CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland women's soccer team scored twice in the final 22 minutes against Illinois Central on Tuesday afternoon, but fell short in the comeback attempt, losing 4-3.
Beatriz Meneghin,
Mayra Sosa and Kayla Ligett each netted goals for the Cobras.
"The girls played a lot of good soccer today, but we need to put together 90 quality minutes to take a step forward this season," said head coach
Tim Notz. "The girls made it exciting towards the end of the game, and we had some chances, but that is how it goes sometimes."
Trailing 4-1 midway through the second half following two Illinois Central goals in each half, the Cobras put pressure on the Cougars back line four times in the final 22 minutes to draw within a goal. Despite falling to 2-5 on the season, the one-goal defeat is Parkland's third of the season.
Taking a pass from Gabby Schuster at midfield, Meneghin navigated her way through the Illinois Central back line and knocked in her second goal of the season past Cougar goalie Christy Torrey.
Continuing to control possession and pressure the Cougars, Parkland drew within one goal with six minutes remaining in the match after a foul called on Illinois Central gave the Cobras a free kick just above the right corner of the box. Taking the free kick, Sosa lofted a shot to the top-left corner of the frame, out of the reach of Torrey, scoring her third goal of the season.
Trying to find the equalizer in the final five minutes of the match, the Cobras twice put the ball in the box with a chance to tie. A minute after Sosa's goal, Meneghin received a pass deep into the box that the sophomore kicked past the goalie only to have it weaved off for being offside. Sosa found Meneghin again three minutes off a pass on the left side into the box, but the shot proved unsuccessful.
Prior to the second-half comeback, freshman Kayla Ligett scored the Cobras' opening goal, her first of the season, off a pass from Meneghin and finding the net just inside the left post.
Up next, the Cobras will play the first of three straight road contests on Thursday, September 20, at 4 p.m. against St. Charles.
