LIMA, Ohio - A beautiful back post header from captain Sam Loughton in the second half secured a big first win for the Carroll Men's Soccer team, as they would hold on to win their season opener 1-0 over Northwestern Ohio on Friday afternoon.

While the Fighting Saints have seen their share of season-long success under the direction of third year Head Coach Austin Shick, Friday afternoon's 1-0 win marked the first time that Carroll (1-0) has won their season opener since the 2022 season.

"I'm really proud that it all worked out." said Shick "We certainly weren't the better footballing side for the full 90 minutes, but it was a game of passion, intensity, and care for the little assignments that got us over the top."

Playing in the Eastern Time zone for the first time in the program's 12-year history, the Saints were slow-starting in the opening half.  The Racers were the more aggressive side in the opening 45 minutes, controlling the ball and keeping a potent Carroll attack at bay. After 36 minutes of action, Sean Balen (Mukilteo, Wash. / JR) provided the first shot of the season, and only shot of the half, but the ball sailed over the crossbar. UNOH out-shot the Saints 5-1 in the opening frame, but the teams would enter the midway point in a nil-nil deadlock.

In the 71' Carroll finally found the breakthrough they had been fighting for.

Sam Loughton (East Yorkshire, England / JR) buried a back-post header past the UNOH keeper, making good on an excellent corner kick played in by Balen for the Saints' first goal of the year.

"When we talked about what a goal might look like today, that was exactly the type of goal we were looking for. Kind of unmemorable, but important. It was a great ball into the back post from the corner and Sam finished it well. As a captain and a leader, you know those are the moments that can win you big games like this, and I felt good about it." said Shick.

The work was far from over, as the Saints had to hold off a strong push from the Racers over the final 19 minutes to earn their first win of the season.

"When we set out for this game, we really wanted to get back to our old ways. Defending really deep, making sure we battled for everything, getting 10 guys behind the ball, and working for a clean sheet is kind of our goal for the whole weekend." said Shick "For our young guys, we had a couple come on and learn what this is, who we are, and to understand how much hard work it is to defend a 1-0 lead against a very good team."

Clean sheets have become a staple of the Carroll Men, thanks in large part to the program's all-time shutout leader and first ever All-American, Juan Muniz Navarrete, who returned to the Hilltop for one final go-round. Muniz-Navarrete was as solid as ever in the win, tallying four total saves on the afternoon. All said and done, the Racers posted nine shots to Carroll's four, but the Saints got the one that mattered to secure the victory.

"Overall, a good day."

Following a rest day tomorrow, the Saints will return to Racer Field on Sunday for a neutral site tilt with Aquinas (Mich.) at 1:30 p.m. before heading home.