Box Score Langhorne, PA - The Highlanders dropped their home-opener 2-1 to a strong Capital Athletic Conference opponent in Wesley College. A goal in either half propelled the Wolverines to their second win over Cairn in as many seasons.
Box Score
Last season, Wesley walked away easily with a 3-0 win. This time around, the Wolverines were made to fight for it.
Early on, it looked as though Wesley was going to have a repeat of their performance from a year ago, when Morgan Warrington unleashed a shot from about 20 yards out that sailed over the head of Cairn goalkeeper Sara Poole in just the seventh minute.
The Highlanders, however, righted the ship and made it difficult for Wesley to get clean looks at goal the rest of the way.
With the defense more solidified, the Lady Highlanders could build some attacks going forward and things finally paid off just before halftime. In the 42nd minute, senior Amara Mills sent in a cross that found sophomore midfielder Laurisa Wager breaking towards goal. The midfield maestro corralled her shot into the net from 16 yards out to tie the score at 1-1. It was her 2nd tally of the season.
Despite being outshot 13-4 in the first half, the Crimson found themselves on level terms.
Wesley once again dominated possession and territory in the second half, but struggled to find another breakthrough until the 62nd minute when an identical shot found the back of the net. This time, Kerri Pagels found space just in front of the backline and her shot found the upper left corner to put the Wolverines up 2-1.
In the dying seconds of the game, freshman Hannah Morrison found herself in a one-on-one battle with the last defender in a last-ditch effort to score the equaliser, but her shot was blocked before she could really release it.
Wesley held a 21 to 8 advantage in shots.
Sara Poole made 4 saves in the loss.
Wesley improves to 2-0-1 on the season, while the Highlanders fall to 1-1.
Next up, Cairn will host longtime non-conference rivals Lancaster Bible College on Monday, September 9.
