EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Senior Clemente Arcuch Puig scored the lone goal of the game in the 61st minute to lift the St. Olaf College men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over UW-Eau Claire in a matchup of regionally-ranked teams on Wednesday night at Simpson Field.

Arcuch Puig blasted a one-timer into the top-right corner of the net 15 minutes into the second half off assists from classmates Hakeem Morgan and Casey McCloskey and St. Olaf (6-3-1) made the goal stand up to shut out UW-Eau Claire (8-2-2). The Oles were ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Region IX poll this week, while the Blugolds were No. 7.

The win extended St. Olaf's unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1), while UW-Eau Claire saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end. It also marked just the second home loss in program history – the first since Oct. 24, 2021 – for the Blugolds, who were 21-1-0 all-time at Simpson Field entering the night. Arcuch Puig's goal was the first goal UW-Eau Claire had conceded on its home turf all season.

St. Olaf has won both meetings in the series between the two programs, previously defeating the then-No. 23-ranked Blugolds by a 3-0 margin at Rolf Mellby Field a year ago. UW-Eau Claire added men's soccer prior to the 2021 season.

Junior Peter Forseth and the Oles' defense held the Blugolds, who entered the game fourth in the country in scoring at 3.73 goals per game, to 11 shots and two shots on goal. Entering the night, UW-Eau Claire ranked third in the country in shots per game (21.5) and seventh in shots on goal per game (10.3). Forseth had just two saves to make in collecting his third shutout of the season and the eighth of his career.

Junior Shea Bechtel had the most clear-cut scoring chance of the opening half but fired the ball straight at UW-Eau Claire goalkeeper Mark Belknap after a knockdown by Morgan in the 21st minute. The Blugolds generated a pair of chances in the final 10 minutes of the half off of long throw-ins but could not get either effort on target.

With the game still scoreless, Arcuch Puig produced the decisive moment 15 minutes into the second half, scoring the 10th goal of his career for the lone goal of the game. From the left flank, McCloskey drove a cross into the box that Morgan laid off for Arcuch Puig, who drove the ball into the top-right corner to leave Belknap with no chance.

Morgan's assist was his second of the season and the 21st of his career, while McCloskey picked up his team-leading fifth of the season to take sole possession of sixth in program history with the 19th of his career. Morgan had a chance to give the Oles a two-goal cushion in the 74th minute but could not find the target with his right-footed shot off a feed from senior Victor Gaulmin.

The two teams combined for just six shots on goal in the game, with St. Olaf having four and UW-Eau Claire two. The hosts owned a slim 11-10 advantage in shots over the 90 minutes. Belknap was saddled with his first loss of the season with a three-save evening.

The Oles return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play with a trip to Hamline University on Saturday, Oct. 7 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.