Babylon’s Troy Schipf couldn’t resist the chance to take a penalty kick for the Panthers’ boys soccer team.
He missed in the ninth round of PKs against No. 3 Mattituck in the Suffolk Class B final at Diamond in the Pines on Saturday.
But, ultimately, it didn’t matter.
He made two massive saves in the final two rounds, and freshman Owen Morris converted his attempt to open the 10th round.
Top-seeded Babylon advanced in penalty kicks, 7-6, and plays Locust Valley for the Long Island Class B championship at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Mitchel Athletic Complex.
Both Babylon (15-2-1) and Mattituck are Suffolk B co-champs after neither team could score after 80 minutes of regulation and two, 15-minute golden goal overtimes.
Babylon coach Dennis McGovern asked Schipf if he wanted to be one of the players to participate in penalty kicks.
“A goalie doesn’t get a chance to do this too often,” Schipf said. “So I told him, “Of course, I will.’ “
Babylon missed two of its first three attempts, but rallied as both teams were tied at 3 after the first five rounds.
Then, both clubs would go one agonizing round at a time.
The teams were tied at 6 when Schipf finally got his chance in the ninth round.
However, Tuckers backup goalie Jack Golder, who did not play until PKs, made one of his two saves during the session.
Schipf went back to being a goalie and made a great save in the ninth round to continue PKs and keep Babylon’s playoff hopes alive.
“It’s not easy getting right back in there,” he said.
Then, Morris scored to open the 10th round, and Schipf made the second of his two stops to end penalty kicks as Babylon successfully defended its Suffolk B championship.
“Last year, I felt we got lucky against Center Moriches,” McGovern said. “But this year, we earned it.”
The tension in the air was palpable throughout the second half and both overtimes. As every second ticked off the clock, each pass, shot and save became more magnified.
“This is a tough way for a team to end its season,” said McGovern, pointing at the Mattituck sideline. “I give them a lot of credit because they took it to us in overtime.”
The Panthers outshot Mattituck, 17-6, in regulation but could not score.
However, Mattituck had four quality chances in both overtimes, including a shot by defender Jude Couch early in the second overtime that seemed destined to be the winner.
But the ball dangerously ticked off the crossbar.
“This feels great,” said Schipf, who had four saves in the match. “We get to play soccer in November.”
