Anyone who has ever played the arcade game of foosball knows how critical that first pass is when building an attack out of the back. 

It is exactly this pass – the first pass out of the back into the midfield – that, when practiced over and over again, led the Athens Hornets to a 2-0 win over the Mineola Yellowjackets last Friday at Meredith Memorial Stadium.  

The Hornets withstood the initial offensive pressure of the Jackets, and methodically turned the game by exerting control of the ball from the back through the midfield and into the Jacket’s defensive zone.  

When one team controls that early possession and maintains it throughout the match, it normally results in a goal or two and a win. So it was for Athens last Friday.

Mineola knew that they were in for a huge challenge when, in the fourth minute of play, a complex Athens attack up the left side required a diving save from goalkeeper Johnny Rocha to deny an Athens score. 

If Mineola could change the complexion of the game early, their chances of success would be greatly improved. That chance came in the sixth minute. Work by Brayan Torres in the midfield generated a pass ahead to Cristian Ledesma. 

Ledesma toed the ball up over the keeper who had come out to challenge. He found himself 13 meters from goal with nothing but air between himself and the net. Ledesma stroked the ball moments before a defender arrived, but it sailed inches above the bar. 

The Hornets finished a concerted attack in the tenth minute and took a 1-0 lead.  

The Jackets continued to press, when able, to negotiate through the midfield. In the 19th minute, a passage of play between Eduardo Zavala, Andres Martinez, Torres and Kaleb Silverio resulted in a Mineola corner.  

The kick fell in the box, but was eventually handled by the Athens keeper.

Mineola generated a handful of attacks in the remaining twenty minutes of the first half. Alex Cortez made a run up the right side. Two free kicks were earned within striking distance of goal, and a late attack resulted in a saved shot on goal. 

The balance of the possession in the first half belonged to Athens. The Jackets were a bit out of sorts – missing unburdened passes, miscommunication when clearing the ball, struggling to bring the ball under control. It just wasn’t their night. 

The game went to the break 1-0. 

The second half started with no fundamental change. Rocha was called upon for two early saves. 

Mineola mounted three concerted attacks in the first 14 minutes of the half. The best opportunity came when Heriberto Lucas sent a hard shot one-hopping on goal. 

Although Mineola put balls into the box on two free kick opportunities in the second half, there was no score at hand. 

A late handling error by the Jackets gave Athens a free kick just outside the box. The attempt was an excellent left-footed strike which cleared the Mineola wall and bent back into the upper left netting.  It made the final score 2-0, Athens.

Despite the loss, Mineola remains in the middle of a playoff chase. The next chance to catch the Jackets at home is Monday, March 2 as they host Lindale.