The Alternative Press

MILLBURN, NJ - Two days after beating Caldwell on the road, the Livingston Lancers beat the Lady Chiefs 5-0 in Wednesday's girls' varsity Super Essex County tournament semifinal.

The victory earned the Lancers a chance to take back the county championship from Montclair, who beat Livingston in the 2011 finals.

Livingston was in control of the game from the opening kickoff and took the advantage in the opening minutes when junior Jordy Bonvini took a pass from junior Monica Flores and beat the goalie to take an early 1-0 lead.

Bonvini, who also scored in Monday's win over the Lady Chiefs, said playing Caldwell on Monday played a big role in her team's play.

"On Monday, I saw their weaknesses and their strengths," she said. "I played them to their weaknesses. I think that helped the whole team because we knew their strong points and played against them."

Livingston added a goal in the 28th minute when Flores cradled a pass from ten yards out and put the ball past the keeper to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead.

Caldwell had a chance late in the first half to cut the lead in half, but Jamie Hreniuk's extra-time corner kick sailed over the Lady Chiefs' rush and was eventually cleared out by Livingston, keeping the score 2-0 going into halftime.

"If you believe you have a good team and maybe you have better players in certain positions than the other team, you really want to get up early," Livingston head coach Paul Raiz said on getting a two goal lead early.  "The more you let a team hang in there, they get more confident. A team like (Caldwell) has a lot of camaraderie and confidence, they get better and better as the game goes on."

The Lancers added to their lead less than six minutes into the second half.

Junior Erica Dippold was awarded a penalty kick after being pushed to the ground during a loose ball in front of Caldwell's goal.

Dippold converted on the try, finding a wide open left side, to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead.

Seniors Nellie Callaghan and Kristine Kelly added two goals in the final five minutes to secure the 5-0 win in front of the goalie-duo of sophomore Nicole Russo, who started the game, and senior Meaghan Annett, who played the second half.

"I didn't name a starter before the game," Raiz said. "Basically, our three keepers are pretty close and we have confidence in any one of them."

The win was the Lancers' third over Caldwell this season.