Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's soccer team started slow in its home opener Friday afternoon against Saint Peter's before recovering to pick up a 2-1 overtime victory. The Colonials are now 3-0 for the first time since 2007 while Saint Peter's, 3-0 winners against UMass in their season opener, fall to 1-1.
 
"I knew it would come, playing two preseason games and two regular games undefeated, that eventually we would play a dog. And we certainly did that in the first half today," said 19th year head coach Bill Denniston. "I don't think we fully recovered in the second half, but it was much better and we created some chances."
 
The golden goal came 29 seconds into overtime before the Peacocks even had a chance at possession. Taking the overtime kickoff, the Colonials worked the ball down the right wing before getting it back to the central midfield. Freshman Lucas Puntillo rifled a ball into the box from 40 yards. Neco Brett, making a diagonal run, got in front of the shot and redirected it over his right shoulder and inside the left post for the gamewinner. It was the fifth goal of the season for the Jamaican-born striker following a four-goal outburst against Cleveland State.
 
"I don't think he meant it, but he's always in the right place. That ball came in hot and I think he tried to take it off his chest and shoot it, but it happened to go in. Goal scorers score goals. Doesn't matter how, they just do," said Denniston.
 
The Colonials started slowly in the first half and the Peacocks were able to take advantage in the 25th minute. Saint Peter's retained possession deep in the Colonials third of the field before Carlos Cartegna found a crack in the Robert Morris defense. He exploited that weakness by slipping a ball into the box where Ezequiel Cei was able to knock it in from 12 yards out. It was the first goal allowed during the run of play by the RMU defense this season.
 
Robert Morris was able to recover in the second half, finding the equalizer in the 60th minute as Jake Cooper set Brett free down the right with a pass through the Peacocks defense. Drawing keeper Jamie Cleland and a defender to the endline, Brett sent a pass back to the center of the box where Puntillo buried a one touch shot for his first career goal. Puntillo finished the game with a goal and an assist.
 
"Lucas is going to score some goals for us this year. He's a good player. He's light and he's a freshman, but he's good with the ball and he's clever and shoots as hard as anyone," said Denniston.
 
Brett would be denied by Cleland just minutes later from 20 yards out. Saint Peter's nearly tallied the gamewinner in the 86th minute, but Luke Fairlamb's effort from just inside the box was corralled by senior keeper Brenden Alfery to send the game into the short overtime session.
 
Alfery finished the contest with five saves while Cleland managed to turn aside two shots.
 
Robert Morris returns to the pitch Sunday, Sept. 6, when they host the Eastern Illinois Panthers in a 1:00 p.m. match at North Athletic Complex.