ROSEMONT, PA – The Cairn University Men's Lacrosse team won their regular season finale at Rosemont College 13-7, clinching their second straight postseason berth and first United East Championship tournament appearance.
 
Sophomore attacker Cole Heffler (Eldersburg, MD / Central Maryland Christian) got things started in the first quarter with two goals, the later assisted by senior attacker Jonathan Balsamo (Long Island, NY / Eastport South Manor) to give Cairn (4-8 / 2-3 UNITED EAST) a 2-0 lead. The Ravens answered right back before Balsamo and freshman midfielder Luke Fowler (Landenberg, PA / Wilmington Christian) put the Highlanders ahead 4-1 at the end of the first frame.
 
Junior attacker Jason Briant (Lake Hiawatha, NJ / Morris Catholic) scored five minutes into the second before Rosemont (1-10 / 0-4 UNITED EAST) scored a pair to cut the lead to two. Balsamo and Fowler went back-to-back again to end the half and put Cairn up 7-3 at the break.
 
Balsamo scored his third goal of the game out of the break with Rosemont answering right back. Sophomore midfielder Ole Pertet Nyilinkindi (New York, NY / Grimsley HS), assisted by sophomore midfielder Adain Holliday (New York, NY / Urban Assembly Maker Academy) and Heffler added two more goals to the Highlanders' tally, now ahead 10-4. Nyilinkindi scored again in the fourth quarter along with Heffler and Holliday while Rosemont scattered three goals which weren't enough to overcome Cairn's 13-7 lead as the final horn sounded.
 
NOTABLES
Heffler had four goals on the afternoon with an assist for five points on six shots. Balsamo got his five points by way of three goals and two assists. Fowler and Nyilinkindi each had a pair of goals, the former with an assist. Holliday tallied two assists and a goal.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Highlanders await seeding for the 2024 United East Men's Lacrosse Championship which begins on April 30.