CHAMBERSBURG, PA – Cairn Women's Soccer faced off at Wilson College on Wednesday afternoon in a postseason rematch of 2023's United East Divisional Semifinal, this time falling to the Phoenix 2-1 in double overtime.
 
Sophomore defender Abby Mellinger (Telford, PA / Dock Mennonite) put the Highlanders in the lead four minutes into the match, shooting into the upper right corner from just outside the box. Mellinger would get off another shot in goal ten minutes later, trying to double the lead but was saved. The Cairn (1-11-2 / 1-5-1 UNITED EAST) defense held strong through the first half, holding the Phoenix to only four shots, one on goal.
 
Into the second half, Wilson (7-9-3 / 3-4-1 UNITED EAST) tied up the game on a Highlander own-goal in the 57^th minute. The stalemate ensued as Wilson got off five shots in the final five minutes ahead of senior forward Victoria Vega's (Branchburg, NJ / Timothy Christian) final shots, saved in the 90^th minute.
 
Vega and Mellinger took the only shots for Cairn in the first OT, both saved as Wilson missed their final shot. Eight minutes into the second overtime period, Wilson scored to advance to the conference semifinal.
 
Mellinger had the solo goal for Cairn in their season finale.