DECORAH, Iowa – Sophomore forward Blake Perry (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) scored two goals, including the game winner with just 3:40 remaining, to lift the UW-Superior men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over 14th-ranked Central in the first round of the NCAA Division III men's soccer tournament Saturday.
 
Perry lofted the ball into the upper right of the net for his 16th goal of the season and UWS saw out the final few minutes to move on.
 
With the win, the Yellowjackets (17-3-2) face regional-host Luther in the second round Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. The No. 16 Norse took out Principia, 5-1, in the first match of the day.
 
Central battled back from a two-goal halftime deficit to knot the match, 2-2, before Perry beat Central goalkeeper Andrew Mathys on the unassisted tally for the win.
 
It marks the second consecutive season that UWS has won a first-round NCAA tournament match after having done so against Augsburg, 2-1, Nov. 10, 2018.
 
Superior opened the scoring at the 14:39 mark, against the run of play. Felix Blick (Linkoping, Sweden/Katedralskolan) raced down the near sideline and served a ball to the far post that Perry managed to deflect into the net.
 
The Dutch nearly equalized in the 35th minute when Jake Dzarnowski's point-blank effort was turned aside by UWS senior goalie Dalton VonKaenel to keep his team ahead. The 'Jackets extended the lead two minutes later on a controversial goal.
 
On the play, Esteban Badillo-Ramirez (Minneapolis, Minn./Fridley) fed a ball ahead to Galen Coy (Amery, Wis./Amery), whose shot on the turf beat Mathys into the left corner of the net. The goal was initially disallowed as the offside flag was up, but after conferencing with assistant referees Dylan Seitz and Jim Elmer, referee Juan Hernandez reversed the decision.
 
The 'Jackets were outshot, 14-6, in the half, but VonKaenel was stellar in net, making four saves. 
 
Central was finally able to solve VonKaenel in the 51st minute when Charlie Pritchard directed a header into the upper right of the net off of a feed from Taylor Petkovich to get on the board.
 
The Dutch tied it a half hour later on Brant Mueller's quick flick into the left corner. That goal was assisted by Alec Lank, setting the stage for the nervy finish.
 
VonKaenel finished with eight saves, improving to 11-3-2 on the season. Mathys made three for Central. The Dutch's season ends at 14-4-2 overall, despite holding a 33-13 advantage in shots for the match.