Monmouth vs. Lake Forest, Lake Forest, Ill.
Monmouth 1, Lake Forest 1 2OT (3-12-3, 1-5-3)
The Fighting Scots and Foresters played about as long as they could have, finally ending their 110-minute game in a draw as darkness fell over Lake Forest's Farwell Field. Besides bidding farewell to the light, the Scots also ushered out their 2008 season, and the score was a fitting one for the campaign. Despite being outshot in each of the four periods, the Scots' defense hung tough, especially during the final 27 minutes, when they played a man down. Meanwhile, the offense had its moments during the game but, ultimately, did not dominate play consistently. The Scots did break into the scoring column first, though, as Mark Serio's header found the back of the net in the 53rd minute. He scored his first collegiate goal after Lucas Knox had won a header and directed the ball in front of the net. The Foresters knotted the score on a 2-on-2 breakaway just 1:28 later. 

Monmouth vs. Beloit, Beloit, Wis.
Beloit 3, Monmouth 0 (3-12-2, 1-5-2)
The Fighting Scots played well at times, especially the second quarter of the game when they pulled even in shots with the host Buccaneers at 7-7 heading into halftime. But the Bucs had scored goals in the 15th and 24th minutes to take a 2-0 lead, and that would prove to be enough for a victory. Beloit tacked on a final score in the 60th minute and outshot Monmouth 11-1 in the second half.

Monmouth vs. Cornell, Mt. Vernon, Iowa
Cornell 4, Monmouth 1 (3-11-2)
Suffice it to say that the Fighting Scots aren't going to be purchasing a copy of Bob Seger's "Against the Wind" any time soon. The Scots did OK playing with a steady, howling wind at their back in the first half against the Rams, knotting the score at 1-1 on Josh Del Valle's well-placed shot to the far post in the 34th minute. But after the teams changed ends, Monmouth would get just one more shot, while Cornell scored on three of its 13 second-half attempts. The backbreaker was the Rams' third goal of the game, which came in the 72nd minute and was their only one not scored by Ruairi McKay, who had a hat trick.

Monmouth vs. Illinois College, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 1, IC 0 (3-10-2, 1-4-2)
If the MWC soccer match between the Fighting Scots and the Blueboys had been, say, a WBC title bout instead, it would have consisted of Monmouth taking Illinois College's best punches for 14 rounds, then delivering a knockout blow of their own in the 15th. Through 87 minutes, IC was constantly on the attack on its way to firing off 21 shots, including 13 that required saves by goalie Owen Robinson. But the Blueboys let their guard down one time, and Daniel Medina capitalized, scoring the game-winner with 2:41 remaining. Assists were credited on the play to Adam Buol and Mark Serio. Monmouth had six shots in the game, and IC had an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Monmouth vs. St. Norbert, De Pere, Wis.
St. Norbert 3, Monmouth 0 (2-10-2, 0-4-2)
Playing against one of the league's perennial powers, the Fighting Scots weathered a tough opponent and a strong wind in its face to trail just 1-0 at halftime. Monmouth had some chances with the wind in the second half, but it was the host Green Knights who scored the game's biggest goal on a 1-on-1 challenge in the 61st minute. John Cremer slipped a shot past a charging Owen Robinson to make the score 2-0, and Cramer then closed the scoring with a goal in the 74th minute. The Knights held a 17-8 advantage in shots for the game.

Monmouth vs. Lawrence, Appleton, Wis.
Monmouth 1, Lawrence 1 2OT (2-9-2, 0-3-2)
The Fighting Scots played to their second straight draw in a game that was decided by two late penalty kicks. With 7:57 remaining, Lawrence was whistled for a foul on the edge of the box while defending a throw-in. The infraction gave the Scots a PK, and Joe Howell buried the shot for a 1-0 Monmouth lead. With the clock winding down, the host Vikings got several players in front of the Scots' goal. In the ensuing scramble, Monmouth was called for a foul, and Lawrence was awarded its own PK, which they converted with just 42 seconds remaining. Neither team scored in overtime, with Lawrence outshooting Monmouth 6-1 in those 20 minutes. For the game, the Vikings held a 27-9 edge. Goalkeeper Owen Robinson made 13 saves. 

Monmouth vs. Ripon, Monmouth, Ill.
Monmouth 1, Ripon 1 2OT (2-9-1, 0-3-1)
The Fighting Scots and Red Hawks each used a set piece to score, with Monmouth's goal coming on a corner kick in the sixth minute. Lucas Knox did the honors, with Daniel Medina and Joe Howell being credited with assists. Ripon knotted the game in the 67th minute, when a long flip throw was inadvertently headed in by Monmouth for an own goal. Ripon had a 6-1 edge in shots in the two 10-minute overtime sessions and outshot Monmouth 20-10 for the game. Scots' goalkeeper Owen Robinson made 10 saves.

Monmouth vs. Carroll, Monmouth, Ill.
Carroll 4, Monmouth 0 (2-9, 0-3)
The visiting Pioneers, the last remaining unbeaten team in the MWC, dominated the first half en route to a shutout victory. They scored just 2:38 into the game and added goals in the 16th and 34th minutes to put the game out of a reach. It was far from a one-man show for Carroll, as six different players recorded those three goals and three assists. The Fighting Scots rebounded from their 13-1 halftime deficit in shots, firing off seven in the second half, but the only goal of the final 45 minutes was a tap-in by another different Pioneer with just 3:53 left in the game.

Monmouth vs. Eureka, Eureka, Ill.
Monmouth 3, Eureka 0 (2-8)
Goals had been hard to come by for the Fighting Scots, but that changed thanks to an impressive road performance. The Scots created most of the game's good scoring chances thanks to a solid all-around team effort that saw them win more balls and find and exploit open spaces with their speed and creativity. Freshman Josh Del Valle started the scoring with his first collegiate goal. He ran onto a well-placed header by Patrick Blazer and beat the keeper in the 16th minute. Adam Buol was also credited with an assist on the play. Del Valle was at the center of the next goal, too, as he was taken down in the box with 6:37 left in the first half. Joe Howell stepped up to convert the ensuing penalty kick. Eddie Martinez closed the scoring in the 75th minute, making an impressive run up the center of the field with the ball and blasting a convincing finish from well beyond the penalty box. It was his first collegiate goal, as well. The Scots outshot the host Red Devils 27-9, and Owen Robinson recorded his second shutout of the season.

Monmouth vs. Westminster, Monmouth, Ill.
Westminster 3, Monmouth 0 (1-8)
The good news was the way the Fighting Scots finished the game, playing 64 minutes of scoreless soccer and creating several good chances. The bad news was a ragged start that saw the visiting Blue Jays score three times in the first 26 minutes, including back-to-back goals in the 10th and 13th minutes that opened a 2-0 lead. The Scots had the better of play from that point, finishing with a 17-13 edge in shots for the game, including a combined 10 by Danny Davis and Pat Blazer.

Monmouth vs. Millikin, Monmouth, Ill.
Millikin 3, Monmouth 0 (1-7)
The Scots kept Millikin from scoring for much of the first half, but a pair of late goals put Monmouth in a 2-0 hole entering the final 45 minutes. The Big Blue's Eddie Hanson was finally able to crack the Scots' armor with his first goal in the 32nd minute and the next with less than a minute left in the half. After Scots' goalkeeper Owen Robinson made a diving save on a penalty kick, Millikin found the back of the net in the 79th minute to put the game out of reach. Millikin outshot Monmouth 11-6.

Monmouth vs. Knox, Monmouth, Ill.
Knox 2, Monmouth 0 (1-6, 0-2)
It looked like the Scots might pick up their first conference win after Joe Howell punched in the first goal of the day in the 34th minute, but the Prairie Fire responded in the second half to pull out a 2-1 win over Monmouth. Howell took a corner kick from Mark Serio to score his first goal of the season and the Scots defense kept the Fire at bay through the first 45 minutes, holding them to just five shots. Knox came out strong in the second half and tied the score with in the 57th minute, but Monmouth seized momentum back six minutes later when goalkeeper Owen Robinson dove to his right to block a Fire penalty kick. Knox kept the pressure on, however, and netted the game-winner with 14:07 left when Robinson could not make a clean catch of a hard, low shot. The Fire's Jeff Wozencraft was on the doorstep to tap home the rebound.

Monmouth vs. Grinnell, Monmouth, Ill.
Grinnell 3, Monmouth 0 (1-5, 0-1)
After a slow start, it looked like Monmouth might be able to fight off an early Grinnell goal, but the Pioneers' score 6:45 into the game on a header that deflected in off the post turned out to be more than enough to hand the Scots the loss in their MWC opener. After the Scots pitched a shutout for the rest of the first half, they came out strong in the second session, but a foul on a breakaway gave the Pioneers a penalty kick and a 2-0 lead. A Grinnell goal in the 59th minute sealed Monmouth's fate.

Monmouth vs. Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque 2, Monmouth 0 (1-4)
Playing without two starters, the Fighting Scots could ill afford a flat start, but that's what happened, as the hosts grabbed a 1-0 lead just 2:43 into the game. After settling down, Monmouth tightened up defensively and held Dubuque scoreless for more than 60 minutes of action before allowing the match's other goal. Goalkeeper Owen Robinson turned in a strong performance, making 10 saves, and Danny Davis and Bryan Jackson were solid in the central defense.