Babylon’s boys ‘soccer team has stepped into the unknown but they’re doing so under the steady guidance of a familiar face.
Coach Dennis McGovern enters his 11th year at the helm of the boys program after previously spending 12 years coaching the Babylon girls. In between, he took time off to coach his own kids, further strengthening his connection to the local soccer community.
This season, the expectations coming in were difficult to pin down. The Panthers graduated six starters from last year's squad, leaving behind a roster with undeniable potential but limited varsity experience. “We’re still finding ourselves right now,” McGovern admitted. “A lot of these guys were good players in past years, but there just wasn’t room for them to get a lot of playing time. Now it’s their turn.”
Despite the question marks, the Panthers have started strong with a 4-0 record, including a season-opening 2-1 win over a physical Wyandanch team, an early sign that this group might be ready to rise to the occasion. Ronan Dee and Griffen Smith scored Babylon’s goals.
Since then, it has been dominant, beating Riverhead Charter 2-0, Smithtown Christian 6-0, and Greenport 8-0.
Leading the charge is senior goalkeeper and captain Trace Serrone, a third-year varsity player who recorded 11 shutouts last season and already has three under his belt in 2025. “Trey can keep us in games,” McGovern said. “He’s a leader back there, and his experience is something we lean on heavily.”
Joining him in the leadership group is junior midfielder Danny Murphy, also in his third year on varsity and serving as a captain. “He’s been a steady presence in the midfield,” said McGovern. “He brings valuable varsity minutes which is important for a team like us that lacks experience.”
Christian Pena, another junior and three-year starter, is a “quality” player who provides consistency and skill. Meanwhile, John Stricoff, also a junior, played in every game last year and often draws the toughest defensive assignments, regularly marking the opposing team’s best attacker.
Among the new faces, freshman forward Antonio Bartolotta stands out. He played JV last year and was called up for the playoffs. “He’s continuing to grow,” said McGovern. “He’s got a lot of promise.” Bartolotta currently leads the team in goals so far this season with three.
The team also features a pair of brothers at center back: senior Dillon Borruso and his younger brother, Logan, who is a sophomore. “We keep telling them to just be themselves,” McGovern said, emphasizing the importance of letting players grow into their roles.
A unique aspect of Babylon soccer is its tight-knit, family-like culture. With open summer practices for grades 7-12, younger players are regularly exposed to the varsity environment.
“We’ve always had a family culture here,” said McGovern. “At a small school like Babylon, it’s easier to bring younger guys around the older ones and show them what it takes. You can’t teach winning, but you hope that it’s contagious.”
