The game of soccer requires two components: structure and skill. Structure without skill may produce a periodic win but does not sustain. Skill alone may be dramatic but lacks consistency. Both components are required to win.

Last Friday, the Mineola Yellowjackets put together a notable performance featuring both of the requisite parts. They produced a 4-1 win over the visiting Gladewater Bears. 

Three characteristics of the Yellowjackets’ efforts were clear from the initial whistle through the entire 80 minutes of play. The midfield positioning (and anticipation) was much improved and effectively drove the match to be played in the Jackets’ offensive half. The first touch of the foot to the ball was less about control and more about advancing the ball down the field. Lastly, the aggressiveness – a combination of good head work and physical quickness – was spot-on.

The Jackets came out with relentless effort. They produced seven developed attacks in the first ten minutes. Most of the attacks ended with the last pass missing by inches. 

In the 11th minute Riley Weekly played a pass forward to an attacking Joshua Vigueras, who found Christian Martinez streaking for the goal. Martinez struck a hard, low shot from just outside the box and put it in the corner of the net. 

Martinez had an excellent match. His ability to strike a well-aimed centering ball from a structured corner kick was remarkable. He took the majority of the ten Mineola corner kicks.

Mineola dominated the remainder of the first half play. They continued to press forward at every opportunity while holding the visitors to only five attacks in the first half.

Fernando Rodriguez had two shots denied in the half. He put a shot on goal in the 16th minute after a great combination play with Vigueras. In the 22nd minute the Gladewater keeper was just able to deflect his sizzling shot over the bar. 

Soccer has a way of evening things out. After being outplayed in the first half, Gladewater received a free kick in an optimal scoring position due to an inadvertent handball by the Mineola defense. The Bears executed a beautiful play, passing the ball past the wall to a runner closing the far post. He slotted the ball home and the game was tied.

What ensued was six minutes of Mineola’s best soccer this season. In an unhurried yet expeditious manner, the Jackets generated attack after attack in the closing minutes of the half. With only seconds remaining in the half, Mineola earned a corner. 

The centering corner kick was batted around inside the box before squirting out toward Alexis Villeda. After two long strides, Villeda ripped the ball into the net from 23 meters. Mineola took a 2-1 lead into the half.

It was a corner early in the second half which gave the Jackets a 3-1 lead. From the southeast corner, Martinez put a low, one-hopper into the box just in front of goal. Rodriguez got his foot to it and sent it into the netting. 

Mineola limited the Bears to only a handful of penetrations into the Jackets’ zone in the second half. In the 75th minute, Vigueras scored the fourth goal by dispatching a ricochet from 15 meters.  

Martinez, Rodriguez, Weekly and Arturo Perez each played notable matches; however it was a team win as the Jackets moved across the field as a unit.  

The Jackets hosted Lindale on Tuesday and begin the second round of district play Friday when they travel to Grand Saline.