Bumpy End To Regular Season For Southampton Boys Soccer, Which Begins Postseason Play Wednesday

It was a somewhat bumpy end to the regular season for the Southampton boys soccer team last week, with losses in two of its final three games. But the Mariners still secured the second seed in the four-team Class B county playoffs, meaning they were scheduled to host their semifinal game with third seed Babylon on Wednesday, April 14, and, if things go their way, get a chance for revenge with a county title on the line against the squad that beat them in the regular season finale.

The Mariners were edged out, 2-0, at home on April 8 by top seed Center Moriches, which finished undefeated in League V with an 8-0 record, 9-1 overall. A pair of second-half goals, one with 21 minutes remaining and another with 13 minutes left, both from Robert Luongo, secured the win for the Red Devils, who were slated to host fourth seed Mattituck (4-3-1in League V, 4-4-2 overall) in the other semifinal game.

Southampton (6-2 in League V, 6-3-1 overall) could have earned a share of the league regular season title with a win, but the chance to win a league title outright was lost last week when the Mariners fell, 1-0, in double overtime, at Port Jefferson (1-7 in League V) on April 6. The Mariners beat Pierson in a 2-0 contest at home on April 3.

Despite coming off such a tough loss against a winless team, the Mariners looked good against a formidable Red Devils squad, particularly in the first half, according to head coach Mike Valentine.

“There are things we still need to work on and tweak, but I think we bounced back well from the loss at Port Jefferson,” he said. “We didn’t finish a couple of early opportunities that could have made a difference, but either way, I think we caught them by surprise a little bit.”

Center Moriches goalie Colin Raupp, one of the stronger goalies in the county, recorded his eighth shutout of the season.

The intensity the Mariners brought in the first half against Center Moriches may have been the result of a hard-learned lesson in the previous game against Port Jefferson.

“I told the guys we have to show up to every game and be prepared,” Valentine said. “Port Jefferson showed up and played their best game of the season, and we were not mentally prepared for that to happen. I think maybe we were thinking ahead too much. We had far more [scoring] opportunities than they did, but we just couldn’t hit the target, and they were able to capitalize on one of the few they did get.”

Against Pierson, Adrian Gonzalez scored a goal in the first half, and Huriel Reyes added another in the second half, while Erick Campohermoso had an assist. Southampton goalie Andy Panza made a save on a penalty kick to preserve the shutout.

Southampton was scheduled to kick off at home against Babylon at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, but that time was subject to change. The Mariners defeated Babylon, 2-1, at home in their only regular season matchup this year.