Diminutive Mendez is huge on soccer pitch

Yerry Mendez is a 5-foot-5, 129-pound bundle of energy that powers the Fallbrook High School soccer team and annoys the you-know-what out of opponents.

A free spirit with tremendous talent, Mendez likes to win only more than he likes to have fun. Mendez's fun can sometimes come at a rival's expense.

"He's the type of guy that will dribble the ball past you, stop it, and dribble the ball past you again and then meg you (roll the ball right between your legs) and go on," said Fallbrook head coach Jorge Rojas.

"He's at a level on the field where he can maneuver and run circles around people and, obviously, because he's a young man, that's fascinating to him," said Rojas. "You have to understand he's still youthful. I tell him, 'you're a little bit immature Yerry.'"

Rojas is quick to add that Mendez, while loving to be creative on the pitch, can also follow orders.

"He always executes what we ask him to do," said Rojas. "As an individual, he's driven and he's maturing. Those are really good qualities that you like to see from a young man at this stage."

Mendez is extremely fast and alternates between the attacking forward and attacking midfielder positions.

"He dribbles with the ball and he's out sprinting guys without the ball," said Rojas. "It's a skill and it's naturally born."

In addition to great speed, Rojas said Mendez has "a phenomenal vertical (leap) and pristine technical skills."

Mendez's special talents and aggressive play has helped him score 15 goals this season, a total that as of Feb. 13 ranked him first among Valley League players in goals scored and fourth among all Division 2 players in San Diego County.

When you score a goal you get to rejoice, and Rojas said Mendez celebrated one of his scores by "leaping over a coach."

"We love him," said Rojas, who is in his seventh season of leading the Warriors. "He's got charisma."

Rojas watched Mendez compete in youth leagues in Fallbrook and Vista and saw great potential.

"You always thought the young man was going to be – talent-wise and soccer-wise – special," said Rojas. "When he was 8, he was playing with 12-year-olds. It was insane."

Since Mendez grew up playing against older, bigger and stronger kids, being the smallest player on the field, which is usually the case, doesn't bother him.

"When I was younger, I always played (up) three years older (than my age)," said Mendez, a Fallbrook native who played for Fallbrook Villa before transferring to the Vista Storm. "I've been playing soccer since I was 3-years-old. I love soccer."

Mendez has played on Fallbrook's varsity squad all four years. As a freshman, he was called up to the varsity team for the second half of the season.

"I played eight or nine games and scored nine goals," said Mendez of his freshman year on varsity. "I scored a goal each game I played."

While Mendez was excelling on the field, he admits that he wasn't exactly scoring points with teachers and school officials.

"I tend to have a big mouth sometimes," said Mendez with a laugh. "I don't know, I just say some stuff I don't mean to. It just comes out."

Mendez said he has made strides in wising up instead of being a wise guy.

"That was freshmen and sophomore years," said Mendez of his disciplinary problems. "Junior and senior (years) I got a little bit better."

"One of the things I admire about him is he bounced back from having a lot of discipline issues, especially on the school side," said Rojas, adding that Mendez is "very approachable, very social and down to earth."

"He's a little goofy but he's a good person to talk to," said Rojas. "You can carry on a conversation about 1,000 different topics within an hour with him."

Rojas said kids gravitate to Mendez, who is quick to offer encouraging words to both youngsters and teammates.

Mendez said one of the things he enjoys most about soccer is the team aspect.

"I like playing with my friends, and knowing that I'm pretty good at soccer, I have a chance to make the team better," said Mendez.

Mendez, when asked to evaluate his game, said, "my strengths are dribbling, attacking and scoring and giving balls to the forwards to they can get their goals in."

Mendez added that he is faster with the ball than without it, and that he always wants it.

"I always want the ball to create something," said Mendez. "You can't create without the ball."

Mendez has helped the Warriors create a winning season that will likely result in a Valley League title and a chance to compete in playoffs. Once the school year ends, Mendez hopes to create a career in professional soccer.

Mendez has scheduled tryouts for professional teams in Mexico (Club Santos – Liga MX) and Holland (PSV Eindhoven – Eredivisie). He has been contacted by colleges, including San Diego State, and will play college soccer if he finds he isn't quite ready for professional competition.

"That's always been what I've wanted – to become a professional soccer player," said Mendez. "I'll take college if I have to, but if there's a chance to play pro I'm definitely going to take it. If it doesn't work out, I'll go to college and little by little get better and better."

Rojas said he encourages his players to attend college.

"I always let the boys know I'm more geared toward education," said Rojas. "You can become a professional off the field and a professional on the field. You can be that well-rounded individual and that well-rounded player. You can be a professional in more than one field and that would ultimately make you a better person."

Rojas also understands Mendez' feelings and has faith in his player.

"If Yerry is offered a professional opportunity, I think he'll succeed there," said Rojas. "He's got the qualities that professional players have. He's already in contact with a couple of professional leagues that are extremely interested."

In the meantime, Mendez hopes to complete his high school soccer career by leading the Warriors in the playoffs.