MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- An 80th-minute own goal decided the Northeast Conference opener for the Robert Morris University men's soccer team, which claimed a 1-0 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Friday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex.

Sophomore forward Riccardo Rota triggered the winning play, as he stopped on a dime outside the right side of the Mount penalty area, then served in a left-footed cross that deflected into the goal off a defender. Cristian Palermo was the closest Colonial to the ball, forcing the Mountaineers to backpedal.

This was the first time this season the Colonials (2-6-1, 1-0-0 NEC) didn't allow the opening goal. In its first eight matches, RMU had led for just 16 minutes -- all of those coming at the end of its come-from-behind victory over California Baptist three weeks ago.

There was no rally necessary this time, however. In fact, the Colonials burst out of the gate with the decided edge in play. Freshman forward Ethan Romito barely missed the goal on a couple of early opportunities, while senior defender Christopher Coridon nodded a Palermo corner kick wide by inches.

The Mount (3-4-0, 0-1-0 NEC) eventually pushed back, generating its best look in the 26th minute, when Yann Kouemi took a through-ball and faced up against RMU freshman keeper Mike Zolnierczyk. Kouemi ticketed his shot for the top-left corner of the goal, only to watch Zolnierczyk spring up for the best of his four saves.

Zolnierczyk has now started back-to-back games for the Colonials, the first keeper to get that honor this season. His Mount counterpart Riccardo Zonta wasn't as busy, as RMU guided just two of 12 shots on frame.

Although the Colonials outshot the Mount 12-8, the two sides combined for just eight attempts (four for each side) as play tightened in the second half. With golden-goal overtime looming, the magic moment went RMU's way.

With a leg up on its conference foes, Robert Morris completes a program-record six-match homestand at 3:30 Sunday. Fairleigh Dickinson (4-3-0, 0-0-0 NEC) will provide the opposition in its lone match of the weekend.