Perry's and Hamilton's girls soccer teams have a tradition of going deep in the playoffs. Not only that but when when they match up for their annual region battle in January goals are hard to come by.

They were headed for another of those kind of games Friday night when seemingly out of the blue, No. 3 Perry came up with two goals lin the final nine minutes to claim a 2-0 victory over No. 6 Hamilton at Hamilton.

Perry scored off two set pieces - reserve senior forward Anni Hall got the first in the 71st minute off a throw in from Sierra Haren. Hall fought here way through a crowd to knock it in.The Pumas earned the second goal off a corner in the 76th minute. Unlike the scramble that ensued on Hall's tally, junior Joey Lujan launched the corner to the far post where senior Brenna Alderson headed it home cleanly. Alderson's goal was her 10th this season and the assist was Lujan's 10th.

Perry improved to 11-2-2 overall while Hamilton suffered its second loss this week - its only two losses this year. The Huskies are 11-2-3.

"We talked about how our games recently have been tough to score in for both teams," Perry coach John Roberts said. "It's always a battle with them. I think they did have their way much of the time. We bent a little, but didn't break. We were hoping to take advantage of chances when we got some. It worked out in the end.

The team's last five meetings prior to Friday (2015-2019) saw a total of four goals scored - two 0-0 ties, a 1-1 tie and two 1-0 wins. Each team won one of the games and the other three were ties. Perry's victory in this one means Hamilton is still on top in the overall series at 6-4-3.

As happens on occasion in soccer the team controlling possession and chances overall, didn't prevail. Hamilton was that team owning the last half-plus of the opening half through to the 15-minute rmark remaining.

"There is a a lot of truth to that," Hamilton coach Eddie Hertsenberg said. "I was proud of the way we played. We had our chances. This is soccer and you have to convert when you get them."

 

 

 

 

 

Perry (10-2-2) vs. Hamilton (11-1-3)

In their last five meetings - one a year between 2015 and 2019 - a total of four goals have been scored. They are dead even at 1-1-3.