Batavia Notre Dame United's historic season—a sectional title and 22 wins—came to a disappointing end in the state semifinals of hockey in Buffalo on Saturday.
United lost to Skaneateles, the defending Division II champions, 7-2.
Photos by Erin Staley.
The third goal, the hat-trick for Jameson Motyka, was the game-winner in overtime for Batavia Notre Dame United in its regional state qualifier at RIT on Saturday.
United beat Kenmore 3-2 to advance to the state semifinal game on Saturday at Harbor Center in Buffalo. Game time is 2 p.m.
BND had a chance to jump to an early lead when Kenmore got into penalty trouble in the first period, at times, being down by two men, and while United managed 14 shots, none made it into the net.
The game was scoreless after the first period of play.
Kenmore took the lead midway into the second period and then with three minutes left, United tied it up on a pass from Noah Whitcomb to Sam Pies to Jameson Motyka.
In the third, United took a penalty with eight minutes remaining in the game, and Kenmore scored shortly after to lead 2-1. With 1:48 left, Motyka netted his second goal with assists to Whitcomb and Brady Johnson to send it into overtime.
Motyka's game-winning goal came eight minutes into OT.
Coach Marc Staley praised his team for its second straight post-season OT effort.
"I can't be more proud of this team," Staley said. "These kids are the most resilient team I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. They believe in each other. They commit 100 percent to the systems and structure we have laid out. They play for each other. They love each other, and they just never get rattled.
"The support we have received from the community has been overwhelming," he added. "Truly overwhelming. Local businesses, our youth hockey program here in Batavia, the entire staff at the McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena, family, friends, alumni, you name it. There are so many people along for the ride with these kids right now. It's a 'feel good"' story for Batavia, and nobody wants it to end. One way or the other, it's going to end this weekend."
The win put United in rarified company in high school hockey, Staley noted.
"There are only four teams in New York State still playing hockey right now, and we are one of them," Staley said. "I feel in my heart that nobody deserves this more than these kids do. I do know one thing: whatever happens this weekend, we are coming to play. We are not afraid. We're going for it."
BND will play its semifinal game against Skaneateles. That team is the defending state champion and is 22-1 on the season. United, which won its first Section V title this season, is 22-2.
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Batavia Notre Dame, a merged hockey team in its third year as a united unit, won its first Section V Class B championship Monday in dramatic fashion -- pulling out an overtime victory.
United struck first in the first period.
Brennen Pedersen came off the bench to keep the puck from crossing the blue line for offsides, taking a pass from Jameson Motyka and opening up the scoring for United 1-0 with seven minutes left in the opening period.
Nine minutes into the second period, Ivan Milovidov scored unassisted, which gave United a 2-0 lead.
Webster Thomas cut the lead by one goal, scoring with four minutes left in the period to make it 2-1.
In the third period, after two penalty kills, United maintained the lead with under four minutes left. Webster Thomas scored again to tie the game 2-2 and send it into overtime.
In overtime, each squad had opportunities until Joe DiRisio scored the game-winner on a rebound to give BND the Class B title.
BND United had 34 shots on goal. Rhys Tanner made 32 saves for United.
Section V awards were given to Joe DiRisio, named MVP, and Ivan Milovidov, player of the game.
United moves on to the Regional round versus Kenmore East at Noon on Saturday at RIT.
Coach Marc Staley said he told his team going into overtime to take a couple of deep breaths and go out and do what they've done all year, to trust the process.
"This game could have gone either way," Staley said. "I mean, their goalie made some great saves. Our goalie made some great saves. We ended up getting a loose puck in front of the net, and we banged it home. That's how it goes."
He added, "You know, you get a little luck when you need it. We got a little luck when we needed it."
DiRisio, who scored the winning goal, credited the win to the close bond between team members.
"We just stayed together, really, DiRisio said. "We're brothers. We're family. We love each other. And we knew we had to stay level for it. I feel like being level mentally is 80 percent of the game. It's just it's huge."
The win, making history for the program, was a magical moment, he said.
"Obviously, it's history. It's kind of a numbing feeling because you're just so excited; at least, I am. It's just, it's incredible. It really is."
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Batavia Notre Dame United moved one step closer to a Section V title in hockey, winning the Class B semifinal over Canandaigua on Wednesday 5-4.
Scoring:
Goalie Rhys Tanner made 18 saves on 22 shots.
Mason Smith had 2 goals and 1 assist for Canandaigua.
While United managed 40 shots in the game, Canandaigua goalie Charlie Fuller stopped 35.
United will play for the Class B title on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at RIT against Webster Thomas.
Photos by Pete Welker.
Batavia Notre Dame United opened sectional play on Thursday as the #1 seed in Class B and came away with the expected victory over Geneseo/Avon/Livonia.
United (19-2) won 6-1 at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena.
United scored first on a pass by Jake Hutchins and Orion Lama to Ivan Milovidov.
Five goals in the second period gave United a 6-0 lead.
Three goals were scored by Ivan Milovidov, giving him more than 100 career points.
Brady Johnson and Jake Hutchins also scored.
Goaltender Rhys Tanner lost his shot at a shutout when Matt Mulvaney scored for Geneseo with four minutes left in the game.
United plays next Wednesday at home against #5 seed Canandaigua. The game time has not yet been announced.
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