LANGHORNE, PA – The Cairn University Men's Soccer team hosted their first ever United East playoff game on a rainy Monday night as the Eagles of Saint Elizabeth University came to town. The Highlanders fell in heartbreaking fashion in penalty kicks after a thrilling double overtime match.
 
Saint Elizabeth (11-3-4 / 4-2-2 United East Skye Division) got on the board first in the 10^th minute as the first half saw back-and-forth action in the midfield as Cairn (8-5-5 / 5-1-3 United East Skye Division) looked to get on the offensive. The Highlanders attacked but found themselves offside on multiple occasions as the half closed with Cairn trailing 1-0.
 
The Highlanders found a few open looks to open the frame, all of which were saved. With pressure mounting, graduate defender Jake Tolar (Fort Mill, SC / Nation Ford High School) found space and made a cross to a diving freshman forward Alijah Miller (Monroe, NC / Homeschool) who headed the ball into the goal in the 76^th minute. With the score now even, 1-1, the Highlanders could work with a bit less pressure on their shoulders. It wasn't long before junior forward Jesse Brittain (Chester, PA / The Christian Academy) got running and made a great move, faking out the goalkeeper, and walking the ball into the goal in the 81^st minute to put Cairn up 2-1. The Highlanders kept the ball away from Saint Elizabeth's offense, trying with the pressure now on them to keep their season alive. As the final seconds wound down, the Eagles would advance the ball from their box and up the touch line, and into the goal, knotting up the match at 2-2 with seconds to spare and forcing overtime.
 
Each team would manage a single saved shot in the two overtime periods as this match would have to be decided in penalty kicks. Junior midfielder Moses Beers (Lancaster, PA / Manheim Township) lined up for the first Cairn attempt on the south side of the pitch which he made. Saint Elizabeth made their ensuing attempt and next for the Highlanders was junior midfielder Chase Segool (Aston Twp., PA / Sun Valley) who put his team up 2-1. The Eagles tied things up on their second attempt. Junior midfielder Caleb Rudloff (Quakertown, PA / Geneva College) had his attempt saved but was granted a second attempt on an error by the Eagles' goalkeeper, which he made in the high, right corner. Saint Elizabeth would make their penalty kick as we headed to attempt number four for Cairn. The senior defender Joshua Smith (Attleboro, MA / Homeschool) would miss the attempt followed by another make for the Eagles. Junior midfielder Jack Fiacco (Sunderland, MD / Northern HS) came to the penalty mark with Cairn's season on the line but couldn't convert as the match ended in penalty kicks in favor of Saint Elizabeth, 4-3.
 
The Highlanders' season came to an end at home after a promising run through United East conference play and their fifth consecutive postseason appearance (excluding the COVID season in 2020). Beers and Brittain teamed up once again to lead the Highlanders in their junior seasons. In-conference play, there was no one better than Beers who finished in the lead among all conference players for shots, shots on goal, and goals. Brittain wasn't far behind as he continued to climb in the program record book, now sitting 10^th all-time in career points, and 8^th in goals. The program bids farewell to their seniors, who fought so hard until the end to keep their dream alive and looks forward to the next chapter of Cairn Men's Soccer.