UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Life as a defending playoff champion, and the accompanying pressure to uphold that honor, is never easy to manage. Such was the stern reminder the Robert Morris men's lacrosse team received in its 2019 season opener.

A rare 15-1 run by No. 9 Penn State (2-0) that closed out the first half and spilled into the second slingshot the Nittany Lions past the Colonials (0-1) in a 27-10 game at Holuba Hall Saturday afternoon. The intra-state combatants crossed paths for the first time since Feb. 24, 2018, when RMU toppled another nationally-ranked Penn State squad at Panzer Stadium to launch its remarkable run to its first-ever NCAA Tournament.

Decorated attackman Grant Ament, who missed that 2018 matchup--to say nothing of the rest of the season--with a foot injury, paced the PSU attack for the second week in a row, recording six assists and seven points.

A pair of two-time All-Northeast Conference selections and 2019 co-captains gave the Colonials positives to build upon going forward with their rigorous non-conference slate. Senior midfielder Tyson Gibson, immortalized by his golden goal in the NEC Tournament final last spring, collected his first collegiate hat trick and led RMU with five points. Redshirt senior attackman Matt Schmidt, the team's back-to-back goals leader, resumed his 2018 pace with two scores, both on extra-man opportunities.

Robert Morris found the net all four times it went a man up. This marked the third time within the past calendar year that RMU registered four man-up goals in a single game, previously accomplishing the uncommon feat versus Sacred Heart Mar. 17, 2018 and High Point Mar. 3, 2018.

The Colonials got as close as 3-2 with 5:12 left in the first quarter before the dam broke. RMU tilted the field early, but it was Mac O'Keefe who broke the scoreless tie for the Nittany Lions with 9:26 remaining.

Gibson sprinted down the right wing and, just 44 seconds later, rifled a shot upstairs past Colby Kneese to get Robert Morris on the board for the first time in 2019. Gerard Arceri restored Penn State's lead right off his ensuing faceoff win before TJ Malone extended it with 6:48 to play in the opening period.

RMU caught a break when Jack Kelly was hit with a thirty-second offside call with 5:27 to go. Again, the Robert Morris offense, literally, aimed high, as Gibson set up Brad McCulley, and the redshirt sophomore beat Kneese with a midrange snipe.

When Penn State started its prolonged tear, Gibson stopped the bleeding with Bobby Burns in the box for a one-minute slashing penalty, converting a shot right down the middle with 8:39 left in the half.

Schmidt, who established an RMU single-season record with nine man-up goals in 2018, scored on a left-wing laser aided by Gibson with 14:14 left in the game, following an illegal procedure call against Dylan Foulds. The Central Bucks East product did it again just over four minutes later, with Dean Lamela serving a one-minute major for an illegal check.

Prior to that late outburst, Gibson completed his HT with just over 56 seconds to play in the third quarter. He rounded out his day by feeding Dan Taddeo for his first collegiate goal 23 seconds into the fourth.

Also standing out offensively for the visitors was sophomore attackman Corson Kealey. The 2018 All-NEC Rookie pick paid a physical price to force a loose ball into the Nittany Lions cage with 8:13 left in the third, and he added a nifty diving goal, leaping to his left across the crease to score inside the final minute of the period.

Despite the onslaught by the hosts, senior goalkeeper Alex Heger looked sharp in the game's infancy. The 2019 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American made nine of his game-high 11 saves in the first quarter alone. Additionally, he helped his team go a perfect 12-for-12 on first-half clearing attempts.

Head coach Andrew McMinn, beginning his eighth season at the helm, pulled the trigger on myriad second-half substitutions, including a respite for Heger. Redshirt sophomore Chris Reynolds, another of last year's postseason heroes, came on for the fourth and made a couple of saves before giving way to the collegiate debut of freshman Francisco Cox.

Derek Palma, Colton Lidstone, James Christoforatos, Brandon Sulhoff, Will Johansen, Evan Hellmich and local product Josh Schreibeis (Cranberry Township, Pa.//Seneca Valley) all debuted for Robert Morris as well.

Another newcomer, Owen Down, made his first career start on defense, finishing with one of six caused turnovers recorded by the Colonials.

Trey Arnold went 10-13 (.435) from the X to begin his junior year. Sophomore FOGO Michael Autry won six draws in his first NCAA game since transferring from Bellarmine this past summer.

Arnold also led the Colonials with five ground balls. Robert Morris kept things close in the GB department, with Penn State ultimately holding a 34-30 edge.

Robert Morris visits reigning Big East playoff champ Georgetown next Saturday. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET at Cooper Field in Washington, D.C. and can be seen live on GUHoyas.com (subscription required).

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