WOODSIDE — Of all his many attributes on the soccer field, Oscar Yniguez may confound opponents the most with his vision and creativity.

As it turns out, the Woodside High senior has long been putting those qualities to good use off the field as well.

A four-year starter at Woodside and an elite club player, Yniguez realized early on that soccer could open plenty of doors. For someone who immigrated with his parents and younger siblings to the U.S. from Guadalajara, Mexico, the most important of those doors was the chance to become the first in his family to earn a college degree.

"I see (soccer) as something happy that motivates me," Yniguez said. "If I can do better in soccer, I can do (more) in school."

Unlike so many gifted athletes, Yniguez, the County Player of the Year for boys soccer, isn't content to picture his biggest successes coming on the field. Yes, the midfielder parlayed his skills into a scholarship and looks forward to testing himself at the next level at San Jose State. But on campus this fall, it's going to be about a lot more than Spartan soccer.

Asked what he is most eager to study, Yniguez is quick to answer. "Aerospace engineering," he said. "I want to use physics and math. It's fun to deal with airplanes."

Added Woodside coach Juan Caballero: "He doesn't want to rely on soccer. He wants to rely on school. He knows what he wants in life. He wants to play pro, but that's not his biggest goal."

Speaking of

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goals, with Yniguez directing the action, Woodside became an offensive juggernaut. With the Wildcats employing a quick-touch, possession style of play, the attack came from all over the field, and it came quickly.

That suited Yniguez just fine.

"I don't like those long balls," he said. "I'm not into it."

A master at set pieces, Yniguez was renowned for explosive direct kicks that belied his 5-foot-7, 130-pound frame. Form a wall against him at your own peril.

Yniguez's wizardry with the ball drew the center midfielder a blanket of defenders, but to no avail. The senior scored a team-high 17 goals in just 16 games as Woodside went 11-3-7 and earned a tri-championship in the Peninsula Athletic League's 11-team Bay Division.

Not that Yniguez, the two-time PAL Bay Midfielder of the Year, was greedy.

Burlingame coach Fred Cesano termed Yniguez, who finished with eight assists, "a very, very unselfish player."

Caballero offered his "workhorse" praise that would be music to any midfielder's ears: "He made everyone look good."

Woodside's coach recalled a Homestead Christmas Cup contest against Salinas' Alisal, when Yniguez streaked to the goal. Baiting the last defender in, Yniguez waited until he arrived and then leaped to avoid the tackle.

In midair, Yniguez flicked the ball left to teammate William Lopez, who buried the goal home as the crowd roared.

"It was like a set play that they practiced, and I never saw," Caballero said.