ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The No. 4 seed Cairn University women's soccer team defeated No. 1 seed Cedar Crest College by a score of 1-0 on the road in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Semifinals on Wednesday evening. With the win, the Highlanders advanced to their second-consecutive CSAC Championship Game.
 
In the first half, Cedar Crest (12-2-1) adopted a more aggressive approach than their previous encounter with Cairn (11-7-1), firing two shots on net within the 18 minutes, forcing Highlander freshman goalkeeper Isabelle Lazor (Midland Park, NJ / Eastern Christian) to make two saves to keep the game tied. However, Cairn broke through in the 22^nd minute when senior Victoria Ruitto (Ellington, CT / Cornerstone Christian) took a free kick from 35 yards out and placed it perfectly behind the Falcons back line to classmate Dakota Hitchner (Ocean View, NJ / Atlantic Christian). Hitchner then flicked the ball to classmate Sarah Jackson (Milltown, NJ / Middlesex Community College) who buried the goal to give Cairn 1-0 lead, only the sixth goal conceded by Cedar Crest all year. Cedar Crest sent four more shot Lazor's way in the half, but the freshman keeper stood firm and sent the game to intermission.

The tally that put Cairn Women's Soccer up 1-0 on No. 1 seed Cedar Crest at halftime.#GoCairn #CairnWSOC #SoloCristo https://t.co/9Ds9sbwG19 pic.twitter.com/s8EaUBzztH

— Cairn Highlanders (@CairnAthletics) November 3, 2021

In the second frame, the Falcons were forced to withdraw from their usual defensive strategy, pushing up to try and notch the tying goal. The Falcons managed three more shots on goal in the second half, but neither found the back of the net and the Highlanders fended off a final Falcon push inside the box during the last minute, clinching the win and a spot in the conference title game.
 
Cedar Crest out shot Cairn in the contest (14-3) and generated eight corner kick opportunities. Lazor had the best game of her career in net, claiming her ninth shutout of the season and making a career-high 10 saves between the pipes.
 
Cairn will travel to No. 3 seed Bryn Athyn College, who defeated No. 2 seed Wilson College on Wednesday by a score of 2-0, on Saturday, with the CSAC Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament at stake.