Edwin Caballero's late save helps Huntington boys soccer seal win in Class AA Southeast Regional final
Huntington celebrates after a win in the state Class AA boys soccer Southeast Regional final on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Armonk. Credit: George Caratzas
ARMONK — Huntington was clinging to a one-goal edge, 11 seconds left on the clock. Mahopac’s free kick began sailing into the box, and then came the shot that had “tie game/overtime” practically written on the soccer ball in this Class AA Southeast Regional final.
But Edwin Caballero had returned for the postseason after missing a chunk of time with a back injury, and the Huntington junior goalkeeper took a dive to his left to save the day, the last of his 11 stops.
“It was pretty hard,” Caballero said. “I saved it and we won the game. It was a good feeling.”
Ezra Oddoye, playing on what he said is a torn ligament in his foot, had scored the go-ahead goal in the first half. And the Blue Devils edged Mahopac, 2-1, on Saturday at Byram Hills.
So they’re going to the program’s first final four after taking advantage of a second chance.
They had moved on to the regionals because Suffolk owned an at-large berth in this classification for 2026. The Blue Devils had conceded two late goals and fallen to Smithtown West 2-1 in the county final.
“I think that that’s a motivational thing, too,” coach John Pagano said, “that we kind of use that as a motivational tool to say, ‘Hey, somebody stole something from us. We’ve got to steal it back.’ ”
Huntington responded by beating Glen Cove in the regional semi before taking down this Section I champ.
“We had couple of signature wins during the year where we kind of said, ‘Why not us?’ ” Pagano said.
Huntington (16-4) will discover the ultimate answer at Middletown High. Next up is a state AA semifinal against Section IV champ Vestal at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Win two games and the Blue Devils are state champs.
“I think it’s within our reach,” Oddoye said. “I think that we have the team.”
The senior center attacking midfielder hurt the foot in the county quarterfinals, then missed the semis and final before returning.
“I’m not fully 100%,” Oddoye said, “but I’m still giving my 100% to the team.
“… When I run, it kind of limits me and I feel pain. But I’m taped up all the time and I use braces and take Advil.”
After Ian Mitchell equalized the game for Huntington in the 36th minute, Oddoye collected a deflected ball in the box and scored in the 38th minute for the 2-1 lead.
“He’s dynamic,” Pagano said.
Jack Rothmann beat Caballero, providing the Wolf Pac (17-2-2) with a 1-0 advantage in the 29th minute. But in the end, Caballero saved the Blue Devils.
“The goalie made an unbelievable save, especially in that moment,” Mahopac coach Chris Mulholland said. “But that’s part of the game.”
