LANGHORNE, PA- In a must-win situation, the Highlanders were triumphant over the visiting Clarks Summit University Defenders 4-3 in the game of the year.
 
Never give up, never give in. Coach Luke Gibson and his Highlanders must have taken this sentiment to heart because no one game, situation, or moment could have better exemplified it than this afternoon's contest. After a slow start to the season, the Highlanders rebounded with 6 straight wins, but unfortunately have been mired in a disheartening 4 game losing streak ever since. Having experienced several straight crushing defeats one could understand a wilt in the Highlanders spirit, but the Highlanders are made from sturdier stuff.
 
Notching only 3 goals in the 4 losses, Cairn was in search of instant offense, and freshman winger Brandon Hasko happily obliged. In just the second minute Hasko ran onto a cross from newly returned forward Brendan Keller and fired home to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead. Bolstered with confidence, Hasko found the back of the net about 12 minutes later to double Cairn's lead. The freshman, who is having an excellent season, used his speed to burst past the defense and cheekily chipped his shot over the Defenders charging keeper. With a firm grasp on the lead, the Highlanders played free and loose, as over the next 30 minutes they would continually press the Clarks Summit defense. Despite Cairn's early lead and offensive domination with 15 shots, the Defenders battled back. Clarks Summit did not waste their chances, netting two of their six shots, one a mere 21 seconds before the half, and tying up the match.
 
Both teams knew the first step to a playoff berth was a win in this afternoon's contest, and played tentatively over the initial stages of the second half due to this added pressure. Clarks Summit threw the first dart in the 78^th minute with a beautiful set piece, playing a corner short and dummying the ball to a waiting Nathan Hubbard, who powerfully blasted his 6^th goal of the season into the Cairn net. However, instead of bowing their heads and accepting defeat, the Highlanders went to work. With nothing to lose, Coach Gibson switched to 3 backs and pushed the rest of the team forward, searching for a game tying strike over the last twelve minutes. Just four minutes later, newly anointed Captain Paul Franco would not disappoint his Coach's faith. In his usual bludgeoning style, Franco hurled himself towards a floating Brett Kikendall free kick- knocking over multiple Defenders and crashing into the goal post Franco summoned his first goal of the season on hustle alone. With just 9 minutes remaining the Highlanders chances were born anew once again.
 
Finally at 100% health, Brendan Keller played with a bounce in his step as the pesky forward mixed it up all over the pitch over the first 89 minutes. Tallying an assist and narrowly missing multiple chances on goal Keller was rewarded at the most opportune moment. As the last 10 seconds were counted down, Keller gathered a desperation ball near half and went to work. Always smooth, Keller deked one Defender, tapped the ball around another, and raced towards the Defender keeper as the seconds slowly ticked away. Attempting to slot home with the outside of his boot, Keller was denied on his first attempt, but showing incredible poise, gathered his own miss and fired home into an empty net with no time to spare.
 
Having snatched victory at the last possible moment, the Highlanders CSAC playoff hopes are still alive as they sit at 6^th place currently. With only 2 games remaining the Highlanders job could not be more clear, win and you're in. Facing off against the CSAC's #1 and #4 ranked teams in Cabrini University and Neumann University will not be an easy task, but these Highlanders do not know the word quit.
 
Next match is this Saturday at Neumann University at 4:00 PM.