Christian Pena's two goals help Babylon boys soccer capture Long Island Class B crown
Babylon celebrates with the championship trophy following the Long Island Class B boys soccer final against Carle Place at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Credit: Derrick Dingle
Babylon’s boys soccer program is no stranger to the Long Island Class B championship game, having played in it every year since 2021.
Yet the Panthers had never defended its title. That’s not easy, of course, and with an undefeated Carle Place team on deck it looked more difficult than ever.
But coach Dennis McGovern opted for this game rather than a trip upstate via the new at-large bid, never shying away from a challenge. And the Panthers, courtesy of two goals from Christian Pena, answered the call.
Babylon beat Carle Place, 2-1, in the Long Island Class B championship game Tuesday at Uniondale’s Mitchel Field Complex.
It’s time to party, Babylon.
— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) November 4, 2026
The Panthers handed Carle Place its first loss since last year… which came against Babylon in this very Long Island Class B championship.
Gritty, defensively sound and now, Southeast Regional-final bound. pic.twitter.com/maM2uUXpvm
“This means everything to me,” Pena, a senior captain, said. “I was pulled up as a freshman, and this is what they pulled me up to do; perform in big games.”
The Panthers (14-4) will play the Southeast Regional final Saturday at Harborfields High School, awaiting Wednesday’s winner between Section IX’s Dover and Section I’s Briarcliff.
Pena’s opening goal came in the 22nd minute, a chip to the right corner off an assist from Danny Murphy.
“I felt the pressure; this could have been my last game on the team,” Pena said. “But I knew I had to make it count.”
The Panthers defended incredibly well against a Carle Place team that averaged over four goals per game. Defender John Stricoff impressed and sophomore Jack Fifield made four saves, with McGovern noting how his goalkeeper “grew up in front of us this year.”
“We’re OK not having the ball as long as we have good defensive shape,” McGovern said. “And I think we did.”
Pena notched his 16th goal of the season with a beautiful chip shot off a through ball from Richard Sorto in the 66th minute.
Carle Place (16-1) responded just 40 seconds later, though, as Cristiano Costa’s free kick from midfield found the head of Evan Mehalakes. The senior headed it into the bottom left corner to set up a frenzied finish to the game.
It didn’t help the Frogs to be without Justin Escobar, who has 16 goals and five assists this year, after he suffered a knee injury with 23 minutes left in the first half. Escobar is part of an 11-man senior class for the Frogs, who coach Conor Reardon hailed for “a magical season.”
“I thought we had time to adapt and try to change the style of what we wanted to do,” Reardon said. “Changing your style on the fly is never easy, but I give credit to the boys for fighting and pushing through to the end.”
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
