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First-year Livingston head girls soccer coach Oscar Viteri has made the move to his hometown high school after 25 years at Glen Ridge and is enjoying fine season with the Lancers including with contributions from veteran players such as goalkeeper Ayla Sherman and Emily Fernandes (17) and youngsters such as freshman Evie Wheeler (6) as the team has had plenty to celebrate while still in the midst of important stretch run. (photos courtesy of Livingston girls soccer)
LIVINGSTON- ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’ was a popular novel written by Thomas Wolfe published 85 years ago and expressing a naysayer’s universal theme including one adage with a definite sports meaning stating that ‘One can’t go back to a young man’s glory or fame.’ Don’t say that – at least in a coaching sense- to Oscar Viteri, who after 25 years guiding one of the state’s top Group 1 programs at Glen Ridge, has now taken on his latest role on the sidelines as the first-year coach at Livingston where he once starred scholastically for successful coach Paul Swenson’s terrific Lancer boys teams in the mid-1980s. And, the longtime Essex County soccer guru is enjoying much success guiding one of the state’s top teams and certainly one of the contenders to watch in the upcoming NJSIAA state tournament following their Essex County tourney run. Top-seeded Livingston (14-0-1) edged fifth-seeded and defending champion Mount St. Dominic, 3-2, in ovcrtime, in Saturday’s (Oct. 24) ECT semis after sixth-seeded Newark Academy (13-2-2) upset second-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy, 1-0, in the fourth session of a penalty kick shootout. Freshman Evie Wheeler scored the game-winning goal in OT with an assist from sophomore Arielle Stein. The 2026 ECT final is set for 4:30 p.m., Wednesday (Oct. 28) at James Caldwell High School’s Bonnel Field. Livingston defeated Newark Academy, 2-0, in regular season action on Oct. 6. While the Lancers remain the favorite to win their ninth ECT title while appearing in their fourth straight final, the journey as a whole in 2026 has already been a very positive one for the team's new head coach. Viteri, who had plenty of success with the Ridgers in the states and whose teams made enough deep runs in the ECT to be a factor there as well, the move to his hometown school has also been an enjoyable change in perhaps the latter stages of his coaching career. ““I had a great run at Glen Ridge with some tremendous teams and terrific players, but I also felt that I had done just about all I could do there” said Viteri, who won three Group 1 state titles, took his Ridgers to seven state finals and also four ECT finals. “I still live in Livingston where my wife, brother and my two kids also went to school, and after learning that Brian Carr had stepped away from coaching the girls, I decided to explore the possibilities there and - at age 60 - I just thought that I was ready for a new challenge with another great program.”. Livingston, the 2025 Group 4 state champions, have put together another banner-like season this fall with some big matches still in front of them. While the Lancers did have to adjust to the graduation of an all-time great in the electrifying forward Dina Bojkovic (now a freshman at Rutgers), they do return a wealth of talent through all the classes, and defensively they have been superlative once again. “As a whole we had to be somewhat different without Dina, but we return (senior) Emily (Fernandes) up top and she has had another strong season,” said Viteri. “We have been more spread-out scoring-wise this season with different people stepping up with key goals for us. Helping to anchor the back is veteran standout senior goalkeeper Ayla Sherman, who serves as a senior quad captain along with Fernandes, backs Daisy Cheng and Ariana Levitsky and midfielder Oliva Hans (Emory University commit). Levitsky helps to solidify things defensively in front of Sherman as a strong center back surrounded by junior Victoria Qin at left back and precocious freshman Sophie Braverman at right back. Senior back Riley Cullen provides some excellent depth. Workhorse junior Gabby De Oliveira goes non-stop in the midfield where sophomores Stella DiFrancisco and Stein along with freshman Charlotte Belcuore are other consistently-strong performers, while junior Olivia Giordano and sophomore Natalie Shvartsman provides superb depth. Wheeler is another talented freshman who adds to the talent up top where Fernandes is the veteran presence. Overall, it’s a deep and talented Lancer soccer side and one which could follow up its ECT title chase with another strong showing in the NJSIAA tourney. “I’m fortunate to have a hard-working and deep team,” said Viteri. “We’ve had our share of tough games against a good schedule and we’re taking nothing for granted, but I do like the way our team comes to play each and every day.” NOTES- Livingston’s coaching staff includes some familiar faces with longtime assistant Kate Schwindel, a former all-state player for the Lancers, remaining on the sidelines to help guide her high school alma mater’s girls soccer side, along with another name associated with Livingston sports, former longtime softball assistant Dave Mead, who joins Natalie Pacholee and Dana Lytle as other assistant coaches working with Viteri this fall…the Lancers have been playing of late without two key, veteran performers in Cheng and Hans who have been on the injury shelf…In the ECT quarters the Lancers defeated West Orange, 5-1, while the Mount (6-8-2) edged fourth-seeded Montclair. 2-0; while sixth-seeded Newark Academy upset third-seeded Verona, 2-1, and second-seeded MKA (8-3-2) blitzed past eighth-seeded Bloomfield, 7-2…Viteri teaches health and physical education at the Abington Avenue School in North Newark...Newark Academy, which plays out of the SEC's second-best division, the Liberty, is led by high-scoring freshman forward Mahlia Drummond who has 21 goals and 5 assists. Essex County Tournament semifinals: Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chattermeister Essex County Girls Soccer Tournament Finals: Most Consecutive Titles: Most Appearances In Final: Most Consecutive Finals:
Freshman Sophie Braverman (5) is one of the talented freshmen to keep eye on for Livingston while the close-knit team has strength in all classes including juniors such as Gabby De Oliveira, seen advancing toward goal in bottom photo. Lancers will be looking to defend their Group 4 crown. copyright 2005 Sideline Chatter - to comment contact the webmaster
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