LANGHORNE, PA - The Cairn University Women's Soccer team has earned the No. 3 seed in the 2023 United East Women's Soccer Championship which kicks off on Saturday, October 28 in Langhorne.

THE FIELD:
    Bryn Athyn secured the No. 1 overall seed on Tuesday night as they finished conference play with an 8-0-1 record. Wilson was seeded second after an 8-1 season. Cairn Women's Soccer compiled a 5-2-2 record, securing the No. 3 seed on a tie-breaker with Rosemont who took the No. 4 seed with the same record. No. 6 Notre Dame of Maryland University will travel to Langhorne on Saturday, while No. 5 Cedar Crest College will play at No. 4 Rosemont College in the Divisional First Round.  The lowest remaining seed will advance to the divisional semifinals on Tuesday, October 31 to play at No. 1 Bryn Athyn, while the highest advancing seed will play at No. 2 Wilson.  Skye Division Finals will be held at the highest remaining seed on Thursday, November 2.

OUR TEAM:
    Cairn Women's Soccer finished the regular season with a 6-5-3 record overall and 5-2-2 in United East Skye Division play. Senior midfielders Teresa Lee (Jackson, NJ / Calvary Academy) and Micaela Prate (Huntingdon Valley, PA / Calvary Christian Academy) led the way for the offense, both netting 6 goals on the season, while Lee had 3 assists and Prate added 2. Graduate defender Rachel Yoder (Telford, PA / Souderton) was next with 5 goals and a single assist while also being a dominate force on the defensive side of the field, preventing numerous drives by opponent offenses this season. Senior midfielder Becca Marzinke (Quakertown, PA / Upper Bucks Christian) tallied 4 goals and 4 assists, currently sitting second all-time in career assists (20).

On the defensive side, senior defender Savannah Luce (Halifax, MA / Rift Valley Academy) provided a constant presence around the box, proving along with Yoder, to be an important piece of the Highlander defensive front. Senior goalkeeper Isabelle Portis (Midland Park, NJ / Eastern Christian High School) collected 42 saves in her senior campaign with four shutouts. This season, Portis set a new program record for career shutouts (17) and currently sits one behind the career record for wins (26). 

THE MATCHUP:
    Cairn hosts No. 6 Notre Dame (MD) at home on Saturday for a 4 p.m. kickoff. The Highlanders played Notre Dame (MD) two weeks ago on October 10, shutting out the Gators, 3-0. Lee led the offense in that match with a goal and two assists. The Highlander defense played a large part in the victory as they held Notre Dame (MD) to a single shot in the first half and 8 shots in the game. Cairn played to a 2-4-2 record at home this season while holding a 1-1-2 record in Langhorne against United East Skye Division opponents. 

In the 2023 season, Cairn outscored opponents 32-22, averaging 2.29 goals per game on 15.2 shots per game. The Defense allowed only 81 shots on goal of opponents' 175 total shots, under 50%. Notre Dame (MD) was outscored by opponents 37-28, averaging an even 2 goals per game, as they were outshot 228-176 on the season. On the road, the Gators played to a 3-3 record, 3-1 against conference opponents outside of Baltimore, MD.