Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 8 ranked Parkland College men's soccer team captured the 2023 NJCAA DII Region 24 regular season title with a 1-0 win over Southwestern Illinois College on Sunday, October 22. The Cobras (12-3-2) pushed past the Blue Storm (8-6-2) with a game-winning goal from Ron Naftali in the 25th minute in the team's final game of the regular season. Parkland goalkeepers Harry Gray and Matteo Puli combined for five saves in the win.
 
"Things were going fairly well for us up until we scored, and then the situation became very difficult, much due to our actions," Parkland College head coach Mark Sikora said after the game. "We played a truly tough team today, and they stressed us out for most of the game, putting a tremendous amount of pressure on our backline and goalkeepers."
 
"I can't say enough for the work done by our backline players: Nathan Torres, Hibiki Mizutani, Ebenezer Boti, Clinton Mawusi, Noah Barkley, and Manuel Miori, as well as the goalkeeping tandem of Harry Gray and Matteo Puli," Sikora continued. "They all stood tall under constant pressure in the second half and helped us earn another shutout, something that only one other team was able to do against SWIC."
 
"Most importantly," Sikora concluded, "All of the players have worked so hard to earn the regular season Region 24 championship. We don't know what the tournament will hold, but I could not be prouder of what they have done in the last 17 games to put us in this situation and to see it all the way through."
 
Scoring Summary:
PARKLAND GOAL: Ron Naftali 25' (Assisted by Manuel Miori)
 
Up next, the Cobras begin postseason play on Tuesday, October 24, at home against John Wood Community College in the Central District Championship. Kick-off against the Blazers (5-9-2) is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Parkland College Soccer Field.