The Meja ‘99 Boys Blue squad drove themselves to the top of the table with a decisive win over DFW Tornados on Saturday.  Zach Patterson forcefully announced his return to form with 2 goals, while James Mach and Ryan Preston and Asahel Salgado joined forces to strangle the league’s third leading offense.

The match could not have started more ominously for the Blues, who were desperate to return to winning form after successive draws had seen them slide down the table.  An early defensive error allowed the Tornados an easy opportunity on goal, and within the first 5 minutes the Blues found themselves trailing 1-0.

Indeed the circumstances looked bleak as the Blues were without regular stars Jack Bell, Jesus Mendoza and Zach Adams.  Dangermen Patterson and Grant Dodgen were poorly recovered from their football playoffs that morning, and the absence of Mendoza drove starting left wing Norberto Garcia  into a central midfield role.  Still, the Blues are long on leadership and when it mattered most, they rose to the task.

Within moments of the opening goal, Garcia intercepted and errant Tornado pass.  He quickly put Dodgen through on the right wing and the Meja captain found Patterson at the edge of the area.  Fatigue or no, Patterson found the net with an excellent finish to bring the game level.

The goal seemed to settle the side, and as Garcia, Preston and Mach led the way the Blues began to clamp down and strangle the Tornados chances.  Jake White and

Joel Herman tag teamed to help Asahel Salgado hold down the left side, while rookies Alex Mora and Cameron Harvey simply outran and outworked  the Tornado attackers.

Patterson was again the source of trouble for the Tornados, as just before halftime his shot rebounded off the unlucky keeper into the path of Allan Sandoval, who bravely clattered home to put the Blues ahead.  Patterson was not done, however, as he rounded out the day with a stunning individual breakaway

that proved to be the game winner.

The Blues inexperience in defense and the absence of Jack Bell finally caught up with them as the Tornados were able to pull back a goal 90 seconds from time.  But it was too little and too late as the Blues ran out deserved winners.

The Blues still have a long road to the championship and their .  Their only loss was to the Nationals, who are two points back but have 3 games in hand.  Coach Oscar Gonzalez was reserved.  “We played well today,” he said.  “We have a long way to go still, but it is good to be playing well.”