CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland College men's soccer made a statement in their first home match of the season, defeating Harper College 5–1 on Thursday afternoon at the Parkland pitch.

Sophomore midfielder Gustavo Poli stole the show, netting a hat trick and adding two assists to fuel the Cobras' attack. Diego Zarco and Pierce Cannon each added a goal, as Parkland jumped out to a 2–0 lead by halftime and never looked back.

The Cobras outshot Harper 18–4 and put 10 shots on goal, showcasing their offensive efficiency while limiting Harper's chances on the other end. Harper managed its lone goal in the second half, but Parkland's back line and goalkeeping corps held strong to seal the victory.

"Today was a great way to start the 2025 home campaign! Every player provided something of quality, especially Diego Zarco…" said head coach Mark Sikora. "This game, however, belonged to Gustavo Poli. He played the role of team captain in a big way with his goals, assists, most importantly, his workrate. He was great in setting the tone for how we needed to play today."

The win improves Parkland to 2–0–0 on the season. The Cobras will return to action on Saturday, August 30th, hosting Lincoln Trail College. 

For more information about Parkland College Athletics, visit www.parklandcobras.com or follow @ParklandCobras on social media.