Box Score HILLSBORO, Mo. – The Parkland College men's soccer team traveled to Jefferson College and took down the Vikings 3-0 on Friday, August 25th. Sophomore Ron Naftali converted from the penalty spot in the first half, scoring in his third consecutive game, and Parkland goalkeepers Harry Gray and Matteo Puli combined to record the team's first shutout this season. The win pushes the Cobras to 3-0 in 2023, outscoring opponents 9-3.
 
"Today we battled the 100-degree heat and a very good NJCAA Division I team," Parkland head coach Mark Sikora said following the game. We were extremely solid in the first half, and the game was fairly back and forth. In the end, our quality came through, allowing us to finish this one very strong."
 
"I am most proud of the "bend don't break" attitude of our defense today as they earned a clean sheet," Sikora continued, "Ebenezer Boti set the tone early, and the rest of our backline followed his lead."
 
The Cobras (3-0) broke through in the 14th minute when William Penn University transfer Ron Naftali buried his second penalty kick of the year to put Parkland up 1-0, where the score remained through the end of the first half. The intensity picked up in the second half with three yellow cards distributed in the first ten minutes, and the Cobras doubled their lead with a William Arana goal in the 66th minute. Sophomore Illinois College transfer Grant Koplinski provided Parkland an insurance goal in the 87th minute, his first goal as a Cobra, and the visitors won 3-0.
 
Scoring Summary:
PARKLAND GOAL: 14th minute – Ron Naftali (PK)
            Halftime
PARKLAND GOAL: 66th minute – William Arana (Assisted by Mattia Ribezzi)
PARKLAND GOAL: 87th minute – Grant Koplinski (Assisted by Manuel Miori)
 
Up next, the Cobras will turn around and play at Southwestern Illinois College tomorrow, August 26th, in Belleville, Illinois. Kick-off against the Blue Strom is scheduled for 4:00 PM on Saturday.