Southampton – Every pass, every shot, every ounce of energy exerted from here on out must count. With their high school careers on the line, no one knows that better than the 11 seniors on the Southampton boys soccer team. So it's no wonder that, with the Mariners' post-season hopes on the line, two magnificent efforts from two of those seniors helped the hosts earn a 1-1 draw with Babylon.
A loss would have forced the Mariners (5-5-4, 2-3-3 League VII-B) to win their final two games; instead, they'll need at least one win and exactly zero losses to extend their calendars. League-leading Mattituck visits town on Thursday, and Southampton closes out its regular season a week later at Center Moriches.
"I really want to get to the playoffs," said senior goalkeeper Will Simonetti (9 saves). "I'm just trying to play my hardest along with the rest of the team."
Southampton faced a 1-0 deficit late in the second half, but with the sun setting on the game and their season, the Mariners finally struck. In the 65th minute, senior Vassil Gayler chased down a long pass to the right corner of the attack zone. He brilliantly wheeled to his left and chipped a perfect centering pass in front of the Babylon net. Camped near the left post, junior Irineo Amador was there waiting for it. He knocked the ball home, and the score was suddenly even.
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Irineo Amador scored the Mariners' only goal in their draw with Babylon. |
"I just got the ball sent to me and did what I do," Gayler said. "I crossed the ball and hoped someone would head it, and Irineo was right there." Added Southampton Coach Dave Riley: "It went off just like we rehearsed it."
Following The Bouncing Ball
No team's won anything without a little luck, and that's exactly what Southampton banked on shortly after burying the equalizer. With just under 10 minutes remaining, a crossing pass from the right side landed on the head of Babylon forward Dennis Ferrara, who redirected it net-ward. Simonetti leapt high to his left, and his fingertips just reached the Ferrara offering. His touch was just enough. Instead of the ball finding the back of the net, it found iron. Clanging off the right goalpost, the ball was still alive, but it conveniently sailed right into Simonetti's waiting arms as while he was lying on the ground. "It came right back to me. I got a little lucky," Simonetti admitted.
Riley, however, was quick to credit his netminder for the game-saving acrobatics.
"He's come up with some big saves for us," Riley said of Simonetti. "He's doing excellent and he just keeps getting better."
Simonetti's save also sprung the Mariners for their best scoring opportunity in the game's twilight stages. His outlet started the Southampton break, and junior midfielder Eduardo Nava was able to loft a pass to Amador in the Babylon box. After a nifty move, Amador broke free behind the defense. The junior tried to bend his shot just inside the right post, but misfired to set up a goal kick. The breakneck pace continued, but neither goalie was really tested during the game's final five minutes.
"We played amazing," Gayler said. "We kept getting up there, and we held the ball more than 50 percent of the time on their half, but we just didn't get lucky when we tried to finish."
An Early Deficit
Babylon (2-7-4, 2-3-3 League VII-B), like Southampton, needs a strong finish in order to qualify for the postseason. And their chances of escaping town with a win looked good early in the first half. Ferrara redirected a Britten Kerr cross past Simonetti in the 47th minute to put Babylon ahead 1-0, and the Panthers continued to apply the pressure going forward. After the Ferrara tally, junior Davin Johnson and the Mariner back line were able to keep Southampton off the board.
"I think we were able to hold their offense pretty well," Johnson said. "We just had a couple slip-ups, and they just happened to take advantage of those slip-ups."
Having to settle for a draw, the Panthers, too, need at least a win and a tie in their final two contests –- Thursday at Hampton Bays, and Tuesday at Bayport-Blue Point -– for their season to continue.
Southampton turns its eyes to a date with Mattituck on Thursday. The Mariners celebrated a 1-0 road win the last time the teams met. They'll need at least a draw to keep their playoff hopes alive. "All anyone can ask from us is to play our game," Gayler said. "We just have to give it 100 percent and do what we have to do."
"We're just going to keep the motor running," Riley added. "We've taken Mattituck down before, and we can do it again."
