SALISBURY, Md. – After ending last season with a hat trick, senior Patrick Santini (Cos Cob, Conn./Greenwich) picked up right where he left off, scoring the game-winning goal and assisting on another as the Gettysburg College men's soccer team captured its season opener with a 2-1 victory over St. Mary's (Md.) College on Friday at the Salisbury University Elmer Lord Memorial Tournament.
 
The Bullets were facing St. Mary's for the first time since 1993 and improved to 15-5-3 all-time versus the Seahawks.
 
St. Mary's, a 12-4-2 team last season, struck first when Emmanuel Oppong scored in the 18th minute. But Gettysburg answered when sophomore Ezekiel Omosanya (Lagos, Nigeria/Northfield Mount Hermon) accepted Santini's corner kick and finished in front of the net, making it a 1-1 game in the 25th minute.
 
Senior Lucas Weissman (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) set up Santini's game-winner, sending an outlet pass down the right side of the field. Santini ran the ball down, then slotted a shot from the right side past the goalie and into the net.
 
It was the fifth career game-winner for Santini, who scored three goals in Gettysburg's season-ending 5-1 win at McDaniel College last season.
 
Shortly after the goal, St. Mary's fired off a shot that was saved by sophomore Thomas Keane (Potomac, Md./Gonzaga College). It would turn out to be the Seahawks' final shot on goal.
 
Keane also registered a save in the first half to finish with stops for the game. Zack Haussler made one save for the Seahawks.
 
St. Mary's finished with slim 9-8 shot advantage while Gettysburg owned a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Bullets conclude tournament play on Saturday, when they take on Salisbury beginning at 3 p.m.