With a name befitting Shakespeare, Sandburg’s Scotland Perry has a dramatic origin story.

The senior midfielder has overcome near impossible odds since birth, but that humble beginning is what ended up being the primary inspiration for his unusual moniker.

“When I was born, I was really small, like a pound and a half, and I was born nearly three months early,” he said. “My mother wanted to give me a really strong name.”

Perry provided a strong start Wednesday night, scoring a goal less than a minute into the game to power the Eagles to a 1-0 nonconference win over Shepard in Palos Heights.

Perry’s first goal of the season helped Sandburg (2-4) win its second straight game. And it was a moment that seemingly was ripped from the pages of “Macbeth.”

As a general is pondering his illegitimate ascension to the throne, Lady Macbeth commands him, “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.”

And Perry did just that.

“Even before the game started, we were talking about how we wanted to get ahead early, get a quick goal and set the tempo,” Perry said. “Luckily, the ball came across to me.

“I was there to finish it.”

Senior goalkeeper CJ Lafin made six saves for Shepard (5-3).

As far as Perry goes, his second year on the varsity has been a revelation for the Eagles, who returned only two starters among field position players.

“Last year, I was a role player who helped the team, not so much on the field, more off it,” Perry said. “This year, I finally broke through. I started playing the majority of minutes.”

Senior midfielder Ben Lyons created early pressure Wednesday in concert with Perry.

Their bond is telling.

“I’ve been playing with Scotland for about three or four years now,” Lyons said. “We’ve been best friends, and now finally having him starting, I think we have great chemistry.”

Lyons, a four-year varsity regular, has seen all sides.

“I’ve been starting for three years now,” Lyons said. “I can help ease the new players into our system as we build cohesion throughout the season.”

In Sandburg’s system, positions are fluid and interchangeable. But as a freshman during the pandemic, Lyons played at the top of the formation for the Eagles.

Playing his more natural midfielder role, Lyons had 11 goals and five assists last year.

“That first year, I played the forward just to keep the energy up,” said Lyons, who has three goals this season. “During my second year, I found myself in the attacking midfielder position. That’s my natural place.

“Now, I’m just looking to improve upon what I did last year.”

Senior goalkeeper Andrew Kurnat preserved the victory for Sandburg with two excellent stops of senior forward Chris Fernandez in the final 12 minutes.

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Kurnat splits time with Luke Thiesse, a senior who had 10 shutouts last season.

“The position is all about rhythm and timing,” Kurnat said. “I played the whole summer, and I have really been getting into a groove.”

Speaking of a groove, early goals frequently provide a psychological boost to the team that scores. Kurnat had the opposite reaction, knowing more than 79 minutes remained.

“It’s actually pretty stressful,” he said. “Because you know at any moment, if one goes in, any could go in. But it felt great to get the shutout.”

Perry’s goal — straight outta Scotland — created a lead the Eagles did not relinquish.

“The first couple of games were rough, and we didn’t get the results we wanted,” he said. “A game like this helps, and it just gives us an opportunity to go forward.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.