MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Freshman forward Sheridan Reid notched her first two-goal game as a Colonial and senior midfielder Nicolette Casarcia's first NCAA tally held up as the decider as the Robert Morris University women's soccer team secured its first win of 2019, 3-1 over Canisius on Monday afternoon.

The Colonials (1-2-1) trailed 1-0 at the half, so to that point they had generated just two goals in roughly 350 minutes of match play this season. Dating back to the opener 10 days ago, they had scored one goal in their past six halves.

But a corner kick won shortly after halftime helped turn the tables at the North Athletic Complex, with Reid polishing off a headed cross by fellow freshman Kayla Veloso-Lima to tie the score in the 48th minute.

Eleven minutes later, after a stretch of RMU possession, Casarcia intercepted an attempted Canisius clearance and let fly from about 30 yards, wrong-footing Golden Griffins keeper Alana Rossi and putting RMU in front for the first time in a three-match homestand.

"It's really nice," said Casarcia of her personal breakthrough, which occurred in her 48th collegiate game.

"As a senior, I definitely wanted it. It feels really good, but we have freshmen scoring, too. It's not a class thing. We're all playing together."

For the newcomer Reid, her brace gave her three goals in her first four Division I games. Her second goal Sunday was similar to her first, as she positioned herself for a rebound when sophomore defender Allie Ball turned to blast a left-footed drive from 15 yards. Rossi made a fine diving save but was helpless to deny the opportunistic Reid, a native of the Harrisburg suburb of Camp Hill.



With just 13 minutes to play in regulation, the Colonials could shift it into cruise control for the first time this season. Once a Shauna Lee chance rang the RMU crossbar in the 83rd minute, the result was elementary.

"I'm excited, and a little bit relieved," said head coach John Kowalski. "A key to the comeback was a little bit of enthusiasm for the second half. We went back to the initial (starting) lineup and told them to put some pressure on in the penalty box. Shoot the ball."

As evidenced by a season-best 19 shots -- 12 of those on target -- the Colonials heeded the words of their 19th-year bench boss. After a stormy Saturday night across western Pennsylvania, goalkeepers had a hard time planting their feet to meet high shots, a factor that come into play on Casarcia's boomer from distance.

"Coach was saying it was important to take shots when we had them," said Casarcia, a native of Plum. "That's what I did when I saw the opportunity."

The rally made a winner of junior goalkeeper Sydney Bruckner, who for the second time in three games had to come off the bench. She entered on 32 minutes this time, replacing starter Julia Schmid after the senior had twisted an ankle.

Continuing an early theme this year, Bruckner was at her best when sprinting off her line to smother chances. She showed off her burst in the 69th minute with RMU up 2-1, getting the better of Canisius' Alexis Henderson from 10 yards out.

A half an hour earlier, Bruckner couldn't stop Alicia Larsson-Vahlberg from roofing a right-wing shot to put Canisius (1-2) ahead at the half. That was a painful moment for RMU, which led 6-1 in shots at the 30-minute mark and enjoyed several promising runs of possession in the attacking half of the pitch. Reid blasted a cross off the bar in the 11th minute, hinting at events to come.

To the Colonials' credit, they didn't let a Canisius goal against the run of play deter their improving form.

"We were finally finding feet (with passes) and playing with each other," said Casarcia, who typically plays in a holding position. "We were finding our confidence. At the end of the first half we slowed down, but we came out of halftime and got the job done."

Kowalski said his coaching focus will continue to be on pushing the counterattack and getting players forward. The Colonials have just one match in the next week, Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C., against Howard.

And while Reid might well prove to be a consistent goal producer at this level, it has to hearten the Colonials that they scored three without Kristina Kelley getting on the scoresheet. The senior midfielder still led RMU with four shots Monday, including a 20-yard drive off the left post that followed her own interception.

Another fourth-year stalwart had better luck on Labor Day, lighting up several faces on the home bench. Getting a result helped, too.

"It's good to win," Casarcia said, "because we were due for one."