As Senior Nights go, this one couldn’t have gone any better for the Wallkill boys’ soccer team.

All four seniors scored a goal in the Panthers’ 5-0 win over the Saugerties Sawyers on Thursday night, running their season-long winning streak to 12 games.

“I honestly couldn’t wish for a better Senior Night with this team,” senior captain Erick Vargas said. “We all play together, and we kept the same intensity for 80 minutes of the game. I just couldn’t wish for a better night.”

He couldn’t wish for a better night or a better season, as the unbeaten Panthers have an 11-0-0 record and the Mid Hudson Athletic League Division I championship. The only divisional opponent they haven’t played yet is New Paltz, which has two divisional losses and can’t close the gap.

They’ve now beaten the FDR Presidents and the Sawyers twice, and have already defeated the Huguenots, 3-2, on September 14. That earns the Panthers a spot in the Mid Hudson Athletic League semifinals on October 18 against an undetermined Division II champion.

The Panthers have shut out both Division II frontrunners, Our Lady of Lourdes and Red Hook; a win there will send them back to Robinson Field for the MHAL championship game on Oct. 20.

Beyond that, the Panthers hope to improve upon last season’s Section 9 Class A semifinal loss to the Beacon Bulldogs.

“After our season last year, losing in the semifinals to Beacon, we all talked about it, and we all agreed this was our year,” Vargas said. “So, we had to come back and make sure we go as far as we possibly can. If not win the championship, make it to the championship and give our all no matter what throughout the season.”

But Thursday night was plenty of cause to celebrate.

Nicholas DiLemme scored the first senior goal, giving the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. Renzo Scanu and then Vargas added goals to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead at halftime. Freshman Chris Banegas got in on the act in the second half in the 61st minute.

About a minute later, the celebration was on when the team’s fourth senior, Manny Martinez, scored a goal.
“He was the last one that needed a goal, so we were all just hyped and happy to be there,” Vargas said. “I’m pretty sure that was his first goal of the season.”

From there, Vargas and most of the Panthers’ seniors came out of the game, giving the Panthers’ reserves an opportunity to get some time on the field. Vargas became an extra coach on the sideline as the game wound down.

“It’s the most important thing (to get them in the game),” Vargas said. “Nothing is for sure. Someone could come down with a sickness or injury. Anything can happen. The next question has to be to make sure they do their job and get everything done the right way.”

They didn’t win when they finished the week at Middletown, but they did escape Middletown with a 0-0 tie after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer. Anthony Annacone made two saves, and the Panthers had a penalty shot blocked at the end of regulation.

So far, the Panthers have been doing everything the right way, and Wednesday’s regular-season finale at New Paltz is the Panthers’ final tune-up before the MHAL tournament.

“Everyone holds each other accountable, and we all push each other to be the best,” Vargas said. “We’re all harsh on each other at times, but at the same time, we’re like a family where we pick each other up after being harsh and tell each other, ‘this is what you should be doing so we get better as a team.’ We’re more of a family than just a team.”