LANCASTER, Pa. -- Connor Anderko's header 72 seconds  into overtime sent No. 18 Franklin & Marshall College to a season-opening 1-0 win at home over Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon at Tylus Field.

A red card late in regulation – the team's second card in the final ten minutes of regulation -- put the Diplomats a man down entering overtime, but a corner kick whipped in from Phillip Monos found Anderko at the near post for the game winner.

The Diplomats had early chances against Eastern (1-1-0), racking up seven corner kicks in the first half, including five in the first seven minutes of play. The best chances off the run of corners came off the dome of Dallen Moore in the fifth minute which was snared by sophomore keeper Dylan Pallanck (Willington), making his second start of the year in four days after making the first two starts of his career last spring. F&M continued its strong run of play through the end of the half, with Steven Yakita, Christian Avila Neres and A.J. Kopacz all having chances snuffed out.

Eastern, which had opened its season Wednesday in a 6-0 conquest of Mass College in a driving rain at Rick McCarthy Field, came out of the break in control, racking up four straight shots and silencing the F&M offense. Sam Altman Farrell was up to the task, making several diving stops to keep the nil-nil deadlock intact. F&M thought it might have broken through in the 70th minute, as Moore hit a screamer over the crossbar.

Both teams picked up the pace toward the end of regulation, leading to a yellow card shown to either side. It culminated in a red card being shown to Adam Green in the 89th minute for a late challenge on Pallanck, putting F&M down to ten men entering extra time.

The Diplomats wasted little time, and immediately hit the gas down the field. After Neres's shot was deflected out for a corner, the Monos to Anderko connection sent the home crowd into a frenzy with a golden goal winner.

F&M led in shots (13-10) and corners (10-3) on the day.

Pallanck, who had six saves,  allowed his first goal after 300:34 scoreless minutes dating back to the first of two matches of last spring. He had recorded shutouts in each of his last two starts after dropping a 1-0 decision to Rhode Island College last April 3 in the first start of his career.

Eastern visits No. 9-ranked Messiah College – an 11-time national champion -- Monday at Shoemaker Field at 6 p.m. The Falcons hosted the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in their season-opener Saturday night. Messiah finished 18-3-2 in 2019 after being eliminated in the Round of 16 of the NCAA tournament in overtime by RPI.

Franklin & Marshall Sports Information contributed to this game account.