Southampton Boys Soccer Falls To Babylon In County Semis

The Southampton boys soccer team didn’t come out with the intensity that’s typically needed for postseason play, and that’s what largely led to its 3-0 loss at home to Babylon in the Suffolk County Class B semifinals on Wednesday.

The Mariners defeated the Panthers, 2-1, at home on March 26, a victory that ultimately allowed them to play Wednesday’s playoff game on their home turf. But Babylon came out out of the opening whistle with a little more pep in its step, and Southampton just couldn’t match the Panther’s intensity throughout the game.

Babylon will play reigning county champ Center Moriches, which defeated Mattituck in the other semifinal, this Saturday at Diamond in the Pines in Coram.

“We definitely didn't come out our best in the first half. We did step it up a little bit in the second half, but we weren't really playing our game. We kind of let them dictate a lot of the play,” Southampton's first-year head coach Mike Valentine said after the game. “We’re still learning how to come out and play a full 80 minutes. That's something that's really hard to do. We have the skill, we have the talent, but to consistently come out and perform at the highest level is something we’re still working on as a team

“I hope that this is just another lesson that we can learn from moving forward,” he added. “But it’s just been, are we mentally prepared enough for those games? I think we have one of the strongest teams out there skill-wise and tactical-wise. We just need to tighten a few things.”

The game was scoreless at the half, thanks, in large part, to Southampton sophomore goal keeper Andrew Panza (13 saves), who made a number of key saves throughout the game, particularly on a penalty kick 22 minutes in after a Babylon player was dragged down in the box.

Babylon had a number of prime scoring changes throughout the game but it broke through on what basically wasn’t a shot. Babylon junior captain Lucas Montalto attempted to direct a long throw-in backwards with his head, but he missed and the ball instead trickled down his back. The missed redirection seemed to throw off both Panza and Southampton’s defenders as the ball made its way into the goal just over five minutes into the second half.

The Mariners were a but unlucky on Babylon’s second goal. Babylon junior Luca Giammarino sent a ball into the box that Panza came out to play but collided hard with one of his defenders, causing both to fall down. Sophomore Nico Giammarino, Luca’s younger brother, found the ball and, with pretty much an open net, found the opposite corner of the goal to make it a 2-0 game with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Nico Giammarino added the Panther’s third goal when he played a ball off his chance at the top of the box and quickly booted it top shelf over a leaping Panza.

It was a bit of tough way to end the season for the Mariners, who went 6-2 in League V play (6-3-1 overall) and were in line for an undefeated season and league title before losing a tough game to previously winless Port Jefferson on April 6, before dropping its regular-season finale to Center Moriches two days later.

Now Southampton will have to say goodbye to its seven seniors, who Valentine said were a huge part of the team’s success this season.

“They've done really well this year. There's a lot of them that we’re definitely going to miss,” he said. “These guys are the leaders of our program and every year when you lose your seniors it’s tough. We’re just thankful for the leadership that they brought to this team and for everything they did.

“At least we could get them some sort of season this year," Valentine continued. “It’s kind of been a crappy year for them as seniors so I’m glad we got them something. I wish them the best of luck moving forward. A couple of them are looking to play at the collegiate level.”

Valentine, who took over for Dave Riley after he decided to step down following the 2019 season, didn't exactly envision himself having to navigate through his first season as varsity head coach during a pandemic. Nonetheless, he enjoyed it and his looking forward to next season when much of the team will be largely intact.

“It was for sure baptism by fire," Valentine said, with a laugh. “Between just the ins and outs of the head varsity position, dealing with all of the paperwork and everything — I had the COVID protocols to worry about as well — but from the beginning we tried to get out there as early as possible. These guys were out there in early February and January shoveling snow off the turf and practicing. And that wasn't driven by me. That was driven by them and I just absolutely loved working with this particular group. It’s definitely a different experience at the top like this, but I really like to make it about the boys, and they know that too. I try to do everything that I can to support them. I’m always there if they do want to hold captain’s practices, or if they do want to come out and shovel snow. It was a really good experience. I enjoyed every minute of it.”