NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Sophomore Casey McCloskey had a hand in all three goals as the No. 12-ranked St. Olaf College men's soccer team opened the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship with a 3-0 victory over visiting Dominican University (Ill.) on Saturday at Rolf Mellby Field.

McCloskey assisted on goals by classmates Hakeem Morgan and Victor Gaulmin before scoring a goal of his own for St. Olaf (18-2-1) in the win over Dominican (13-4-2). The victory sent the Oles into the second round where they will face Loras College after the Duhawks outlasted North Central College (Ill.), 2-1, in the second game of the day.

The victory was St. Olaf's fifth NCAA Tournament win in program history and its second in the tournament on its home field. The Oles have now won at least one game in each of their last three NCAA Tournament appearances.

St. Olaf had the bulk of the possession in the early stages but had to wait until the 28th minute to open the scoring when Morgan netted his 14th goal of the season. McCloskey set up the goal, threading a pass through the middle to Morgan, who chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper with his left foot. Morgan's 14 goals are tied for the third-most in a season in program history with David Rosenthal (2011) and Kevin Skrip (2015).

The Oles nearly took a two-goal lead into the break when Gaulmin hit the top-right corner of the woodwork with a curling right-footed effort in the 40th minute. St. Olaf settled for a 1-0 advantage at the break after outshooting Dominican, 13-3, in the opening 45 minutes.

In the second half, the Oles scored twice in the opening 20 minutes to open up a three-goal cushion. McCloskey was again the provider for St. Olaf's second goal, picking out Gaulmin with a cross from the right, which Gaulmin headed in at the near post for his ninth goal of the season.

Less than five minutes later, sophomore Austin Williams made the biggest of his two saves on the night, leaping to tip a shot destined for the top-right corner by Nick Kowalczyk from the top of the box. Just under two minutes after Williams' save, McCloskey blasted a rebound into the top-right corner of the goal after his initial effort was blocked to make it a 3-0 game.

The goal was McCloskey's eighth of the season but his first since scoring the game-winning goal in St. Olaf's 3-1 win over No. 22 Carleton on Oct. 2. The sophomore's two assists also brought his season total to six.

The Oles held a 24-5 advantage in shots in the game, including a 7-2 edge in shots on goal. Williams earned his program-record 18th win of the season, while Daniel Dominguez had three saves in the loss for the Stars.

The second-round game between St. Olaf and Loras will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14 at Rolf Mellby Field, with the winner advancing to the sectional round.