CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Three Parkland men's soccer athletes were selected as members of the 2018 Region 24 All-Region team, as selected by the head coaches. Sophomore midfielder Zachary Gowlett and freshman forward Yu Sasaki were named as All-Region 24 Forwards and Midfielders, while sophomore Ethan Norton was one of four defenders selected.
A First Team All-Mid-West Athletic Conference selection last year, Gowlett followed up his 2017 season with a team-leading 12 assists in 2018 that ranks 15th in NJCAA Division I. In addition to setting up 12 of his teammates' goals, Gowlett added in seven goals of his own. Altogether, Gowlett's 26 total points ranked second on the team. In Parkland's Region 24 quarterfinal victory over Southwestern Illinois, Gowlett tallied five points, netting two goals and setting up another, to lead the Cobras.
Joining Gowlett among the honored forwards and midfielders, freshman Yu Sasaki broke on to the scene for head coach Mark Sikora with a team-leading 30 total points, tying with Naoto Uede as the top goal scorer with 10, and ranking second to Gowlett with 10 assists. The 10 assists ranked 30th in the country, while his 30 points was 51st in the nation. Sasaki's biggest output came against Ancilla on September 1 when the first-year Cobra scored his first collegiate hat trick and added in an assist for a season-high seven points.
While Gowlett and Sasaki led the Parkland attack, Ethan Norton steadied the Cobras' back line of defense. Starting in every match this season, Norton helped keep opponents off the scoreboard as Parkland allowed just 1.2 goals per match this season. In addition to his defensive expertise, Norton chipped in offensively throughout the season, including four assists. His final assist came in the final regular season match of the season against Southwestern Illinois, helping the team clinch home-field advantage for the Region 24 Quarterfinal.
Together, the three All-Region selections led the 2018 Parkland squad to an 11-2-2 overall record and its sixth straight Mid-West Athletic Conference Championship. The Cobras advanced past Southwestern Illinois in the Region 24 Quarterfinals, 4-2, before dropping their Semifinal match against Illinois Central on penalty kicks.
Player of the Year for Region 24
RESHAWN WALKES – Lewis and Clark Community College
Top 4 Defenders for Region 24
1.)
Osvaldo Guerrero – Lewis and Clark Community College
2.)
Tyrese Locke – Illinois Central College
3.)
Jonathan Deck – John Wood Community College
4.) Ethan Norton – Parkland College
All Region 24 Forwards & Midfielders
1.) Yu Sasaki – Parkland College
2.)
Layee Kromah – Illinois Central College
3.)
Camarri Johnson – Lewis and Clark Community College
4.)
Christian Fierro - Lincolnland Community College
5.)
Matheus Giron – Heartland Community College
6.)
Juan Rosique – Illinois Central College
7.)
Blake Herman – John Wood Community College
8.)
Luan Santana-Barbosa – Southwestern Illinois College
9.)
Vicent Forment Garcia – Illinois Central College
10.) Zach Gowlett – Parkland College
