Ivan Garcia blistered a free kick from 22 yards out past the keeper to give Perry the only score they would need to fend off a determined Ballard squad, 1-0, in Raccoon River Conference play at Dewey Field Tuesday.
Perry goalie Jorge Soto had two saves in the game but was largely untested thanks to a suffocating defense that thwarted all but a few of Ballard’s best offensive efforts.
Bomber keeper Alex Silberstein was under attack on numerous occasions, but made an unofficial six saves to keep his team in the game. Perry helped Ballard with a few off-line shots and by being called for offsides violations repeatedly.
The Jays finally caught the break they needed when a foul on a breakaway just outside the 18-yard box set up a free kick in the 75th minute.
Junior forward Garcia lined up the shot and whistled a blast to Silberstein’s right that stretched the onion bag for the only goal of the contest.
Perry improved to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in RRC play while Ballard fell to 4-4, 2-2.
The next action for Perry will be May 11 when DC-G visits Dewey Field, with a critical contest at ADM the following day.
Photos by Jeff Webster.