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Yannick Nkeng and Rafael Lovo led Parkdale to a 2-1 victory in the opening round of the 4A South boys soccer playoffs. 
By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County Content Manager
Many players and coaches believe that the playoffs is a new season all its own. Coaches encourage their teams to believe that going into the playoffs every team is winless, but at the same time, every team is undefeated. As the 4A South boys soccer post-season begin on Thursday afternoon, Parkdale head coach Dalitso Chinkhota and the No. 7 seeded Panthers hosted the No. 10 seeded Laurel Spartans in a first-round contest. The Spartans defeated the Panthers 2-1 on Sept. 19 in a regular-season contest, but as the game proved true to form the playoffs is a new season.
Parkdale returned the favor and defeated Laurel 2-1 Thursday to advance to the second round of the regional playoffs, and in doing so proved that the playoffs is indeed a different season.
"I told them that it was all in their hands," Chinkhota said. "In the first game [against Laurel] we felt that we beat ourselves and we just didn't do what we were supposed to do on the field. ... In this game, we were able to execute everything that we were supposed to execute to get the victory."
The Panthers (6-6) were able to execute on offense mid-way through the first half as senior Rafael Lovo found a loose ball at his foot and only one lone Laurel defender separated him from an open shot at the goal. A Lovo strike managed to get underneath the sliding-defender and just passed the outstretched arms of Laurel goalie Sam Bangura (four saves). The first score of the game not only gave Parkdale an early 1-0 lead, but also in turn gave it an early-game momentum boost.
"I just kicked the ball and it went in," Lovo said. "It was amazing. ... It is my senior year and to score - it meant a lot to me."
"As far as the goal, we knew it could happen," Chinkhota said of Lovo's score. "It was just a matter of when it was going to take place. The momentum was going to depend on who scored first. ... So, because we scored first, that gave us that boost."
The boost was heightened when Parkdale was able to sore its second goal of the game on a header by Yannick Nkeng late in the first half to give Parkdale the 2-0 lead. Nkeng's goal - his first goal in two years at Parkdale -would go on to be the eventual game-winner.
"I have been playing very well all season, but [have] not been able to score a goal," Nkeng said. "Coming off the bench and scoring a goal, the winning goal, feels so good [to] me."
Laurel (6-6-1) came into the first round in a four-game winning streak. The Spartans increased its intensity in the second half. So much so that Yunior Rios took advantage of an indirect free kick and scorched the back of the net to cut the Parkdale lead to 2-1, however, despite playing tough for the remainder of the second half, Laurel's come-from-behind efforts fell just short.
Parkdale will now take on the No. 2 seed High Point in the 4A South bracket Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Panthers will hope that history repeats itself at High Point also defeated Parkdale in the regular season 2-0.
"They are very elated right now," Chinkhota said. "They know that they met High Point earlier this season, and now we have to prepare for them. We had a tough match against those guys, and we will see how prepared we are against High Point."
tmccray@digitalsports.com
Parkdale 2, Laurel 1
Laurel 0 1
Parkdale 2 0
Goals: Laurel (Rios); Parkdale (Lovo, Nkeng)
