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DiRisio's OT winner lifts Batavia Notre Dame United to Section V hockey crown

Justin Ritzel, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·5 min read

Puck on his stick, the opposing goaltender down and out. Joe DiRisio had the opportunity of a lifetime, and he delivered.

Minutes into overtime, DiRisio pumped home the goal that captured the Section V Class B crown for Batavia Notre Dame United, a team that didn't exist a handful of years ago. United, which combines what would've been Batavia Ice Devils or Notre Dame of Batavia Fighting Irish players, defeated Webster Thomas 3-2 on Monday at RIT's Gene Polisseni Center.

"I can't explain it," DiRisio said. "There's no better feeling."

DiRisio's heroics continue what's been a historic season for top-ranked United, one of Section V's latest teams to join the swell of merged programs.

When leaders at Batavia Notre Dame and Batavia High School agreed on a merger prior to the 2021-22 season, reaching a title game within three years seemed unrealistic. Actually winning it, downright unbelievable.

"That might've been a reach, but here we are," United coach Marc Staley said. "I'm just really proud of the kids. We've been tested time and time again, but somehow we found a way to win games even when we've been outplayed.

"I'm really excited to have another week with these kids on the ice. We don't want it to end."

Section V owns the NYSPHSAA Division II at-large bid for the upcoming state tournament, so both teams were set to continue regardless of Monday's outcome. But some late-game blunders nearly cost United its first sectional title under combined status.

First, there was Ryan Goel's goal that tied the score 2-2 with under four minutes remaining. Then, there was a penalty with two minutes left in regulation that put Webster Thomas on the man-advantage with a chance to steal the game.

United's perfect postseason penalty kill remained so, though, to send the game to sudden death.

"We just didn't execute great," Titans coach David Evans said. "The puck just bounced on us a little bit, the ice is bad. You need to work to make your chances and I think we panicked a little bit. It's a lesson for our guys, and we'll bounce back."

Happy homecoming

Staley and RIT, the host for Monday's title games, have a lot of history. United's coach played for the men's hockey team from 1993 to 1995 and later moved to the bench as an assistant, a handful of years before becoming Batavia Notre Dame's varsity coach in 2007-08.

While the Polisseni Center was constructed years after Staley's RIT career, United's bench boss still carries fond memories of his time on campus playing for the Tigers.

He added, though, that this moment was about his players.

"We had some great days back in the day. It's a special place for me to come back to, but it's not my time. I'm the coach," Staley said. "It's the kids who'll enjoy the bus ride home, and we'll get up tomorrow and do some yoga and watch some video and get back on the ice. But it's nice for me to come back home and have those kind of vibes."

Batavia Notre Dame vs Webster Thomas: By the numbers

1 - Brennen Pedersen's goal total, prior to Monday's game. United's defenseman jumped off the bench and fired a worm burner along the ice that put his team ahead in the first period.

2016 - The year, the last time a team from Batavia won the Section V hockey title. That group was Batavia Notre Dame, also coached by Staley, who claimed the Class B1 title.

58 - The combined save count for goaltenders Michael Nappi and Rhys Tanner.

Quotes of the game

"I just feel like being level mentally is 80% of the game. It’s huge."

- United captain Joe DiRisio, on how his team remained composed during its late penalty kill.

"Coach Evans is a legend. Every year he finds a way to get his team — and he had a young team this year — peaking at the right time and playing together. We knew this was gonna be a tough game."

- United coach Marc Staley. Evans started the Thomas hockey program in the early 2000s and has led the Titans to 12 section final appearances and eight championships.

"We never addressed it during practice this week. We were focused on trying to win a sectional title. Everybody knew, but we wanted to compete and show we’re one of the top teams in Section V. I thought we did that."

- Titans coach David Evans, on whether he told his team about Section V's at-large bid to the state tournament.

Up next for Batavia Notre Dame United

Batavia Notre Dame United will return to its new home away from home, as the newly-crowned Section V champion will host Section VI champion Kenmore East on Saturday, back at the Polisseni Center. The Bulldogs blasted West Seneca West in the Buffalo region's small school championship last week.

As Section V's at-large representative, Webster Thomas will travel to central New York and face Section III champion Skaneateles. The Lakers have won two of the last three NYSPHSAA Division II championships, which included a semifinal victory over Webster Thomas when the teams met in 2019.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Batavia Notre Dame United wins Section V hockey crown over Webster Thomas