Valley Forge, PA - The Valley Forge Patriots carried a 1-0 lead into the second-half against the Cairn men's soccer. The Highlanders used second-half goals by Paul Franco and Brenden Keller to take the 2-1 victory over the Patriots.

The Highlanders outshot Valley Forge 36-6 on the afternoon. Thirteen different Highlanders took shots on the afternoon.

The Highlanders started the match quickly with a shot by Paul Franco in the first minute but it was blocked by the Patriots' defense. Three more shots in the first five minutes could find the back of the net, but the game would not remain scoreless for long.

On just their second shot of the afternoon, Valley Forge connected off the foot of Michael Garrett in the 11th minute.

After the Patriot goal the Highlanders continued to pressure, firing 13 shots over the final 34 minutes. Six of the 13 shots went on frame forcing the Valley Forge goalie, Aaron Sierra, to make a half dozen saves to keep the Highlanders off the board heading into halftime.

After the break the Highlanders quickly pushed into the offensive end. In the first three minutes of the half Cairn had taken four shots. On the final shot of that sequence the Highlanders found the back of the net off the foot of Paul Franco in the 48th minute. The goal was Franco's third of the season.

Seven shots and 10 minutes later the Highlanders found the back of the net again. In the 58th minute Brett Kikendall sent a pass to Brenden Keller who sent one past Sierra and into the back of the net.

The Highlanders controlled play for the 28 minutes, but Valley Forge had a dangerous moment in the 86th minute. The Patriots rattled off three shots in a 60-second span but one was saved, another sent wide, and the final high over the bar.

After the scary moment late the Highlanders held on for the 2-1 victory.

With the win Cairn improves to 4-4-1 on the season and they next take the field on Tuesday when they host the Goucher Gophers at 4:00 p.m.