Sixth-ranked Perry grabs big lead, fends off Pella

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Perry's Jesus Rodriguez (18) tries to turn a Lewis Central defender as teammates Mikey Velasco (17) and Alvaro Soto (13) look on at the Perry Tournament April 1.

All things considered, Perry head coach Gary Overla is happy to accept a 5-3 victory, thank you very much. What did not sit well with the Bluejay leader was the manner in which his squad dispatched visiting Pella Thursday at Dewey Field.

“The lead was 5-1 when we allowed the last two goals,” he said, “and that is a habit that I hope we do not continue.”

Perry avoided disaster with the defensive lapses thanks to an offensive onslaught led by a hat trick from senior Jesus Rodriguez, who broke former standout Jaime Perez’s record for career goals by upping his total to 61. The three goals gives Jesus Rodriguez 22 for the season.

Brandon Juarez and Alvaro Soto each added their second goals of the season to cap the Perry scoring.

Sixth-ranked Perry (13-4) is off until Wednesday, when they host either Ballard or PCM at 6:30 p.m. in a Class 2A Substate 7 Semifinal. Dewey Field will be the site, May 27, of the Substate Final. The 12 p.m. game could feature a rematch with No. 10 ADM, who Perry defeated, 2-1, May 9 to win their third consecutive undefeated Raccoon River Conference championship.

“We now have our sights set on substate,” Overla said. “We need to prepare to play our best soccer this season. I am very proud of our regular season finish; now on to the season that matters.”

“Our seniors have been wonderful these past four years and we hope to send them out in a positive fashion,” he concluded. “Now we have work to do.”

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