Two goals in the opening three minutes of the second half carried Class 2A No. 5 DC-G to a 2-1 non-conference victory over third-ranked Perry at Dewey Field.
Facing a 1-0 deficit at the intermission, the Mustangs (9-2) converted a pair of Bluejay defensive miscues into sudden-strike scores which proved enough to hand the hosts their first loss against seven victories.
“We played a high-quality first half and then lost focus for the first three minutes of the second half,” Perry head coach Gary Overla said. “You can’t do that against a number-five team — they will make you pay every time.”
Perry controlled the ball much of the first half and had several shots on goal, but the Mustang defense proved stout, save for in the 18th minute, when Rudy Sarceno re-directed a loose ball past both the goalie and a defender, the ball carrying just enough momentum to roll into the net.
Nathan Freisen had both goals for DC-G, who played Perry even after taking the lead en route to gaining the win.
Perry will have little time to rebound, as they will visit the Nevada Tournament Saturday. The tourney is packed with ranked teams aside from the Bluejays, as Class 3A No. 11 Nevada, No. 15 Marshalltown and No. 16 Des Moines Hoover will be in the field, along with 2A No. 6 Gilbert and both Iowa City Regina and Greene County, rated second and sixth, respectively, in 1A. Perry will open play against Kuemper Catholic at 9:30 a.m. and will play twice more, the opponents to be determined.
