Moon Township, Pa. / North Athletic Complex?The Robert Morris University men's soccer team beat Duquesne, 2-0, in the season opener for both teams at North Athletic Complex Friday afternoon. Both Robert Morris goals came in the second half as they outshot the visiting Dukes, 11-8.

A scoreless first half saw Duquesne control the majority of play with each team managing four shots. Duquesne looked like they had taken the lead 25 minutes into the game, but the officials had called offsides on a free kick nullifying the Dukes apparent goal.

The Colonials regrouped early in the second half. Senior midfielder Ryan Zabinski (New Cumberland, Pa. / Cedar Cliff) put RMU ahead 4:53 into the second frame. He carried the ball across the top of the 18-yard box before ripping a left-footed shot back across the field into the upper right corner of the net for his first of the season.

Duquesne had a chance to knot the game in the 66th minute with a penalty kick but Robert Morris junior goaltender Matt Felice (Mississauga, Ontario / Philip Pocock) reacted to Pat Flinn's shot to the lower left corner of the net knocking it away. The rebound went right to foot of Matthew Groves who blasted the ball off the left post and out of play.

The Colonials quickly turned the momentum in their favor, scoring just three minutes after the missed penalty kick. Junior Tyler Stanley (Kalispell, Mont. / Columbia Falls (Shippensburg)) played a curling ball over the defense to freshman Neil Shaffer (Aliquippa, Pa. / Beaver) who was running down the right wing. Shaffer took one touch and then placed his right-footed shot inside the far left post, giving RMU a 2-0 lead in the 69th minute.

Felice finished the game with three saves while Patrick Finnegan stopped two shots in taking the loss. Duquesne was issued six yellow cards and Robert Morris received two. The Colonials committed 18 fouls to the Dukes' 17.

Robert Morris travels to Canisius for a 3:00 p.m. game Sunday, Sept. 2.