The Yellowjacket soccer side returned to Meredith Memorial Stadium last Wednesday for a thrilling duel with the Van Vandals. With the score knotted 2-2 at the end of regulation, Van won the match in penalty kicks 5-3.

The match featured excellent competition for every ball. Every touch was contested, and no player went unchallenged.

The Mineola mid-field was the story of the first half. The Jackets were in sync, working hard to string together passes out of the mid-field and shape their vertical attacks and counterattacks. 

Freshman forward Michael Camargo gave the Jackets the lead in the 19th minute with a low, well-placed strike which skirted past the Vandal keeper.

As can be expected, the Vandals went into a full attack mode after going one goal down. Van mounted numerous attacks down the right side in the remainder of the first half.

The Vandals produced plenty of scoring opportunities. Timely defending by Chris Rossie and Paul Stanley and a save by Jacket goalkeeper David Reyes in the 31st minute preserved the one-goal advantage.

Van came out on fire in the second half. The mid-field dominance exhibited early in the game by Mineola disappeared. Seven minutes had expired in the second half before the Jackets advanced the ball into the offensive half.     

The Vandals made a marked change in their attacking in the second half. They all but abandoned the right wing and shifted their attacks to short vertical cuts directly through the midfield.

The pressure on the Mineola defense continued to build until the 53rd minute when a Van attacker got his boot on a long centering pass from the northeast corner. 

In an amazing set-piece play, Mineola answered within a minute. Having earned a free kick from near midfield, Noah Turner stepped up and stroked a blazing in-curving ball into the penalty area. Two Mineola attackers were converging on the ball. The goal restored a one-goal lead for the home side.

A ferocious effort by the Vandals ensued. Over the next 18 minutes attack after attack had to be fended away by the Mineola defense. 

Eventually, a mistake in the mid-field gave the Vandals a crease which they exploited to tie the game in the 70th minute.

Reyes made his best save of the match in the 75th minute, when he elevated to secure a ball in front of goal.

The Mineola keeper continued his solid play during penalties, saving two Van penalty kicks. The Vandals converted on the other three attempts, however while the Jackets could only muster one successful try in four attempts.       

The next opportunity to see the Jackets at home will be Tuesday, Feb. 14 when they host Lindale.