Late goal lifts Indian Hills over Cowley in battle of ranked teams

Two of the top junior college men's soccer teams faced off Wednesday afternoon at the Tiger Soccer Field in Arkansas City, with the No. 4-ranked Cowley College Tigers (6-0-1) hosting the No. 3-ranked Indian Hills Community College Warriors. The Warriors got a late goal from freshman Diego Lazaro to win 2-1 and hand the Tigers its first loss of the season.

Cowley is now 6-1-1, while Indian Hills improved to 8-0-1.

Wednesday's contest was the first meeting between the schools. The Warriors would strike first as Daniel Mulero, this week's NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, scored his eighth goal of the season 15 minutes into the contest.

Cowley answered just before halftime as Sota Nakazono scored off a beautiful assist from Kanta Ishii to knot the game at 1-1. The goal was the first of the season for Nakazono, and the assist was Ishii's team-leading fourth of the year.

Despite out-shooting Indian Hills 18-14 and having 16 corner kicks to the Warrior's four, Cowley was unable to break through with another goal in the second half.

The score would remain tied before Indian Hills' Lucas Bauer found a streaking Lazaro for the game-winning goal with 14:32 remaining.

Cowley head coach Ruy Vaz was disappointed with the outcome.

"The story of the game is we gifted them two goals," Vaz said.

The Tigers will resume its game from last Saturday at Kansas City Kansas Community College (4-0-2), which was halted due to lightning on Monday at 6 p.m. The score was tied 1-1 with 29:35 left to play.

Following Monday's conclusion, Cowley will return to Arkansas City to face Garden City on Wednesday at 7 p.m.