EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, Missouri S&T picked up a critical road win Friday night to help solidify its spot among the top eight teams in the Great Lakes Valley Conference by knocking off Southern Indiana 2-0.

S&T got both of its goals in the first half, getting one from Andy Held (Alton, Ill./Alton) with just under six minutes gone and the second from Peter Vaccaro (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West ) in the latter stages of the first half. From there, the Miner defense took care of the rest as they posted their third victory in succession and first shutout in nearly a month.

Held got his goal on an assist from Vaccaro at the 5:51 mark, then Vaccaro got his second tally in as many games at 36:30 off a pass from David Kekec (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue).

The Miners outshot the Eagles 15-12 for the evening, although USI had a 6-1 edge in corner kicks. Pat McNamee (Fenton, Mo./Vianney ) made four saves for the Miners – all of them in the second half – to give the Miners their first shutout since a 2-0 win over Illinois-Springfield on Sept. 13.

The win moved the Miners into a tie for seventh place with Quincy in the standings and they remained a game and a half ahead of Missouri-St. Louis, who is in ninth place at the .500 mark. The top eight teams will qualify for next month's conference tournament.

S&T (5-4-1, 5-3-1 GLVC) will play Kentucky Wesleyan Sunday at 2:30 p.m., in Owensboro, Ky.