The Van Vandals presented Mineola with another frustrating loss Monday at Meredith Memorial Stadium. Van scored twice in the second half in dealing the Yellowjackets a 3-2 defeat. 

The match was a match within a match. The teams had traded blows throughout a very evenly-competed first half. Mineola struck first midway through the first half. A shot from Eduardo Zavala was saved by the Vandal keeper, but not cleanly. The rebound spun into the netting for the initial goal of the match. 

Van responded shortly thereafter with a leveler. The score remained locked, 1-1, until just before the half.  

In the 36th minute, Zavala took a pass out of the midfield and moved up the left side. He freed himself for a clean left-footed shot. The well-struck ball went through the Van goalkeeper and Mineola took a 2-1 lead. 

The balance of the second half consisted of each side making forays into the offensive zones and generating possibilities. 

Van ‘s best chance came in the 48th minute, when a passage of crazy action in front of the Mineola goal gave the Vandals second and third chances at open-goal space. The last attempt went off the iron. 

Mineola’s best chance came on an Andres Martinez free kick taken in the 58th minute. The long free kick was near-perfect, and came down in the box. Alex Cortez managed to head the free kick down and sent it across the goal mouth, where Leonardo Villanueva was closing fast. Van just managed to nick the ball away.

The back and forth play continued, until a freak outcome off a long grounder from Van. 

The shot was from distance – approximately 40 meters – and skirted along the top of the turf. It was struck well, but was certainly not the hardest shot of the day. However, in something that couldn’t be repeated in a thousand attempts on the practice ground, the shot took a deflection at 14 meters and squirted into the far corner of the goal.  

Van tied the score, 2-2, in the 64th minute.  

The goal changed the match significantly, as Van took the momentum. Five minutes later, Mineola mishandled a ball near the goal and gave Van a corner. The ensuing cross pinballed among a sea of legs in front of goal, until finally being put into the netting by the visitors. 

The air left the balloon. Mineola could manage only three attacks in the final twelve minutes. 

A season which featured some excellent soccer by the Yellowjackets is unfortunately not matched by the win-loss record. 

The Jackets wind up their campaign Friday against Grand Saline.