MONMOUTH, Ill. - For the second time in program history and first since 2014, the Ripon College women's soccer team is heading to the Midwest Conference Tournament. The Red Hawks clinched a spot in next week's tourney, despite a 3-1 loss Saturday at Monmouth College.

Monmouth (9-8-0, 4-5-0 MWC) took an early lead in Saturday's game with two first half goals, getting on the board less than four minutes into the game on a goal by Jacie Reis. The Fighting Scots added another goal in the 23rd minute when Kara-Jade Gordon found the back of the net.

Ripon (7-10-1, 5-4-0 MWC) battled back in the second half when Camrie Schmitz scored her 11th goal of the season in the 51st minute, thanks to an assist by Paige Pierce. Monmouth would get that goal back just two minutes later on Reis' second goal of the day to cap the scoring.

Monmouth out-shot Ripon 23-8 on the day, including 14-4 in the first half. Stefani Zeiger played all 90 minutes at Goal Keeper for the Red Hawks, making 11 saves. Her counterpart, Monmouth's Kensey Arlt saved two shots in her 90 minutes of work.

Ripon will be the number four seed in the four-team MWC Tournament, where they'll play the host team Knox College in Friday's semi-finals in Galesburg, Ill. The time is still to be determined.