LANGHORNE, PA – The Cairn Men's Lacrosse team hosted the Keystone College Giants on Saturday evening for senior night, where the Highlanders dropped the closely contested matchup, 12-11.
 
The evening begun with seniors Daniel Mwangi (Nairobi, Kenya / Rosslyn Academy), Chaz Cotton (Newburgh, NY / Newburgh Free Academy), Jonathan Balsamo (Long Island, NY / Eastport South Manor) and Qion Roycroft (Baltimore, MD / Woodlawn) being honored for their accomplishments over their playing careers at Cairn.
 
Although not a senior, the senior were delighted by sophomore attacker Cole Heffler (Eldersburg, MD / Central Maryland Christian) getting the Highlanders on the board within the first minute of the game, assisted by Cotton. Keystone (5-7 / 3-0 UNITED EAST) responded in force with four goals to take a 4-1 lead. Heffler found the net again, cutting the lead to two as Balsamo fired away for his first goal of the night, assisted by sophomore midfielder Adain Holliday (New York, NY / Urban Assembly Maker Academy). The Giants scored two quick goals to end the first quarter, Cairn (2-8 / 0-3 UNITED EAST), down 6-3.
 
It was all Highlanders in the second quarter, led off by junior attacker Jason Briant (Lake Hiawatha, NJ / Morris Catholic) out of the gate, assisted by Cotton. Balsamo scored back-to-back goals to tie the game, assisted by Heffler & Cotton, respectively. Heffler took the lead back for Cairn, as Balsamo returned the favor and assisted him. Sophomore midfielder Ole Pertet Nyilinkindi (New York, NY / Grimsley HS) took the game to half with a goal assisted by Heffler, Cairn up 8-6.
 
Keystone took their turn, owning the third quarter and scoring five to put an 11-8 buffer between them and the Highlanders. Heffler opened the final quarter with a goal to, cutting the lead to two. Briant struck again ten minutes later to make it a one goal margin. Keystone would answer with the equalizer, putting two goals in the way of the Cairn comeback. Balsamo scored his fourth of the game in the closing minutes as time ran out on the Highlander comeback, Cairn dropping their senior night matchup, 12-11.
 
Balsamo & Heffler each had four goals and two assists. Briant added a pair of goals with Nyilinkindi scoring one. Cotton had a game-high four assists. Junior goalkeeper Nico Cione (Yardley, PA / Pennsbury) collected 4 ground balls and 18 saves.
 
The Highlanders will host Bryn Athyn on Saturday for their final regular season home contest at 7 p.m. before closing the regular season at Rosemont, April 20.