The Catskill Chronicle

Manor’s goalie Angela Trotti after the win.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

ELDRED – Even a dog named Mandy, rooting for the home team along the sidelines, wasn’t enough to ensure a win, as the visiting Lady Wildcats of Livingston Manor defeated Eldred’s Lady Yellow Jackets in Thursday afternoon’s girl’s varsity league soccer game on the fields of the Brookwood Camps.

Manor’s Nicole Lair and Eldred’s Kim Elvin chase the ball.

Mandy, a Jack Russell owned by Jill Harris, sported a tiny Eldred jersey bearing “00”, and while she barked up a storm at roving photographers who got too close for comfort, her canine capers couldn’t stave off Manor’s 4-2 victory.

Marissa Diescher scored a couple of back-to-back goals in the first frame at 27:14 and 6:22 to give the Lady Wildcats a 2-0 edge by halftime. Early in the second half, Christina Babich was robbed on a goal after it is was negated by an offside’s call. At the 28:00 minute mark, Heather Ouellette put Eldred on the scoreboard off an assist from Christina Watts, but at 21:09 Victoria Taggart scored for Manor to make it a 3-1 ball game.

Eldred’s Sam Ferguson scored at 6:59 off a corner kick by Meghan Hazen that was kicked around in front of the box before she booted it home. Diescher scored her third goal of the match off an assist from Babich at 3:47 to close out the scoring.

Eldred’s Lauren Hazen gets a leg up in the match

Eldred goalie Diana Schombs had 8 saves, while Angela Trotti had 14 keeper saves for Manor.

Shots on goal: ECS (19), LMCS (16).

Manor’s Emily Casey and Eldred’s Alexis Pierce in pursuit of the ball.

“In our last couple of practices, we’ve been learning how to capitalize on our corner kicks,” said Kelly Robertson, coach of the Lady Yellow Jackets (6-7 overall, 2-2 league).

Shirlee Davis, coach of the Lady Wildcats (7-2-1 overall, 5-0 league), said of the match, “It was a major defensive effort on both sides, and Eldred has very much improved their game. We took advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves, and we put the ball in the net when it counted.”

Diescher, who was back in action after an ankle injury proved that it didn’t slow down her game as she scored three goals. “It felt good to come back,” she said.

Eldred’s Alexis Pierce…up close and personal.

Babich who assisted her teammate in scoring the final game of the match, said, “It was just like any other assist, and it was good that she scored off of it.”

Not to be ignored, a group of lads from Eldred bared their chests to a chilly wind at game’s end to spell out the name of high school – “E.L.D.R.E.D.”

To view more photos (including the lads spelling out ELDRED) or to purchase prints from Lady Wildcats Prowl to 4-2 Victory visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.