'It's fairytale-type stuff': Batavia Notre Dame United, McQuaid reach state semifinals

Batavia Notre Dame United players are getting their money's worth of ice time this postseason.

Less than a week after clinching Section V's Class B title in overtime against Webster Thomas, United was back in sudden death on Saturday to decide the winner of the NYSPHSAA Division II quarterfinal.

Different opponent, higher stakes, same result. Kenmore East goaltender Erik Freeman turned aside 48 of the first 50 shots on goal, but couldn't stop the 51st. United junior forward Jameson Motyka beat him on an odd-angle shot midway through the first overtime, securing a trip to the state semifinals.

"As a coach, you get nervous with those games. Goaltending is a sport within the sport, and sometimes you run into a team that sound in front of their goalie which Kenmore certainly was," Batavia coach Marc Staley said. "Nobody panicked, nobody was jammed up. And pandemonium again.

"Two walk-offs at RIT within a week, it's fairytale-type stuff."

Motyka leads long list of heroic performances

Motyka's overtime winner, which completed a hat trick, elicited fond memories for Staley. In 2012, his group at Batavia Notre Dame won the Class B title over Churchville-Chili 4-2 on Josh Johnston's natural hat trick in the third period.

That season the Fighting Irish became Section V hockey's first No. 8 seed to win a title. Now Motyka joins Johnston in Batavia high school hockey lore, and in redemptive fashion -- United's junior forward was shut out in his team's section title win over Webster Thomas while battling an illness.

"That's the stuff legends are made of, and Jameson's performance threw me back 12 years to that moment (with Johnston)," Staley said. "That'll be remembered here in Batavia forever, that he kinda strapped the team on his back and said we're not going away, this isn't done yet."

Motyka's efforts weren't single-handed, evidenced by United's postgame tradition of recognizing a player of the game.

While Motyka might've been the obvious choice, prior winner Joe DiRisio instead picked unheralded defenseman Noah Whitcomb who had two assists and blocked a crucial shot in overtime.

"Those are moments that people don't talk about and don't show up on the scoresheet," Staley said. "That's what I love about this team, is that they recognize those efforts from each player. That's the culture, and the culture is great."

To be the best, beat the best

Neither Batavia or Notre Dame had won a state title prior to the programs' merger three years ago. Batavia reached the cusp twice, falling in the Division II championship in both 1995 and 2003.

To rewrite those wrongs, United must overcome the pinnacle of high school hockey in New York state. Section III's Skaneateles is the defending Division II state champion and has been the last team standing in two of the last three tournaments.

The Lakers were also on the verge of a third title in recent memory in 2020, before COVID-19 lockdowns ended their burgeoning pursuit of an undefeated season.

"(Skaneateles coach) Mitch Major is about as good as they get in New York state," Staley said. "They've built a powerhouse program there with a great youth program and development model. They're the best of the best."

From here on out, Batavia is taking a period-by-period approach, and United hopes there's six periods left in their season (unless the recent trend of overtime games continue).

The teams will face off at 2 p.m. Saturday at the LECOM HarborCenter in downtown Buffalo.

"If we have the gas to pull this over the finish line is to be determined. We've got the stiffest test in the state coming up with Skaneateles," Staley said. "We're trying to do this for our community and it's a feel-good story in Batavia. Everybody's really pulling for these kids."

McQuaid sticking around in Division I

Section V had four representatives on the ice during last weekend's regional action. While Webster Thomas (Section V's at-large bid) fell to aforementioned Skaneateles in its Division II state quarterfinal, McQuaid was able to pull through during the Division I regional against Section IV's Ithaca.

In that game, Liam Palmer and Lou Zaari scored third period goals to push the Knights to their first state tournament since 2015.

McQuaid's win earns a date with Section VI's Orchard Park, slated for a 9 a.m. start on Saturday at the HarborCenter.

The two teams previously convened for a 5-4 overtime thriller on Dec. 16, won by the Knights thanks to Palmer's late goal.

With another win, McQuaid would reach its third Division I state championship game in program history.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Section V hockey: Batavia Notre Dame United, McQuaid in state semifinals