HACKETTSTOWN, PA – The Cairn Men's Lacrosse team picked up their first win of the season, defeating the Cyclones of Centenary University, 12-5.
 
Cairn (1-4) got things started with a goal by senior attacker Jonathan Balsamo (Long Island, NY / Eastport South Manor) in his return, scoring with ten minutes to play in the first quarter, assisted by sophomore midfielder Ryan Gallagher (Mount Airy, MD / South Carroll). The Cyclones answered back quickly to tie the game just seconds later. Balsamo took the lead back on a man-up goal, followed by another from Centenary (1-4) and an answer by sophomore attacker Cole Heffler (Eldersburg, MD / Central Maryland Christian) assisted by Gallagher. Centenary had the final say in the quarter, tying the game at three apiece with seconds to play.
 
Out of the gate in the second, Centenary added a fourth goal to take their first lead of the contest. Freshman midfielder Luke Fowler (Landenberg, PA / Wilmington Christian) scored back-to-back goals between the second and third quarters, both unassisted, to grab a 5-4 lead. The Cyclones tied things up with just under four minutes to play in the third before it was a Highlander offensive onslaught. Balsamo scored a pair of goals, both assisted by Heffler, in the closing minutes of the third to give Cairn an 8-5 cushion. In the fourth, Heffler added his second goal of the game and then assisted Balsamo on another. Junior attacker Jason Briant (Lake Hiawatha, NJ / Morris Catholic) put the Highlanders up 10-5, assisted by Fowler. Balsamo capped things off with a pair of goals to end the day, bringing his total for the game to seven.
 
On the win, Head Coach Greg Parker, Jr. remarked, "It is gratifying to get my first career win as a coach! Particularly because it is with this group of guys; they are a special lot. Centenary deserves credit for a stubborn first half that kept us at bay, but ultimately we trusted that if we stuck to our concepts the shots would start to drop and they did." He added, "I thought our defense played really decisive today."
 
In total, Balsamo scored seven times, which is a season-high and just one behind his career-high of eight, on 11 shots on goal. Fowler and Heffler each had a pair, the former picking up one assists and Heffler assisting on four goals. Briant rounded things out with a single goal. On the defensive side, junior goalkeeper Nico Cione (Yardley, PA / Pennsbury) picked up his first win of the year, collecting 11 saves.
 
The Highlanders return home to host Purchase College on Saturday at 2 p.m. from the G. Patrick Stillman Athletic Complex in Langhorne.