NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Juniors Casey McCloskey and Liam Vance each had a goal and an assist to lead the regionally-ranked St. Olaf College men's soccer team to a 3-0 win over No. 23-ranked UW-Eau Claire on Thursday afternoon at Rolf Mellby Field.

McCloskey extended his point streak to four games and matched his season high with three points, while Vance had a goal and an assist in the same game for the first time in his career for St. Olaf (7-4-0), which sent UW-Eau Claire (13-2-0) to its second-straight loss after the Blugolds opened the season with 13 wins in a row. The meeting was the first-ever matchup between the two programs after UW-Eau Claire added the sport last season.

Sophomore Shea Bechtel got the scoring started for St. Olaf in the 13th minute by scoring on a breakaway after being played in behind by the combination of junior Clemente Arcuch Puig and Vance. Bechtel has scored four times in the last five games and leads the Oles with 13 points this season on four goals and five assists.

Later in the half, St. Olaf doubled its lead when McCloskey chested down a loose ball in the box and fired a right-footed shot into the left side of the net in the 37th minute. McCloskey has scored in three of the Oles' last four games.

After setting up Bechtel's opening goal, Vance got a goal of his own in the 65th minute, tapping the ball into an open net at the back post after McCloskey got by a defender on the left and sent the ball across to Vance.

Defensively, St. Olaf recorded its fifth shutout in its last six games thanks in part to a six-save shutout from junior Austin Williams, who earned his fourth clean sheet of the season. The six saves were a season-high total for Williams.

St. Olaf hosts Saint John's University on Sunday, Oct. 9 in a matchup of regionally-ranked teams at 3:30 p.m. The Johnnies were ranked No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches Region IX poll this week, one spot ahead of the Oles.