LANGHORNE, PA — The Highlanders hosted the Phoenix of Wilson College for a Tuesday afternoon matinee, coming out on top in a high-scoring affair.

The match started off hot as Cairn (3-5-3, 2-0-1 UNITED EAST) and Wilson (2-9-2, 0-4 UNITED EAST) exchanged shots within the first two minutes. The heat didn't stop there; pressure continued until a forced error led to an own goal by the Phoenix in the 6th minute, giving the Highlanders a 1-0 lead. Cairn seized the momentum and got a 2nd goal through junior forward Alijah Miller (Monroe, NC / Homeschool), assisted by Akiel Warfield (Brandywine, MD / Gwynn Park). Cairn was able to get off 5 more shots while holding Wilson to only three shots, keeping the score at only 2-0 in favor of the Highlanders at the half. 

The Highlanders did not slow down in the 2nd half, getting off 5 shots before Miller found the net for a second time in the 65th minute, assisted by graduate midfielder Matthews Lungu (Lilongwe, Malawi / African Bible College – Malawi). Miller didn't stop there though, finding the back of the net to secure hif first collegiate hat trick in the 69th minute, making it 4-0 in Cairn's favor, assisted by junior midfielder Braden Allen (Dillsburg, PA / Heritage Christian). Wilson. Freshman forward James Papanikolaou (Cape May, NJ / Atlantic Christian) netted Cairn's fifth goal in the 84th minute with the assist by Fah Diomande (Ermont, France / Pocono Mountain West). Wilson broke up the shutout in the 86th to make it 5-1.

Miller moves up to nine goals on the season, matching his season-high from 2024 while Papanikolaou netted his first collegiate goal. Lungu and Diomande all get their first assists of the season as Warfield and Allen got both get their second assists of the season.

Cairn will travel on the road to Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday to face off against Notre Dame of Maryland at 1pm.