By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Two of the past three years Northstar Christian girls’ soccer saw its season end at the hands of Fillmore.
So when the Knights prepared to host the reigning Class D champion Eagles on Saturday, head coach Andrea Demarest wanted to take a different approach to the match.
Even if that meant a similar result as the previous two head-to-head meetings.
“We had to do something,” Demarest said. “Because we’ve never even scored on Fillmore.”
With Ellie Kaiser, Kaelyn Spargo and Leah Vetere shouldering responsibilities on the backline, Northstar employed a 3-5-2 formation.
The tactic worked for 60 minutes until Fillmore showed its championship form.
“We had more attackers than we normally would have,” Demarest said after Fillmore (1-1-1) and Northstar (1-0-1) played to a 2-2 draw at Grace & Truth Park. “It’s only our third game. We’ve just been changing a little bit every game, more possession, more building.”
Allie Skeval staked Northstar to a 2-nil lead early in the second half.
The senior forward converted on a free kick. Kayla Irwin served a cross from the left wing below the 18-yard line, and Skeval won a battle in the air and headed the ball into the back of the net for a 1-nil lead at halftime.
At 34:11 mark of the second half, Allie Skeval connected on a left-footed strike from inside the 18-yard box. Sadie Willis assisted on the play.
“We’ve lost to them twice in sectionals, so we feel like this is a win,” Demarest said. “This is good for us coming away with a tie. I’m happy with it.”
Tenlee Miller connected inside the 18-yard box to get Fillmore on the scoreboard in the 60th minute.
“Sometimes, we forget that we’re the hunted,” said Fillmore head coach Jon Beardsley whose teams have won three sectional titles in the past five years including last season when the Eagles advanced to the state semifinals. “I was really proud. They obviously faced some adversity there in a lot of different ways, and that’s growth. That’s what we’re looking for.”
Kallie Pastorius provided the equalizer in the 76th minute.
Taking a corner kick from the left flag, Pastorius bent a cross directly into the opposite side netting for an Olimpico.
“I didn’t tell her do that,” Beardsley joked. “That was a beautiful corner from her, just served it on a platter.”
Fillmore keeper Kelsie Songster made four saves. Alisha Demarest stopped seven shots for Northstar.
Fillmore hosts Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg on Friday. Northstar faces Bishop Kearney on Tuesday.
This Kallie Pastorius Olimpico sent the match to overtime as Fillmore and Northstar Christian played to a draw on Saturday in a rematch of the 2025 Class D @secvgirlssoccer final. pic.twitter.com/zip7xS9s1Q
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 12, 2026
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