LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Top Saint Mary forward Anthony Rangel scored three goals and assisted on another, and that was more than enough to power the Spires (2-4-2, 1-2-0 KCAC) to a 5-1 win over Avila (2-5-1, 1-1-1 KCAC) on Wednesday night in Leavenworth, handing the Eagles their first conference loss this season.

For the second straight year in the men's soccer matchup between the KCAC's two schools based in and around Kansas City, the Spires' offense stole the show. And unlike last season at The Z, where Saint Mary won in an offensive shootout by both teams, this season the Eagles were only able to return fire once, and USM out-gunned Avila in a 5-1 win.

Ramiro Vasquez got the scoring started for Saint Mary 14 minutes in, and 15 minutes after that Rangel opened his account to make it 2-0. Avila cooked up an immediate response, though, with defensive midfielder Thomas Mikkelson delivering his second goal of the season less than a minute after Rangel's tally.

That got the Eagles within 2-1 half an hour into the contest, but four minutes after Mikkelson's goal Rangel set up Matthew Thom to put the Spires up 3-1, and the Eagles could not answer back. Rangel scored twice in the span of less than two minutes in the second half to complete his hat trick and seal the 5-1 win for the Spires.

Malcolm Goswell, Sam Kanda and Henri Kagay got shots on backup goalkeeper Come Grieu in the final 12 minutes to try to keep the Eagles in in; Avila goalkeeper Jonathan Fager was credited with seven saves in the loss.

Up next, the Eagles return to The Z for their third home conference game of the campaign when the Sterling Warriors come to town this Saturday, September 23. The women's game kicks off the doubleheader at 1 PM with the men's game to follow at 3:30; as always, you can watch all the action on the Avila Sports Network.