Langhorne, PA – Cairn University picked up two wins over the weekend to move to 2-1 on the season; the Highlanders defeated the University of Valley Forge 4-3 and Bryn Athyn College 1-0. The game-winning goal against Bryn Athyn was scored in the second-half by Ben Cardillo following a hand ball in the box resulting in a penalty kick.
 
"It was a gutsy effort from our guys," explained head coach Luke Gibson. "A lot of our guys played really well and Ben was able to step up and slot away the goal pretty calmly."
 
Four different players picked up goals in the win against Valley Forge: Craig Kikendall, Caleb Moore, Connor Grogan, and Joey Weaver. All four goals came before Valley Forge could put any on the board. The Highlanders led the Patriots on shots 29-8 and in corner kicks 8-1.
 
Cairn played the neutral game on Saturday at Bryn Athyn College and returned home on Sunday to play against the Lions. Bryn Athyn appeared to have a slight advantage throughout the first half, with a higher percentage of the possession and more chances on goal. However, the Highlanders turned things around in the second half.
 
The Highlanders outshot the Lions 10-3 throughout the second half and were much more poised with the ball than in the first half. Cairn come out of halftime with a little more energy than Bryn Athyn and had a few chances early on. Cardillo's penalty kick goal then came in the 60^th minute of the game.
 
Connor Eby did well to carry the ball down the right side of the field and send a nice cross over to Brady Dorman who headed the ball down. The ball bounced in front of a defender who instinctively shot his hand up to block the ball. The referee issued the yellow card and Cardillo stepped up for the strike.
 
The Lions tried as they might throughout the rest of the half to get the ball into the Highlanders' net but the defense was just too strong. Andrew Gordon holds the back line very well and will be a nuisance for any opponent this season.
 
With the wins, Cairn improved to 2-1 to start the season, while Valley Forge dropped to 0-3 and Bryn Athyn to 2-1. The Highlanders will return to the field this Wednesday when they host Wilson College in Langhorne, Pa., at 4 p.m.