Grinnell College 2-0 on Saturday in the Midwest Conference Tournament final played at Knox College. Along with the victory come the right to represent the league in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Lake Forest out-shot the Pioneers 10-3 in the opening half but neither team was able to score in the period.
The Foresters finally got on the scoreboard at the 53:48 mark when junior Gaston Aubert netted his second goal of the tournament and sixth this year. He was assisted by senior Seton Trostle, who lofted a pass up the middle of the field and over the Grinnell defense. Aubert settled the ball and blasted it past the goalkeeper from close range to give his team the lead.
Senior John Cappuccitti all but clinched the Lake Forest victory with 10:45 on the clock when he scored his third goal of the year. Sophomore Lucas Geib's shot from the top of the box was saved by a diving Pioneer goalie. The ball tricked off to the right of the goal, where Cappuccitti kicked it back in, off the keeper, and over the goal line for the score.
Grinnell had a 9-5 advantage in shots during the game's final 45 minutes but were kept out of the goal by Forester junior goalkeeper Tero Elias and the rest of the team's defense. Elias finished the afternoon with four saves and several other Pioneer shots were blocked by defenders.
Lake Forest improved to 12-6-1 this season while Grinnell fell to 9-9-1.
The Foresters will be making their third NCAA Tournament apperance in the last five years and the eighth in program history. Their opponent and regional tournament location will be revealed during the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Selection Show on ncaa.org Monday afternoon at 12:30.
