Zion-Benton senior defender Brandon Peral is ending his career on a high note.

The beginning was a different story. A three-year starter for the Zee-Bees, Peral started high school at Carmel, where he experienced long commutes, played on the freshman team and suffered three ankle injuries.

“I learned so much at Carmel, but I always thought I would be on varsity,” he said. “I realized it takes time. The injuries I had were also pretty bad and slowed me.”

There was no slowing down Peral on a cold, windy and rainy Tuesday night in the Class 3A Barrington Regional semifinals. He scored a goal early in the second half of the second-seeded Zee-Bees’ 3-0 victory over 15th-seeded Grant.

“You wouldn’t know that he even plays center back because he’s all over the field,” Zion-Benton junior midfielder Adrian Flores said. “He made his own play and got his moment with his goal.”

Senior forwards Ricky Moore and Edeson Maradiaga also scored for the North Suburban Conference champion Zee-Bees (16-3-1), who have won six games in a row and advance to play seventh-seeded Barrington (13-4-4) in the regional championship game at 5 p.m. Friday.

Zion-Benton’s Rickey Moore (13) is congratulated by teammate Edeson Maradiaga (11) after scoring a goal against Grant during the first half of a Class 3A Barrington Regional semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. (Ryan Rayburn / News-Sun)

Peral scored his second goal of the season in the 51st minute. He dribbled up the field, made a one-on-one move to create some space and drilled a shot into the far post to pad Zion-Benton’s lead to 3-0.

“I saw a lot of space, and the defender wasn’t pressing me, so I decided to drive and saw a player coming from a different direction trying to press,” Peral said. “I switched to the other side and saw some space and that the goalie was out of position, and I just shot it.”

Peral said his goal was special, especially since he plays midfielder or winger for his club team.

“I have a lot of happy emotions that I scored in my last year and am really happy to help the team move on to the regional finals,” he said.

Peral’s goal impressed Maradiaga, who said he has known Peral for almost 13 years.

“He went down from our back line all the way and did a little body fake and nailed it into the left corner,” Maradiaga said. “It was a nice goal.

“He’s always giving his all. That makes him very special.”

Grant coach Benjamin Burnet said Peral was a difference-maker.

“Zion-Benton is really fast, and they are always constantly moving, and Peral was obviously one of them, and he didn’t give up on any of those balls, making our defensive line work all the time,” Burnet said.

Zion-Benton’s Brandon Peral (8) pushes the ball up the field during a Class 3A Barrington Regional semifinal against Grant on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. (Ryan Rayburn / News-Sun)

Peral, who anchored a defense that limited the Bulldogs (5-14-2) to five total shots and three shots on goal, pushed the ball up the field several times by finding slivers of space with shifty moves.

“I think when Brandon came into Zion-Benton, we kind of had a good idea about how talented he could be just because of how versatile he was,” Zion-Benton coach Marco Matute said. “He can do pretty much anything he wants. He can play center back, is a natural 6 and is just all over the place.”

Matute said Peral has honed his skills over the years.

“His confidence radiates like crazy,” Matute said. “It took him some time. This comes from playing in a men’s league, from playing in club and putting in the work. He comes and works every day, even on Saturday or Sunday.”

Hoping to lead Zion-Benton to the sectional, Peral said he’s motivated to do whatever it takes to keep playing.

“When I hop on the field, it’s my happy place,” he said.

Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/22/soccer-zion-benton-brandon-peral/