Perry (dark jerseys) tries in vain to score late in 2nd half off a throw vs. Hamilton. (AzPreps365 photo)

Hamilton's Maddy Rueter had to take a few extra seconds to line up a free kick late in the first half of Tuesday's key 6A Premier Region girls soccer match with Perry.

Rueter had to bring the ball back a yard or so twice before her free kick attempt to get the proper spot where a Perry foul was committed. The ball rested on the boundary left of Perry's goal and 30 yards out. 

When Rueter finally let the kick go it had the precise trajectory and was the decisive moment as Hamilton nipped Perry, 1-0, in the regular-season finale for both schools at Hamilton High.

Hamilton (12-5-3) capped a wacky region season in the 6A Premier notching its only win in region after a a loss and two ties. The loss was painful to Perry as it cost the Pumas the region title. That honor went to Xavier, a 3-1 winner over Basha on Tuesday.  Xavier finishes as region champ with a  3-1 record, followed by Hamilton 1-1-2, Perry 2-2 and Chandler and Basha each 1-2-1.

"Maddy has a strong leg so she gets a lot of those chances," Hamilton first-year head coach Eddie Hertsenberg said. "She had a couple shots tonight, but the one she made was her first one this year."

Rueter, the Huskies junior center-back, connected in the match's 34th minute. It was so well struck that Perry coach John Roberts conceded his keeper had no chance. 

Rueter is a big part of Hamilton's brand of play, which is possession and defense. "We did both pretty well tonight. The defense was really good."

Just about every match teams in the region played were tight. Hertsenberg said the Huskies were beaten by Xavier by a successful long throw And of course this one was won via a lenghty free kick with just the right touch.

Perry (19-2), which has a talented roster but has been beset by a bevy of injuries all season, still had the chance to win the region and gain the number one seed if it had won.

"All of that was in our hands and we didn't get it done," Perry coach John Roberts said. "This is a crazy region. Every team is good. i don't think we've had the same starting lineup in the same game this year. We're still dealing with it, and are going to have to the rest of the way."