LIVINGSTON MANOR — The Lady Wildcats are on a mission to return to the State Championship tournament this year after their regional loss in 2023. 

The girls from Livingston Manor and Roscoe have amassed a 10-4-1 (3-0) record so far after defeating Eldred 3-1 on Friday, and will face Chapel Field one last time this season for a chance to finish undefeated in Class D.

Eldred also qualified for Sectionals this year, finishing 2-2 in the division, and will likely get another crack at Livingston Manor in the Section IX Class D Championship game.

Eldred, who has amassed a 6-5 record at this point in the season, has had to battle each week, playing their entire season on the road while their new sports fields are being constructed. Despite the adversity, the team has still managed to stay above .500. Friday’s contest got off to a slow start with both defenses keeping the game scoreless throughout the first half.

In the second half, however, the Wildcats found their groove with Anastasia Niforatos netting two goals, and Kelsey Ryder adding a third. Rebecca Gashinsky added two assists in the 3-1 victory.

“We played very well today after a slow start,” Livingston Manor Coach Joseph Clarke said. “It took some time for us to get off the ground.”

Clarke took over the team this year for Maggi Fitzpatrick, who led the team to back-to-back Section IX Championship appearances.

“It has been hard to fill Maggi’s shoes, but she taught them a lot and made my life infinitely easier.”

In terms of the strong second half Clarke said, “That second half might have been our best of the season so far.”

Kevin Moscatiello, first year coach for Eldred said, “We hung in there and competed all game. It was a good physical game on both sides. Manor is a good club, and we did a good job keeping them scoreless throughout the first half. Sometimes the ball didn’t bounce our way in the second half, but we’ve got some games left to get better and get ready for Sectionals.”