LANGHORNE, PA – The Cairn Women's Soccer team hosted their first ever United East playoff game Saturday afternoon as No. 6 Notre Dame of Maryland University came to town to take on the No. 3 seeded Highlanders. Cairn held off the Gators, 2-1, as they advance to the Divisional Semi-Final Round.
 
Cairn (7-5-3 / 5-4-2 United East Skye Division) was on the attack early, firing off 7 shots in the first 15 minutes of play. Senior midfielder Becca Marzinke (Quakertown, PA / Upper Bucks Christian) found the back of the net for the Highlanders in the 28^th minute, assisted by freshman midfielder Paige Noble (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ / Atlantic Christian School). The Cairn defense would hold Notre Dame (6-9 / 4-4 United East Skye Division) without a shot in the first half as the match went to the break 1-0 in favor of the Highlanders.
 
The second half opened as the Highlanders continued their onslaught of shots on the net as they did in the first half. Noble got on the board for herself in the 65^th minute, moving around a defender to get an open look at the net and putting Cairn up 2-0. As the clock ran down, the Gators searched for a comeback with their season on the line, eventually scoring in the 89^th minute to put the match within a single goal. The Highlanders held off a final charge in desperation as they took the match and won their first ever United East playoff game over No. 6 Notre Dame (MD) 2-1.
 
Cairn found 17 shots for themselves (12 on goal) to Notre Dame's 3 (2 on goal), all in the second half of play. Noble led the offense with a goal and assists along with Marzinke's early goal.
 
Cairn Women's Soccer will travel to No. 2 Wilson College on Tuesday, October 31 to face off against the Phoenix in the United East Women's Soccer Championship – Divisional Semi-Final Round.