Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Babylon Panthers boys’ soccer team completed one of the most unexpected championship runs in program history, capturing the Long Island Class B title with a 1–0 victory over Carle Place Nov. 4.
Junior captain Danny Murphy buried a clutch penalty kick for the lone goal in the win, capping off a remarkable postseason for a team that few expected to be standing at the top.
Coach Dennis McGovern called it “a pretty improbable run,” noting that the team entered the season with major questions after graduating nearly 70 percent of its starters.
“Even for some of our seniors, this is their first time playing significant minutes,” McGovern said. “We don’t put any pressure on ourselves. They’re all in, and honestly, I misjudged what this group was capable of.”
Despite the inexperience, the Panthers came together when it mattered most. They opened the playoffs with a dominant 4–1 win over Southampton, powered by freshman forward Antonio Bartolotta’s two goals, along with tallies from senior midfielder Anthony Patiri and freshman striker Richard Sorto. In the Suffolk County Class B final, Babylon edged Center Moriches, 1–0, Nov. 1, thanks to another clutch goal from Patiri. The county title earned the Panthers a spot in the Long Island championship, where Murphy’s penalty kick made the difference.
While the offense provided timely goals, the backbone of the playoff surge was senior goalkeeper Trace Serrone, who recorded two straight shutouts and allowed just one goal across three playoff games. “At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure how we’d be,” Serrone admitted. “We lost a bunch of starters, and it took time to build chemistry. But our determination has been the biggest keyA get to the ball first mentality. Everyone’s been working so hard in practice.”
Serrone also embraced a leadership role this season, setting the tone with his confidence in net. “I wanted to make sure the guys never had to worry about me back there,” he said. “I’ve been locked in on goalkeeper training, trying to get better every day. We know what it feels like to win, and that’s made us even hungrier.”
Murphy, the team’s junior captain, has been a force in the midfield. Though his contributions often don’t appear in the box score, McGovern praised his leadership and composure. “Danny does so much that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet,” he said. “He’s really been the engine in the middle of the field.”
Another key contributor was senior Alex DeSa, who earned MVP honors in the county final for his lockdown defense on Center Moriches’ top attacker. Meanwhile, senior Dylan Borruso’s return from a year-long injury added emotional fuel to the team’s run, as he made his long-awaited varsity debut.
McGovern emphasized that while Babylon has experienced plenty of success in recent years, this title feels special. “We’ve won a lot here, but this is the most improbable run I’ve been a part of,” he said. “We play carefree, in a good way, and it’s been so much fun. We watch our opponents and know how good they are but we preach humility and hard work.”
The Panthers have now won three straight playoff games without, in McGovern’s words, “even playing our best.”
If that’s true, the rest of the state should take notice, because Babylon’s best may be yet to come as it looks to earn the state title.
