The district-leading Chapel Hill Bulldogs bested the Mineola Yellowjackets, 3-1, in action at Meredith Memorial Stadium Friday. The Jackets put up a spirited match but fell victim to the excellent team speed and soccer acumen of the top team in Class 4A District 13.

The Chapel Hill squad demonstrated two qualities not often seen in high school soccer. The practical result of their team speed is that it increases each player’s radius of action, thereby impacting the opponent’s passing lanes and decision-making. Secondly, their vertical passing games – between lines – was practically second nature. It resulted in a huge imbalance of possession in the match.

Mineola was the clear underdog. They needed to play near perfect defense and take advantage of all possible opportunities to press the play forward. 

The task was monumental. Chapel Hill mounted 19 concerted attacks in the first half. Mineola managed six attacks in the first 40 minutes. 

The defense played well all night. Of note, Chapel Hill repeatedly tried to turn the corner on defender Morgan Wagoner, but he never yielded the right side of the defense. On the opposite side, Mineola ran an effective trap between Riley Weekly and Royer Marquez which neutralized attacks down the left defensive side.

Chapel Hill did not hesitate; they just sought out other combinations and paths to goal. Two quick strikes, a score off a rebound in the 19th minute and a beautiful centering pass assist for a score two minutes later, established a 2-0 lead.        

The best two Jacket opportunities in the first half came in the 17th and 38th minutes. A through-ball to Omar Galaz was perfectly placed. Galaz and the Chapel Hill keeper bore down on the ball at full tilt. A significant collision followed, but the ball skirted free to Chapel Hill.

In the later opportunity, Mineola advanced up the right side and played a nice sequence from Weekly to Nathan Rojas to Jairo Mata. The play was checked by an offsides call. Moments later, the Jackets earned a corner. Rojas took it short and put a nice cross through the box to the back post. Mineola could not connect on the header.

The Yellowjackets played with more creativity in the second half and generated more chances. Defensively, the already solid effort stiffened further. 

John Underwood made several excellent saves on the night. He was challenged at all aspects of goalkeeping. He handled a hard one-hopper, two towering deflections which came straight down in front of net, several close reaction shots, and when needed, he came out of goal. 

On a sequence which began when Antonio Ventura headed down a pass in the defensive zone, Christian Martinez advanced through the midfield. He found Galaz who put a strong shot off the crossbar. In the 60th minute, it was likely the best chance for the Jackets all night.

The Jackets never gave up looking for their opportunities. In the 74th minute they earned a long free kick. The kick was headed into the box by Fernando Rodriguez, whose header created confusion among the Chapel Hill defense. The Bulldog keeper misplayed the header and the ball fell to the feet of Gustavo Sanchez. He did not delay in slamming it into the back of the net. Suddenly it was 2-1 in the closing minutes. 

Chapel Hill answered immediately with a score to restore a two-goal lead.

The Yellowjackets pushed hard in the final moments and generated a nice attack up the left side by Rojas and Galaz, but no further magic was to be had.

Mineola closes the season with an away match-up in Gladewater on Tuesday, March 16 and the season-ending match Wednesday, March 17 at home against Lindale.