The Mineola Yellowjackets completed the first round of district soccer play with a 9-1 shellacking of the Grand Saline Indians at Meredith Memorial Stadium last Wednesday. 

Normally, a Mineola vs. Grand Saline soccer match would be full of hard fouls and physical confrontations. This year is an exception, as the Jackets completely outclassed the Indians by truncating the game early in the 72nd minute by notching an 8-goal lead.

Simply put, the match was a shooting gallery for Mineola striker Jonathan Ledesma. Grand Saline had no answers for his quickness, speed or strength. 

Ledesma scored seven times. His scoresheet looked like this: 

6th minute – taps in a deflected shot; 9th minute – slams home a misplayed clearance; 34th minute – pulls the goalkeeper out of the box and maneuvered around him; 40th minute – slices a tough, angled shot into the upper corner; 65th minute – splits two defenders and slots well-placed shot; 67th minute – zig-zags through three defenders to score; and in the 72nd minute – ends the game with a bullet of a 38-meter knuckleball.      

Just to add variety, he also placed a ball across the goalmouth to teammate Michael Camargo who finished strongly. Camargo scored again in the 52nd minute when he sent a loose ball into the back of the net.  

The Yellowjackets started the night facing an unexpected offensive flurry from Grand Saline. Goalkeeper Adrian Rodriguez responded with a save. 

Grand Saline did manage a goal late in the match after back-to-back corners. A centering kick was pushed away but fell directly to a Grand Saline attacker who headed it home. 

The Mineola side begins the second half of district play with a 6-2 record and sitting in third place in the district. The Jackets have their eyes set on the playoffs, but they have a tough row ahead in a district which includes 4A schools Lindale, Chapel Hill (Tyler), Athens, Van, Bullard, Brownsboro and Cumberland Academy. 

On Friday the Jackets defeated Bullard 2-1 to start the second half of district.

The next opportunity to watch the Jackets on the pitch is Tuesday, Feb. 25 as they host Cumberland Academy.