DES MOINES — The offensive attack for seventh-ranked Perry has been a three-headed monster this season, and on Tuesday each one of those heads struck, leading the Bluejays to a 3-1 win over Des Moines East.
Ivan Garcia and Jesus Rodriguez each ran their season goals scored total to eight with a pair of strikes while David Cardenas found the back of the net for the sixth time this season. Each also had an assist, giving Cardenas six for the year, Garcia five and Rodriguez two.
Perry (8-1) was on the board in the 14th minute with what has become the typical type of goal for Cardenas.
“Once again, this was David just sticking with a ball in front of the goal and outworking people to put it in,” Perry head coach Gary Overla said.
Garcia fed Rodriguez with a crossing pass from the right of the goal in the 24th minute, with Rodriquez winning an aerial duel with the Scarlet goalie to push the score to 2-0.
Overla said Garcia’s goal in the 37th minute was about as perfect a play as possible, with a pass from Cardenas starting the action.
“It was a beautiful cross in front of their goal,” Overla described. “Jesus actually let the ball go through and Ivan ripped the shot into the back of the net from about 20 yards out.”
East (2-7) answered a minute later to trim the margin to 3-1, where it remained as neither team scored after the intermission.
“We had to pull Ian Velasco out because of his nagging groin injury and we allowed a goal late in the half,” Overla said. “I am not taking credit away from East, we should have covered that and we didn’t, it was a nice shot inside the near post, well placed.”
“I think that we are learning that we are a pretty decent team,” he added. “This is an East team that hasn’t put up many wins, but they have certainly played many 3A schools tight and do not give up many goals. They are a well-coached team and very skilled. This was a good win for the Bluejays this season.”
Perry will face two stout tests on the road next week, with a critical Raccoon River Conference contest at Ballard Tuesday before a non-conference scrap at DC-G May 5.
