The Ballard men's soccer team picked up a key road win Friday night, edging Carlisle 3-2 in a competitive Raccoon River Conference matchup.

Ballard came out sharp early, building a 2-1 halftime lead behind an aggressive attacking effort.  The Bombers continued to press in the second half, adding a crucial insurance goal in the final 40 minutes that ultimately proved to be the difference.

Carlisle kept the match tight throughout, matching Ballard's intensity and adding a second-half goal of its own, but the Bombers were able to manage possession and close out the result in a hostile road environment.

With the win, Ballard improves to 5-4-0 overall and 4-1-0 in conference play, continuing to climb in the RRC standings as the season progresses.

The Bombers now turn their attention to a major challenge on Monday when they return home to host No. 9 Bondurant-Farrar in another 5:30 PM kickoff.