LIVINGSTON MANOR — The Lady Wildcats hosted the Lady Bears on Thursday night to kick off their homecoming weekend. Tri-Valley continued their dominant 2023 campaign with a 5-1 victory over Livingston Manor in a contest that felt much closer than the final score showed.

The Lady Bears entered the game at 7-1, with their only loss of the season coming in a 4-3 overtime loss against Burke. The Lady Wildcats faced Burke earlier in the week, losing 6-3 in the contest.

Tri-Valley struck first early in the contest after a ball deflected by LM Goalkeeper Zaylee Cox was redirected into the goal by Kaytlyn Ingrassia. The early goal set the stage for two more first half goals to follow for Tri-Valley as Kendall McGregor and Grace Gozza both found the back of the net before the break.

Tri-Valley’s speed across the field proved to be difficult to defend early in the game, as the second two goals were scored via their patented punt and sprint, sending a ball to an open area of the field and having the Bears’ strikers racing to it and spreading the defense.

At the break, the Lady Bears held onto a 3-0 lead, and it seemed like they were going to repeat the score of the first time the two met, an 8-1 win.

However, after switching sides and starting back up for the second half, Livingston Manor came out with more intensity. They began moving the ball up the field and keeping Tri-Valley on the defensive end.

“We changed up our lineup in the second half and we were able to keep better possession and get better looks,” LM Coach Maggi Fitzpatrick said.

The change resulted in a few scoring opportunities for the Wildcats in the second half, but Rebecca Gashinsky was the first, and only, to convert and cut the score to 3-1 with 12:05 to play in the game.

A minute and a half later, Tri-Valley got the ball into the box and McGregor found the back of the net on a second chance opportunity.

McGregor would score again five minutes later, earning a hat trick and giving the Lady Bears a 5-1 lead that would hold until the final.

The two late goals cemented the win for Tri-Valley after Livingston Manor’s valiant second half effort.

“The hardest part about this loss is that we weren’t able to put finishing touches on our attacks, but we have improved tremendously,” Fitzpatrick added.

“We’re working on keeping our momentum going no matter the score,” TV Coach Kayla Connoly said. “This team works extremely well together. They bring a lot of effort and heart and have become a very well-rounded team.”

Tri-Valley will look to keep the wins coming as they take on Chapel Field this afternoon and Sullivan West on Thursday with a league rematch against Burke looming next week.