The Yellowjacket soccer side concluded pre-district action last Friday hosting Mt. Pleasant Chapel Hill. Despite falling 3-1 to the visitors, the Mineola side is in for a great district run. 

Several truisms of the beautiful game were refreshed in that defeat to Chapel Hill. Despite dominating ball possession and generating significantly more attacks than their opponent, the Jackets fell behind in the 25th minute. 

It was only Chapel Hill’s third foray into the offensive zone which brought the first goal. In the same span of time, Mineola had generated 13 attacks on goal but simply could not find the back of the net. 

The Chapel Hill goal energized the visitors and the Red Devils carried the momentum the rest of the half.

In the 31st minute, it was the inability of the Jackets to promptly clear a centering pass from a Chapel Hill corner which ended up in the net. The ball had come to ground 20 meters in front of goal, squirted out to the left wing and was slotted into the far corner by a waiting Red Devil.

Just when it seemed that fate had turned against the home side, it got worse. Chapel Hill played a nice long through-ball. The Mineola defenseman got the jump on the Chapel Hill striker however, and beat him to the ball. Miscommunication between the defenseman and goalkeeper resulted in a back pass rolling slowly into the net for an own goal.

The second half was excellent viewing as both sides played as if the score was yet even. The Yellowjackets continued to generate great chances.

Mineola capitalized in the 69th minute when Omar Galaz caught the Chapel Hill goalkeeper late in getting back on his line. Galaz smoothly stroked it home to make the score 3-1.

The Jackets were able to get several hopeful shots on goal – including a sizzling shot by Christian Martinez in the 64th minute and a great attempt by Galaz off a wicked bounce in the 75th minute – but no more scoring was forthcoming.  

The Jackets are in for a strong season. They play with pace in the midfield and stretch the defense at every turn with a vertical passing game. The forwards play with excellent tempo, while defensively the Yellowjackets are fundamentally sound. Their team speed and ability to sweep will keep them in many games this season.  

The lessons from the loss will be well applied. After hosting Grand Saline in the district opener, the Jackets travel to Van on Friday and return to Meredith Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 1 to host Bulllard.