It’s the Ballard (Huxley) Bombers at Greene County in high school boys soccer tonight. The match is set for 7 p.m. at Karber Field in Grand Junction, where the Rams play their home matches, and it’s the first time the Rams, 2-2 on the season, have played at home. Ballard is 0-4 to start the 2021 campaign.

Ballard has been out scored 27-0 so far, but that could be a bit misleading. The four teams the Bombers have played are a combined 9-1 this season. Greene County is the first team the Bombers will play that has an even .500 record. Despite the record, Greene County is ranked third in the Class 1A ratings from the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. Including tonight, the first five matches for the Rams are all against 2A and 3A competition.

The Rams suffered a big loss when senior leader and top scorer Luis Velazco broke a bone in a leg as the first half ended in last Thursday night’s 3-0 victory at Carroll Athletic Field vs. the Carroll Tigers. Velazco had scored six of the first eight goals this season for the Rams, including both first half goals vs. the Tigers. Head Coach Carl Behne estimates the broken tibia will keep Velazco sidelined for eight weeks, which means the rest of the season.