WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. – The Cairn University men's lacrosse team opened up their 2022 season, falling in their season-opener, 7-5, in a non-conference thriller against Albertus Magnus College at Mercer County Community College on Saturday evening.
 
Albertus Magnus (2-0) got the early lead after netting two early goals to take a 2-0 lead five minutes in. Cairn (0-1) responded with after freshman Ramon Juarez (Gaithersburg, MD / Bridgton Academy) found sophomore Jonathan Balsamo (Manorville, NY / Eastport South Manor) in the slot for Cairn's first goal of the season to make it 2-1. The Falcons scored one more goal in the first frame and led 3-1 after one. Cairn scored the next two goals in the second period when sophomore Charles Cotton (Newburgh, NY / Newburgh Free Academy) found the back of the net, followed by another tally by classmate Collin Chase (Zionsville, IN / Zionsville) to knot the game up at three a-piece. Albertus Magnus answered with three-consecutive goals to end the period and led 6-3 at intermission. The Falcons held their largest lead of the contest at 7-3 after a tally at the 8:34 mark of the third stanza, but the Highlanders did not go quietly, as Balsamo scored just one minute later to make it 7-4. The Falcons maintained their advantage heading into the fourth, but Cairn made it a two-goal game after Balsamo buried a behind-the-back shot into the cage with 6:51 to play. The Highlanders had chances late in the fourth quarter, but could not find cotton for the rest of the contest.

ICYMI: Sophomore Jon Balsamo led @CairnMensLax with a team-high three goals on Saturday night in their season opener, including this nifty finish to bring the Highlanders within two goals in crunch time in the final period.#GoCairn #CairnMLAX #AndThenSome pic.twitter.com/WAzYcRbiCv

— Cairn Highlanders (@CairnAthletics) March 6, 2022

Cairn owned a 41-36 advantage in shots, while the Falcons held the edge in the turnover department (38-36). Albertus Magnus narrowly edged the Highlanders in ground balls (42-40). Balsamo led the Cairn attack with three tallies, while freshman Ethan Meiers (Plainsboro, NJ / West Windsor Plainsboro South) led the Highlander defense with six ground balls and four caused turnovers. Junior Harrison Clark (Cape May, NJ / Lower Cape May Regional) got the start in the cage, making seven saves in 30 minutes of action, while freshman Nico Cione (Yardley, PA / Pennsbury) finished the final 30 minutes in the cage, making six stops with only one goal allowed.
 
The Highlanders will be back in action on Wednesday, March 9 when they travel to West Virginia to take on Bethany College in the first game of their spring break schedule at 12 p.m.