DURANGO, Colo. – Nicco Schiappa's first career goal is one to remember.
 
The MSU Denver defender tracked Jonas Votaw's corner kick into the box in front of the goal and then delivered a laser of a header into the back right corner of the net – no word yet if it ripped a hole – for the game-winning goal at 66:25 as the Roadrunners came from behind for a 2-1 win at Fort Lewis on Sunday.
 
"It was just a crushing header to the back of the net," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said. "He hit it with his head harder than I can shoot it with my foot. I'm pumped that he was able to step on today and contribute."
 
The win put MSU Denver at 6-1-1 in non-conference play heading into Wednesday's 7 p.m. league opener at home against Regis. That matches the Roadrunners' best start to a season since the 2000 team opened at 9-0. (The 2007, 2008 and 2010 teams were also 6-1-1.)
 
"It was a great comeback win in a tough environment," Kirchhof said. "The first half, Fort Lewis was really good and made us chase, and took advantage of a penalty. I thought the halftime score of 1-0 was a fair result.
 
"The first half was tough and a bit nervy, but we came back and asserted ourselves in the second half."
 
Nifty work by returning All-RMAC honorees Aidan Bates and Bryson Chiles led to the game-tying goal at 54:27.
 
Bates took a pass in the middle of the field from Aaron Biggerstaff, and cleverly worked his way past a Fort Lewis defender. Then Chiles streaked into the box and ran onto a beautiful pass by Bates. Taking possession with three defenders around him, Chiles shot from in front and about 10 yards out, past a defender and the outstretched goalkeeper.
 
"Aidan found good bit of space and had great composure, and then Bryson made great run and slotted it past the keeper," Kirchhof said. "It was a great bit of quality from both of them. Bryson's finish was calm and it was exactly what we needed in that moment."
 
Bates now has four assists in his last four games after having no assists (but also 12 goals) in his first 23 games as a Roadrunner.
 
"We gave the guys a lot of crap last year because Aidan would put them in a good spot and they would miss the target," Kirchhof said. "Now Aidan is starting to get his due on the assist side."
 
After being outshot 6-2 in the first half, the Roadrunners had a 12-4 advantage in shots in the second half – including a 7-0 margin in shots on goal in the final 45 minutes.
 
"I absolutely loved that in the second half, our guys had urgency and played at a faster tempo," Kirchhof said. "We scored the first goal fairly quickly, and then we kept going.
 
"Alec (Nguyen) and Bryson had a great work rate in the midfield. From box to box they were working and moving the game forward."
 
MSU Denver opens Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Wednesday at the Assembly Athletic Complex in the 7 p.m. Hispanic Heritage Night game against Regis.