O'FALLON, Ill. – The No. 11 Parkland men's soccer team dropped its match against Lewis and Clark Community College on Saturday by a score of 2-1. The first loss of the season, the Cobras fall to 4-1-1 on the season.

"We really let one get away this time," said head coach Mark Sikora. "We had chances that we did not convert, left the door open and they barged through twice which we expected from a quality opponent.  These are matches that we have to learn how to manage if we are going to play to our potential.  There were some really great performances, especially by our back line (Jaelen Jackson, Christian Machina, Mohamed Belakhoua, and Ethan Norton), who were under pressure to keep us in the match.  Just didn't fall our way this time but we have a short turn around, so will have a short memory."

In the first half, neither side was able to break through in a scoreless 45 minutes. The Cobras outshoot Lewis & Clark 3-0 and held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks in the first half.

Lewis & Clark broke the tie in the 52^nd minute when Zane Rowles scored to put Parkland behind 1-0. However, Yu Sasaki responded off an assist from Zachary Gowlett to level the score, 1-1, in the 60^th minute. The goal was the seventh of the season for Sasaki, while Gowlett's assist marked his eighth of the season, which still ranks tops in the NJCAA.

However, with five minutes left in the match, Lewis & Clark broke through Parkland's back line, scoring the game-winning game in the 85^th minute off a shot by Reshaun Walkes.

Overall, Parkland put six shots on goal to Lewis & Clark's four, and took nine corner kicks to six by Lewis & Clark.

Up next, Parkland will continue Region 24 action on Tuesday, September 11, when they travel to Normal, Illinois to play Heartland at 6 p.m. central time.