The Parkland boys soccer team recently was tabbed as the number one ranked team in the state. With that accomplishment, comes some challenges. Parkland (11-0) will receive every team's best shot to knock off the leader.

Eric Mikitka's second half goal with 8:36 remaining secured a hard fought win against a feisty Allen squad that was surely up to the challenge last Thursday evening at Parkland High School.

"Part of it is that we're number one and part of it is that we're Parkland. Everyone wants to beat Parkland, that's the game of the year," said Mikitka. "We know that as Parkland we can expect every team to come out and give us the best that they have. Sometimes we get teams that want to play tactically and get that draw like Allen did tonight. We just have to stay focused and stay pumped and come out strong like we always do."

From the opening whistle it was apparent that Allen was out to prove they could play with the Trojans. Within the first five minutes, Derrike Mason poked a low shot past Jacob Gottwald that skimmed the post. That was the Canaries only shot of the half.

Parkland came back firing with some efforts of their own. Collin McConnell came up short with two quick shots a minute after the Mason kick, but Nick Santone was there to save them.

Two minutes later, a cross in from Dylan Engel met the head of Logan Howell, but Howell found the cross bar.

When the Canaries found themselves defending for their lives, head coach Jarrad Max instructed to play 10 back and keep only one striker up top for an outlet. That made things difficult for Parkland to get any good looks on net.

"We had to keep up the pressure, spread them out, and try to get past them," said Mikitka. "They bunkered down a lot and it was really tough to get through them, but we had to work the ball around and get it to our forwards. Our backs had a lot of space since they weren't pressuring past half field, so we had to keep pushing forward."

With under six minutes to go in the first half, the Trojans nearly opened the scoring with Mikitka. Adam Schneck lofted in a long throw-in into the box. Mikitka chested it down and volleyed a shot that bounced off Santone and right back for a Mikitka header into Santone's arms.

Bad luck continued for the Trojans into the early stages of the second half. Belal Mohamed found himself in open space at the top of the 18, but ripped a shot straight at Santone.

Santone (nine saves) kept his Canaries in the game, making two more crucial saves diving to block away Trojan efforts with under 18:00 left.

The break-through came when Engel sent a cross into the box. McConnell trapped it, and fired a shot that was blocked by a defender. Mikitka, in the right place at the right time, was there for the rebound and put it away.

"Collin got his shot blocked and it bounced out," recalled Mikitka. "I called Paul Khalil off, and probably right outside the six I took it. There were a couple guys around, but I figured I would have a go at it and hopefully it would go in. It just snuck through.

"It was really frustrating because we had a lot of good shots. We had a lot of action in front of goal, just couldn't put one in."

Gottwald stoned two Canary shots at point blank range to keep the game scoreless a couple of minutes before the goal. The defense in front of him, featuring Jeremy Motsko, Schneck, Phil Martin and Steven Guetzlaff limited Allen attacks all game long.

"Allen really never packed too much pressure on our goal," said Mikitka. "We've had a strong defense all year, and that's how we win games."

The win keeps Parkland undefeated and full of confidence as the number one ranked team in Pennsylvania.