NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Junior Victor Gaulmin scored twice and classmate Casey McCloskey had a goal and two assists to lift the St. Olaf College men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory against Saint John's University in a matchup of regionally-ranked Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) teams on Sunday afternoon at Rolf Mellby Field.

Gaulmin scored twice in the opening half to give St. Olaf (8-4-0, 5-1-0 MIAC) a 2-1 halftime lead, with McCloskey setting up both goals. McCloskey added a goal early in the second half to his two assists, as the Oles picked up their fourth-straight win in the series with Saint John's (5-2-3, 2-2-1 MIAC).

The Johnnies were ranked No. 6 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Region IX poll, while St. Olaf was No. 7. The win kept the Oles in second place in the MIAC standings and extended their perfect home record to 6-0-0 this season.

In his return to the field, it took Gaulmin less than eight minutes to give St. Olaf the lead, as he chipped the ball over an onrushing Evan Siefken after playing a one-two with McCloskey for his first of two first-half goals. Saint John's responded just under 10 minutes later, however, as Ryan Erickson fired the ball into the top-right corner of the net not long after a long throw-in into the box.

Gaulmin restored the Oles' lead in the 39th minute by heading in a McCloskey cross at the back post to put the hosts up at halftime. The two-goal game was Gaulmin's first of the season and the second of his career, as he has now scored five times in his last five games.

Just over six minutes into the second half, McCloskey added to St. Olaf's lead with a diving header off a cross from sophomore Shea Bechtel near the right touchline. With a goal and two assists, McCloskey matched his career high with four points in the win, while also extending his point streak to five games (four goals, four assists).

St. Olaf held a 15-9 advantage in shots in the game, which included a 7-4 lead in shots on goal. Junior Austin Williams collected his sixth win of the season with a three-save performance, while Siefken had four stops in the loss for Saint John's.

The Oles look for their ninth-straight home win dating back to last season when Saint Mary's University (Minn.) visits Rolf Mellby Field on Tuesday, Oct. 11 for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.