MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Not much went as intended for the Robert Morris University men's soccer team in Friday's season opener, as visiting Oakland dealt the Colonials a 5-1 loss at the North Athletic Complex.

Senior Christian Coridon's late penalty kick saved the Colonials (0-1) from a shutout defeat at the top of their 36th NCAA season, but that was merely window dressing on an afternoon that got away from Bill Denniston's team early.

"We were too porous in the back," said RMU's 23rd-year head man. "Our work rate has to be better, too."

This was the first time in nearly 10 years an RMU team had allowed five goals, dating back to a 5-1 loss at Niagara in September 2009. Fortunately for the Colonials, they'll be back on their familiar NAC pitch in less than 48 hours, with Bowling Green invading for a Sunday matinée after challenging Duquesne across town this evening.

Oakland (1-0) will battle the Dukes on Sunday as part of the annual RMU-Duquesne Tournament, but the Colonials will be more concerned about their performance than playing for a runner-up finish. In the Golden Grizzlies' first visit to Moon Township, they outshot RMU 23-10, putting 15 of those drives on target.

The situation made for a challenging debut for freshman goalkeeper Mike Zolnierczyk, who stopped 10 shots in what was a deceiving night on the stat sheet. While Zolnierczyk was upset with his decision-making on Oakland's fifth goal, the Springdale graduate and 2018 WPIAL Class A player of the year stoned a few golden Grizzlies chances with sharp reflexes and instincts.

"I was expecting a higher tempo, but nothing can prepare you for your first Division I game," said the 6-foot-4 stopper. "Making the first couple of saves helped me settle down and get a lot of the nerves out."

Despite an early saving block by center back Oeyvind Skjesol inside the RMU six-yard box, the Grizzlies struck shortly thereafter when Cameron Wilde deposited a through-ball from the top of the penalty area. Oakland made it 2-0 on Charlie Brathwaite's cutback move in the 28th minute, followed up 11 minutes later by Mikey Ketteman's backdoor goal off Dylan Borzak's second assist.

The Colonials showed some life late in the first half and in spurts in the second, but Oakland keeper Sullivan Lauderdale didn't have to come up with anything spectacular. Skjesol headed a corner kick into the keeper shortly after the half, but freshman Jon Faynik probably had the best RMU look on 33 minutes, ripping a screamer inches over the crossbar from the right flank. Junior midfielder Matt Cillo forced Lauderdale into a lunging save in the 66th as well.

At least there was a breakthrough in the 87th minute, when Coridon battled his way into the Oakland box and got the penalty call. The New Jersey native calmly buried up the middle against Lauderdale, converting his third career NCAA goal -- his first since he was a sophomore.

Unfortunately, by then the result was decided. Oakland's Borzak added a point-blank goal in the 71st minute, then Dawson Schrum chipped one home in the 77th. Zolnierczyk mixed in a couple of sparkling saves, not that those offered much consolation to him or the home team.

"At the end of the day, I wasn't able to do my job as well as I should've," Zolnierczyk said. "It was a slap in the face and a wake-up call for me and the rest of the guys. We've gotta clean this stuff up over the next few games and get ready for conference (play)."

There's still a long way to go before the Northeast Conference comes calling, but the road to improvement begins at 1 p.m. Sunday.