Langhorne, PA – The Cairn Highlanders opened the 2016 season this afternoon on their home turf against the Moravian Greyhounds. An own goal in the seventh minute put the Highlanders in an early hole that they could not work themselves out of, eventually falling by a 2-0 final.
 
The Greyhounds controlled much of the opening few minutes, however play was controled in the midfield. While the first shot of the game would not come until the 12th minute, the first goal of the game came in the seventh. The Greyhounds held a free kick at the midfield stripe and sent a ball into the box. The Highlanders initially cleared the ball away and sent play back to the midfield. Moravian again sent a long ball into the box from the center stripe. The ball bounced behind the Cairn back line where Brett Lubben tried to settle. Cairn keeper Mark Heater pressured Lubben and the ball began to trick toward the goal-mouth. In an attempt to clear a Highlander defenseman, who had filled in behind Heater, hit the ball off the left post and into the back of the net.
 
Lubben would be involved in a more traditional scoring play 13 minutes later, when he pounded home a cross from Saul Marcial. Marcial served the ball in from the left side and found Lubben, who poked it home and gave Moravian the 2-0 lead.
 
The final 70 minutes of the match was played without a tally. The Highlanders held their shape in the second-half, allowing eight shots, four of which were on goal, without a score. While the Highlanders were outshot on the afternoon 15-4 they did earn four corner kicks. However they could not get off a single shot on their four attempts from the corner.
 
Offensively Corey Nolan led the Highlanders with a pair of shots, one of which was on frame. Both Connor Eby and Brendan Keller collected shots as well.
 
Between the pipes, Mark Heater faced seven shots on goal, making six saves.
 
The Highlanders will next take the field on Saturday afternoon at noon when they host Hunter College.