After just seven games, this season looks much different for Livingston than it did a year ago.
The Lancers won just three games last year after starting the season with seven straight losses. They lost eight seniors from that team, but brought back a number of players who gained a lot of varsity experience as underclassmen.
Livingston's experience appears to be paying off, as he has surpassed last year's win total just two weeks into the season. The Lancers opened with two straight wins over Villa Walsh and Lakeland, then lost to Cedar Grove by one goal. They bounced back with a win over Parsippany Hills, but lost two straight against Northern Highlands and Saddle River Day, dropping their record to 3-3 heading into Friday afternoon's NIGLL Independence White Division vs. Morristown. He was scheduled to face Beard.
Livingston's Casey Conklin, who was the team's leading scorer as a freshman last year, said, “We came out of practice losing to Saddle River. We just wanted to keep the ball calm and work together instead of pushing the ball.” Ta. “I wanted to relax the ball and start playing the way I’ve been making the last few weeks.”
This game plan worked, as Livingston held off Morristown Beard 11-9, earning their fourth win of the season, exceeding last year's total. The Lancers are also currently tied with the Crimson at 2-1 in the district, behind Governor Livingston and Mount St. Dominic, who are both 3-0.
It was the third straight loss for Morristown Beard after starting the season 3-1.
“I think our team bond is working well,” Conklin said. “I feel like I have the closest relationship with my teammates this year. It's not a clique, it's just fluid. We trust each other and have a bond and camaraderie that it shows on the field.”
Livingston took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a goal from Conklin and two free position shots from junior Taylor Zama. The Crimson fought back in the second quarter with goals from Aiden Barbero, Lauren Koepf and Rebecca Renner in a six-minute span to tie the game at 3-3.
With Livingston leading 5-3 going into halftime, Zama scored from a free position with 2:23 left in the second quarter and assisted on Delia Lederman's goal.
Regarding regaining the lead, Liederman said, “I've calmed down, or rather I've calmed down while attacking.'' “At first I think we got a little too excited and panicked, but once we got the ball, we passed it around, then we looked for open cutters, open play, and then it worked out and we got the goal. It was just that.'' It worked in our favor. ”
Morristown Beard cut the lead to 5-4 on Kyra Walcifer's goal to start the third quarter, but Livingston scored two straight points to take a 7-4 lead with 5:27 left. Koepf scored his second goal of the day on a free-position shot with 4:57 left to make it 7-5, but Zama's fourth goal of the afternoon made it 8-5 after three.
In the fourth quarter, Conklin scored with an assist from Lederman to give the Lancers a 9-5 lead, and Barbero's free position shot with 6:17 left made it 9-6. Lederman then scored in quick succession to give Livingston an 11-6 lead with 3:24 remaining.
“I think our high-pressure defense worked well today,” said Zama. “We just talked and acted together as a defense rather than acting individually to make them panic even more and make more mistakes.”
Renner scored his 100th career goal with 1:07 left in the game to cut the Lancers' lead to 11-7, then scored again with a free-position goal with 51 seconds left to make it 11-8.
Hanna Mortazavi made it 11-9 with 30 seconds left, but the Morristown Bears came just short.
“It feels great to get our first win of the week,” Lederman said. “Once we have energy, that helps us a lot. And as soon as everyone has energy, everyone gets into it. Then it helps us as a whole and as a team. It's really exciting heading into (Saturday's) game because it only helps us as a team.”
Livingston also had the advantage in draw control, with Conklin and Liederman combining for 12 draw controls to Crimson's six.
“I think winning the draw gave us some control and was able to put the ball down and settle it, so in a way we were relaxed,” Conklin said. “It gave me a break as a midfielder and then gave me time to get the ball into the attacking half and plan what happens next.”
Zama had four goals and three assists for Livingston, while Lederman, who scored his 150th point, contributed with four goals, two assists, five draw controls and two forced turnovers. Conklin had a hat trick, seven draw controls and three forced turnovers. Kyra Redmond made seven saves and Alyssa Benbasat made three saves.
At Morristown Beard, Renner had a hat trick, three draw controls and two forced turnovers. Valbero scored two goals, while Valcifer (3 draw control) and Mortazavi added one each. Taryn Zama finished with eight saves.
“Defensively, we worked together really well. I thought we did really well all over the field,” Taylor-Zama said. “Our transition was very smooth up the field and that led to the win and more goals, so that was good.”
Lauren Knego can be reached at: lknego@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X @laurencnego
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