ERIE, Pa. - The Roberts Wesleyan College men's soccer team jumped out to a fast start and held on late for a 4-3 victory over Gannon University on Sunday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium.

"It was a good win for us," said Roberts head coach Scott Reber, whose team was playing its first match since March 27. "To get back on the field and knock some rust off, I thought was really good for us." 

Junior forward Dylan Ruiz and sophomore forward Justin Robertson each scored two goals for the Redhawks.

Ruiz struck first, stealing the ball at the Gannon 30-yard line, dribbling around a defender and sending a low shot across the box and into the net, giving the Redhawks (2-1) a 1-0 lead just 15 seconds into the game. 

"As long as I have been around the program, I can't remember a quicker goal," said Reber, whose connections date back more than 30 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

Roberts didn't wait long to increase its lead as Robertson beat his defender one-on-one and headed in his own rebound in the fifth minute for the Whitby, Ontario, native's first goal as a Redhawk.

Charlie Petersen scored in the seventh minute to cut the Redhawks' lead in half before Robertson struck again in the 33rd minute as the University of Central Arkansas transfer reeled in a long pass from Ruiz, got behind the defense and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper for a 3-1 advantage..

Gannon's Sergio Del Castillo scored two goals in 32 seconds early in the second half to tie the game at 3.

The Redhawks responded quickly as Ruiz, a National Christian College Athletic Association and United States Coaches All-American in 2019, converted a penalty kick in the 51st minute. Ruiz was taken down 43 seconds after Gannon pulled even.

"That showed a lot of character, a lot of fight and a lot of grit," Reber said. "A lot of teams would have folded there."

The Redhawks also showed determination while closing the game out two men down in the final six minutes.

Sophomore Jared Gibbons made five saves for Roberts, which avenged a 2-1 double-overtime loss to the Golden Knights at home on March 20.

The Redhawks will return to action for a home exhibition match against Medaille College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13.