LANGHORNE, PA- The Highlanders hosted Rosemont College Saturday afternoon, and despite a chill in the air, Cairn stayed hot, winning their ninth straight game and clinching a CSAC playoff berth for the second year in a row.
 
The Highlanders wasted little time, pouncing on the Ravens and getting on the board in just the 6^th minute.  Cairn's scrappy forward Brendan Keller stole the ball from Rosemont's center back and curled a beautiful shot with the outside of his foot past the Raven's keeper and into the right side of the net.  Staked to another lead early in the game, the Highlanders did not let up, earning a corner in the 9^th minute that Joey Weaver played perfectly into the middle and in the path of Tyler Smith. Smith, showing an outstanding touch for a defender, met the ball perfectly with his right foot, smashing his attempt into the back of the net for his first goal of the season. The Highlanders kept the pressure up, tallying an incredible 14 shots in the first half, and notching six corners to Rosemont's zero. Despite the lead, the game was not as firmly in hand as it seemed with Rosemont earning a penalty kick in the 13^th minute on an uncharacteristic mistake from the Highlanders outstanding center back Ryan Leatherman. Fortunately, keeper Kameron Clark picked up his teammate, diving to his right and smothering the Ravens best chance on goal. However, the Ravens drew within one goal in the 35^th minute when Timothy Reiners smashed a shot from long distance that caught the Highlanders off guard.
 
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Highlanders firing a barrage of shots towards the Ravens net. Despite Cairn's 11 shots and 8 corners in the second half, the Highlanders didn't break through with their third goal until the 85^th minute. Brett Kikendall, who starred with two goals earlier this week, caught the Ravens defense flat-footed, playing a cheeky back heel through ball to Keller who blasted his second goal through the keepers' arms and into the back of the net.
 
With the win the Highlanders have now won nine straight games, with their next tilt against Centenary University holding great implications for the Highlanders chances at hosting CSAC playoff games. The Highlanders will travel to Hackettstown next Saturday at 4:00 PM.