Hackettstown, NJ - The Centenary Cyclones scored a goal in each half to down the Cairn men's soccer team on Tuesday afternoon. Tyler Smith scored for the Highlanders in the 14th minute to tie the match at 1-1, but Centenary controlled play in the second-half out shooting Cairn 14-4 across the final 45 minutes. Included in the Cyclones' 14 shots was a goal from Ricky Castro in the 65th minute to break the tie and give Centenary the eventual 2-1 victory.
 
The game was really a tale of two halves, Cairn played extremely even throughout the first 45 minutes outshooting the Cyclones by a 9-8 mark in the first-half. The second-half however belonged to Centenary. Thy Cyclones held a 14-4 edge in shots, connecting on one and putting another six on frame forcing Mark Heater to make six saves after the break to keep the contest competitive.
 
The contest was extremely competitive throughout the evening. Centenary scored an early goal in the ninth minute after knocking on the door with two shots in the first four minutes, both attempts went high. Luis Marin connected for the tally with a shot just outside the box.
 
Cairn wasted no time turning up the pressure over the next few minutes. Five minutes later Tyler Smith found the back of the net for the first time in his career off a corner kick for the Highlanders. Brendan Keller sent a ball into the box, and after a save by the Centenary keeper Tyler Smith was there to clean up the rebound for the equalizer.
 
With the score now tied at 1-1 less than 20 minutes into the match, both teams looked to snag the lead before the break. From the 27th to 31st minutes the Highlanders registered three shots, but attempts from Joey Weaver (high), Zack Nelson (wide), and Matthew Bergmaier (wide) could not find the frame and the game remained even.
 
The 35th minute resulted in three corner kicks and a pair of shots from the Cyclones, but nothing got to Heater and the score remained level at 1-1 heading into halftime.
 
After the break, Connor Eby sent a shot over the bar in the 52nd minute to open the half. Unfortunately for the Highlanders, Centenary would take the next 13 shots in the contest. With the score still even at 1-1, the Highlanders dodged a bullet when a shot by Chris Cameron hit the crossbar. The danger was escaped for only a few minutes as Richy Castro finally connected on a tap in from the left-side in the 65th minute.
 
Joey Weaver put the only shot on goal for Cairn in the second-half in the 73rd minute, but it was saved by Centenary's Devon Warne. The Highlanders did have a couple of late attempts but they missed their intended target or were blocked and Cairn fell by a 2-1 final.
 
In goal, Mark Heater made a total of seven saves in the match including six in the second-half.
 
The 2-1 loss marks Cairn's 10th game decided by one goal, including eight of their last nine contests this season. On the season the Highlanders are 3-7 in games with a one-goal margin.
 
Cairn drops to 5-10-1 on the season and 1-5-0 in the CSAC, they next take the field on Saturday when they travel to Rosemont College on Saturday. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m.