MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The No. 17 Robert Morris men's lacrosse team has already proven it can compete with some of the nation's top teams, and it eventually capitalized on its first opportunity to prove that to the rest of the Northeast Conference.

The Colonials (5-2, 1-0) struggled to a two-goal halftime deficit, but they used a second-half surge to defeat Sacred Heart, 12-8, at Joe Walton Stadium Saturday afternoon. RMU extended its winning streak to four games in the NEC opener for both teams.

After the Pioneers (4-4, 0-1) took a 5-3 lead into the break, redshirt junior attackman Matt Schmidt capped his third hat trick of the season, including one of four man-up goals by Robert Morris on the day, en route to his second four-goal outing of the month. He fueled a 6-1 run over the last two quarters that gave RMU the victory.

"The main thing we talked about at halftime was our effort," said head coach Andrew McMinn, now 21-14 all-time against the NEC. "We've been so proud of the effort these guys have been putting in, but we felt, in that first 30 minutes, we really didn't stand out as the harder workers. We didn't really change anything from a schematic standpoint, we just had to come out and show we were going to put in more effort than in those first 30 minutes."

This marks the second straight home game in which the Colonials converted four extra-man opportunities. Previously, they had not done that since Feb. 21, 2015 at Detroit, and had not done it twice in the same season since May 2, 2013.

A turning point came in the early stages of the third quarter when the Pios had a goal waved off, but got a chance to extend their 5-3 lead nevertheless when Jimmy Perkins was sent off on a 30-second pushing penalty. The Colonials, who went 3-for-4 in man-down situations, killed it off, and Schmidt finally broke the stubborn SHU defense with a wicked left-wing shot 5:52 into the period, just moments after Matt Caracappa had taken a one-minute slashing call.

"Real fast ball movement, that's the key, just getting the defense to keep moving," said Schmidt, who has five of his team-leading 17 goals in man-up situations. "We've worked so hard throughout the week to make sure our endurance and our stamina is top-notch. We're moving the ball as quick as we can and tiring them out, and we get guys open and take shots.

"That's what we've focused on, and it's worked for us."

Eighteen seconds later, Schmidt tied the match, as Tyson Gibson connected with him on a perfect centering pass as the Central Bucks East High School product was cutting toward the net.

Perkins redeemed himself in a big way by pulling Robert Morris even again with 3:21 remaining in the period, firing a shot past Brooks Dutton from the right elbow. The Pittsburgh prodigy also collected two of his three assists in the second half, setting up fourth-quarter goals by Carter Yepsen and rookie Jake Boudreau that helped keep Sacred Heart at bay.

The former multi-sport champion at nearby Quaker Valley High School continues to lead RMU with 17 helpers in 2018.

Sophomore attackman Ryan Smith had two apples of his own, both coming on the last two man-up scores by the Colonials. His backdoor pass to Eddie Smith, a split second before the latter Smith was knocked to the turf, triggered one with 1:04 to go in the third.

He helped Corson Kealey make it 9-7 RMU with 9:55 left in the fourth, extending the newcomer's goal streak to six games, after Schmidt had given the Colonials the lead for good a little over two minutes earlier. With players on both sides, including Dutton, searching for a loose ball at the edge of the crease, Schmidt colorfully golfed it into the exposed Pioneers goal to round out his impressive performance.

"We came out with a lot of heart. Coming out down kind of sparked us a bit," Schmidt said of his team's, and his own, big finish. "The last couple weeks, we were coming out on top going into half. We said we had to get on fire a bit, and we got it done."

He gave Robert Morris its first lead of the game with 12:04 left in the first quarter, finding the net from the close left wing off a Perkins pass from behind the cage. Adrian Torok-Orban had gotten the Colonials on the board exactly one minute prior from the close right wing with his sixth of the year, and the first of the aforementioned four man-up tallies.

Meanwhile, defenseman Will Ewing was dialed in again, with a pair of ground balls and two of six caused turnovers, and fellow junior and reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Week Alex Heger made 11 saves while scooping four ground balls. Schmidt also added four GB's.

Sophomore FOGO Trey Arnold led Robert Morris in that category, with six, while going a healthy 13-for-23 (.565) from the X.

Furthermore, the RMU defense was able to contain Sacred Heart midfielder Max Tuttle, limiting his damage to two goals and one assist. Tuttle entered Saturday averaging an NCAA-best 3.71 goals per game.

No. 17 Robert Morris will try for its fifth straight win next Saturday, when it visits NEC rival Mount St. Mary's. The opening faceoff from Emmitsburg, Maryland is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

Its longest winning streak under McMinn was a six-game spurt in 2012, his first season in charge, which led to the team's first-ever regular-season conference crown.

"We pride ourselves on always approaching every situation the same," he said, "but of course, getting into the conference schedule now, we're happy to get things started on the right foot."

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