Oakford, PA - Cairn University's men's soccer team got their season running with a double overtime match against host Penn St.-Abington. Unfortunately, it didn't end how the Highlanders would have liked.

Box Score

Early on, the Highlanders had the better of the game, pinning the Lions into their own half for the better part of the opening 15 minutes. In that time, Cairn unleashed several shots and earned a couple of corners but were unable to find the breakthrough. As the game seemed to even out, the Highlanders quickly grabbed the momentum back when freshman forward Ahron Park (Newark, DE / Dover), making his collegiate debut, snatched the game's first goal in the 27th minute and the first of his career. After some pressure from the Highlanders front line, Park pounced on a misplaced pass, dribbled into the box, and placed his shot just over the shoulder of the onrushing James Carlin, giving Cairn the 1-0 lead. Cairn held the lead and had the better of chances and possession for the rest of the half.

The Highlanders led for about 15 minutes into the second half until the Lions scored in the 61st minute. From a Penn.St-Abington corner kick, the Lion's Julian Ward put his corner ball to the front corner of the six yard box. Whether the ball had some wicked spin on it or hit a bump in the ground, it changed its trajectory and redirected into the back post, knotting the score up at 1-1.

Both teams would have their chances but the game seemed destined for a draw after 90 minutes of regulation time and having played 15 minutes of extra time. However, with just over 4 minutes remaining, Penn State's Phil Curry drilled a driven free-kick into the box and found the head of Matt Howard. The ball hit the underside of the cross bar and carried across the goal line, giving the Lions the 2-1 double overtime victory.

Cairn starts the season 0-1, while Abington jumps out to a 1-0 record.

Dave Shaffer (Denver, PA / Garden Spot) made 6 saves on the day, one more than Abington's Carlin who had 5 saves. Freshman Craig Kikendall (Philadelpia, PA / LaSalle) led the Highlanders with 4 shots. Cairn had 9 corner kicks to Abington's 6, but were narrowly outshot 20-15.

Next up, the Highlanders travel to Harrisonburg, VA for a big challenge against Old Dominion Athletic Conference opponent Eastern Mennonite University. That game will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, September 5th.