First see that it says Gerardo Perez. Nobody calls him that. The kids he grew up with around Round Lake, Illinois, struggled to roll the first r. So he’s Jerry. Even his mother calls him Jerry.
And then note the position. It says goalkeeper. But that doesn’t fully describe the role played by the 21-year-old rookie on a veteran team about to play for the MASL championship.
Perez spent so much time going forward as a sixth attacker that he finished the regular season with seven goals, tied for eighth-most on the team. Then, his first goal in the playoffs was vital to getting the Wave into the finals.
“He’s a special player,” Wave coach Marcio Leite said. “He’s a player that, yeah, he’s a goalie, but he probably could make the team as a field player. That’s how good he is and how comfortable on the ball and how skillful he is.”
The Wave is set to host the San Diego Sockers in Game 1 of the MASL Ron Newman Cup championship series at 6:35 p.m. April 22 at the UWM Panther Arena.
Game 2 is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. April 24 in Oceanside, California, and a potential Game 3 would take place there three days later.
Perez is the youngest in a family of four; his book-smart sister was more of a track athlete, his father had played soccer in Mexico and his mother says she played basketball although Jerry has yet to see photos to back that claim up.
He became a goalkeeper almost by accident when he was 11 or 12 while playing youth club soccer in northern Illinois.
“I was a field player at first,” Perez said after practice April 20 at Uihlein Soccer Park. “I wasn’t really the best and our team wasn’t the best.
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) and Baltimore Blast defender Oumar Sylla (2) fight for the ball in a game Friday, April 10, 2026, at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Baltimore won, 7-5.Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Sanchez (80) and Baltimore Blast forward Juan Pereira (22) react after Sanchez scored athe first goal of the game.
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper William Banahene makes a save as Blast forward Kevaughn Frater wrestles with Milwaukee Wave defender Tony Walls, left.
Baltimore Blast forward Nico Williams (6) and Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher jostle for position.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Cesar Correa (15) hops over Baltimore Blast goalkeeper Julian Rodriguez (28) as Rodriguez makes a save.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Cesar Correa (15) reacts after a Baltimore Blast goal.
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores tries to split Baltimore Blast forward Wellington Bramusse (77) and defender Jake Schindler.
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper William Banahene blocks a shot by Baltimore Blast defender Pat Thompson.
Baltimore Blast midfielder Jonatas Melo celebrates a goal past Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper William Banahene.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Steinwascher heads the ball.
Milwaukee Wave defender Mario Alvarez passes the ball under pressure from Baltimore Blast forward Jairo Guevara (19).
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher (97) and Baltimore Blast defender Marco Antonio Do Nascimento (11) work to head the ball in front of the Blast goal.