After a scoreless opening half, goals by sophomore Christian Lerma and senior Johnny Balok vaulted the Jesuit Dallas Rangers to a hard-fought, 2-1, University Interscholastic League (UIL) Area Round victory over the North Garland Raiders on Friday evening at Homer B. Johnson Stadium.
 
Balok tallied the ultimate game-winner with 16 minutes remaining in regulation to spot the Rangers (16-2-5), ranked sixth in the state according to the most recent TopDrawerSoccer Texas State Rankings, a two-goal advantage heading into the final moments of the contest. 
 
The senior collected a free kick from fellow fourth year Griffin Scott, who launched a ball from 30-yards out into a perfect position on the far side, where Balok was waiting and placed a header that deflected off of the North Garland goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
 
After a back-and-forth opening stanza that saw both teams develop chances but neither unable to capitalize, Lerma opened the scoring by launching a deflected corner from senior Patrick Howell into the bottom right corner of the Raiders' net.  Howell's ball arced towards the cloud of Rangers on the near side, but the ball lost its arc upon contact, quickly rolling towards the waiting foot of Lerma, who capitalized for his sixth goal of the season.
 
Junior Luke Ostrander made four saves in net, including three second-half stops, while the Jesuit Dallas defense and midfield also impressed, disrupting North Garland throughout the contest.  North Garland scored minutes after Balok's tally to return the lead to one, and the Ranger defense stepped up, keeping the Raiders from scoring the equalizer over a frantic final 10 minutes to clinch the win.
 
Jesuit Dallas will next play North Mesquite, who defeated Sachse, 2-1, in the game immediately following Friday night's UIL Area Round battle.  Game date, time and location for the UIL Regional Quarterfinal matchup have yet to be determined.