Sectional Championship Preview: Northstar, Notre Dame Batavia to battle for Class D title

One team is looking to claim its second sectional title in five years. The other is looking for its third sectional title since 2020. Northstar is set to square off against Notre Dame-Batavia for the Section V Class D Girls’ Soccer championship. Here’s the breakdown:  

No. 1 seed NORTHSTAR KNIGHTS
(14-2-1/ Private/Parochial)
vs.
No. 3 seed NOTRE DAME-BATAVIA FIGHTING IRISH  
(12-4-1/ Genesee Region II)

How they arrived here: No. 1 seed Northstar cruised past No. 9 Andover (5-0) and No. 4 Avoca-Prattsburgh (1-0) to advance to the Class D finals. No. 3 seed Notre Dame-Batavia defeated No. 11 Friendship-Scio (6-0) and No. 10 Mount Morris (6-1) to meet the Knights in the finals.

Total goals scored: Northstar (61), Notre Dame-Batavia (53)

Total goals allowed: Northstar (12), Notre Dame-Batavia (18)

Trends: No. 1 seed Northstar enters the finals on an eight-game winning streak which included eight straight shutout wins. The Knights have a total of 11 shutouts on the season and haven’t allowed a goal in October. No. 3 seed Notre Dame-Batavia joins the finals on a three-game win streak including two shutouts and 13 goals. The Fighting Irish have a total of seven shutouts this season.

Players to watch for Northstar: Allie Skeval Sr. F (21 G, 35 A); Kayla Irwin Jr. F/M (20 G, 10 A); Alisha Demarest  Sr. CM/GK (28 points, 0.73 GAA); Elliana Kaiser Sr. CB (four goals); Gianna Grape 8^th GK (six shutouts).

Players to watch for Notre Dame-Batavia: Emilie Noble So. ST (26 G, seven A); Emma Fitch Sr. CM (five G, nine A); Luci Di Risio Sr. CM (six G, seven A); Maddie Casey So. M (five G, one A); Guinnevere Clark Jr. M (one G, five A); Bri McGirr So. SW (two G); Sofia Falleti Sr. GK (16 goals against, six shutouts, .833 save percentage).

Coaches: Andrea Demarest (Northstar), Jarrod Clark (Notre Dame-Batavia)

History 101: Northstar has won three sectional titles in program history including the 2022 D2 title. Notre Dame-Batavia won back-to-back D2 champions in 2020 and ’21. Northstar topped ND-Batavia in the 2023 quarters, 1-0 and in the 2024 first round, 1-0.

What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class D Far West Regional against the Section VI title winner.