HELENA, Mont. - Entering the evening separated by just one point in the CCC table, the (RV) Carroll Men put some distance between themselves and Warner Pacific with a 2-0 shutout on Friday on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

The Fighting Saints (9-2-2, 7-1-1) came into the week needing six points to remain in the chase for the 2025 Cascade Collegiate Conference crown, and picked up the first three in a 2-0 shutout of the Knights (10-4, 6-3).

The Knights were the aggressors early, attacking at every chance over the first 15 minutes of the match. Their efforts went unrewarded, however, as the Saints weathered the early storm.

In the 29th minute, Nils Benning (Kiel, Germany / JR) put Carroll in front for good with a beautiful strike from outside of the box. The junior transfer's fourth goal of the season was buried into the top right corner of the net from range off an assist from Joseph Satterthwaite (Las Vegas, Nev. / SR) to give Carroll a 1-0 lead at the break.

The pace slowed to a near halt in the second half, with fouls exchanged by both sides and a total of six yellow cards shown (WPU 4 | CC 2).

With just ten minutes remaining, Enrico Paparelli (Sao Paulo, Brazil / R-SO) put the game to rest. Carroll's leading scorer from the 2023 season, sidelined all of last year with a knee injury, scored his first goal of the season from nearly 40 yards out on a terrific counter opportunity. Paparelli lofted a perfect ball over the WPU keeper with a nifty assist from Felix Billard (Mallorca, Spain / JR), providing a well-earned insurance goal.

Juan Muniz Navarrete (Hermiston, Ore. / GR) added to his school record for clean sheets, picking up a pair of clutch saves in the second half to help the Saints punch their ticket to the CCC Championship next month.

Sunday afternoon at 2:30, the Saints will host a senior day contest against Walla Walla, as they continue their pursuit of a second-straight CCC title.