Third-seeded Yorktown (14-5), the No. 10 Class B team in the state, looked to capture its 14th sectional title but faced a difficult challenge against top-seeded host Nyack (15-4), ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 25 nationally, in the Section 1 Class B championship game June 2.
The matchup featured two defending sectional champions. Yorktown won the Class B title last season, while Nyack claimed the Class C championship. It was also a rematch of an April 16 regular-season meeting that Nyack won 17-11 in Yorktown.
Like the regular-season contest, the championship game turned into a shootout.
Yorktown scored the game's first two goals, but Nyack responded with an 8-3 run and held off the Huskers for a 20-17 victory to capture the Class B sectional crown.
“I would have loved to get farther with this team, but I am very happy and proud of everything we did this season,” said Yorktown’s Ava Ryan.
The team dedicated its season to former team manager Sheridan Gorman, the 2025 Yorktown High School graduate, who was shot and killed near her college campus at Loyola University Chicago in March.
“Our tough schedule prepared us for big games. We dedicated this season to Sheridan, reminding us to have fun, cheer loud and to play for her and each other,” said Ryan, who led the Huskers in goals (7G, 1A, 1 caused turnover, 1GB).
“My teammates and coaches set me up for success, and everyone gave it their all from the start,” she added. “Every goal against Nyack got us super hyped because of how tight the game was.”
Sydney Sateriale (4G, 1A, 18 draw controls) opened the scoring before Ryan converted an 8-meter shot to give Yorktown a 2-0 lead with 10:45 left in the first quarter.
“We were able to come out with the first two goals because of the draw,” Ryan said. “Sydney, Annie and Lily were able to control the draw in those early moments, giving us the lead to start the game.”
Nyack sophomore Abby Gould scored the first of her career-high 12 goals to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Sateriale answered with 9:06 remaining in the quarter to put Yorktown ahead 3-1, but Gould — who scored her 100th career goal as a freshman — rattled off six consecutive goals to give Nyack a 7-3 lead. The last came with 37.5 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Casey Cummings extended the run with the first goal of the second quarter to make it 8-3 before Megan Durante (1GB), assisted by Ryan, pulled Yorktown within four.
Nyack answered right back to go up 9-4 but Sateriale, on an 8-meter shot, Lily Diaz (4G, 2GB, 7DC) and Ryan scored consecutively, cutting the RedHawks’ advantage to 9-7.
“Ava and Sydney were super persistent and successful going to the cage, which made my job as a midfielder even easier,” Diaz said. “Getting those three goals to cut Nyack’s lead really helped us prove our strength and ability to compete in the game. It set the tone for the rest of the game and gave us the confidence to keep pushing.”
Gould scored again, followed by a goal from Cummings with 2:19 left in the half, extending Nyack's lead to 11-7.
Diaz gave Yorktown momentum heading into halftime, converting an 8-meter shot with 2.2 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 11-8.
“When we got down on the attacking end, I could hear our coaches yelling that we were short on time, and I knew I had to go,” Diaz said.
“I took my shot and tried to drive, getting the flag raised for the 8-meter. Making the 8-meter is something that we’ve worked on countless times at practice, so it was a matter of finishing the shot like I’ve practiced. Having that happen so close to halftime was even more important, since it ended us off on a positive note and allowed us to go into the break with a strong excitement to feed off of.”
Ryan opened the third-quarter scoring before Nyack answered with 2 goals to take a 13-9 lead. Ryan then scored again with 5:50 left in the quarter. Annie Cunneen (3A, 1CT, 1GB, 1DC), added a goal, but Gould converted an 8-meter shot to give Nyack a 14-11 advantage.
Diaz with an 8-meter goal, Ryan and Sateriale all scored to tie the game at 14-14 with 27.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
“Our team has certainly proved our resiliency throughout our season, especially with our strong schedule,” Diaz said. “This specific stretch in the third quarter further exemplified our determination. We knew we had the whole rest of the third and the fourth quarter to keep on fighting, so tying up the game that late created some super positive energy that we were able to feed off of.”
Nyack broke the tie by scoring the first five goals of the fourth quarter, securing the victory and its second consecutive sectional championship.
Ella Robustelli (1CT, 1GB), Claire Sullivan (1CT, 2GB), Addison Schluter (1CT), Samantha Conboy (3 saves) and Julia Fitzsimons (2 saves) also produced for Yorktown.
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