By NINO CARDENAS
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
The Heat isn’t accustomed to early exits in the Premier Development League playoffs.
So it was a bit surprised when it bowed out in the semifinals this time around.
“As I have said all along, you have to measure your success in the regular season and not necessarily the playoffs,” Heat owner Shashi Vaswani said. “The playoffs are one game, do-or-die and more often than not, especially in the game of soccer, the best team does not win.
“So the playoffs have a lot to do with one team being more fortunate than the other. The past three years, we have been fortunate enough to pass through to the finals.”
The Bradenton Academics gave the Heat an early exit last weekend, before losing to the Ventura County Fusion.
The Fusion takes on the Chicago Fire on Saturday for the PDL championship.
“Nature will always find a way to eventually balance things out, and I guess this was the year that the universe decided to balance the scales,” Vaswani said.
Odds are that the majority of the Heat players and personnel will be glued to the TV watching the contest live via the Fox Sports Soccer channel.
The Heat had an injury-plagued season, which continued to its last game, in which the club lost its two central defenders in Carlos Ordaz (torn ACL) and Pedro Ramos (groin pull).
In its playoff opener, the Heat lost midfielder Alex Hergert to an ACL tear.
“You will be hard-pressed to find similar events to those, but then again you will also be hard pressed to find a relatively new franchise that has reached the championship stage three times consecutively in a league with more than 60 teams,” Vaswani said.
This time around, things didn’t go quite the Heat’s way. Still, the club added another Mid-South divisional title and set foot in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.
“The season, because we have made the finals three years in a row and are spoiled to a certain extent, is obviously a disappointment at first sight,” Vaswani said. “But when you sit back and really analyze the whole season closely, you realize that we have to be thankful for the season we had. Struggling with injuries all season and still managing to become Mid-South division champions is a feat to be proud of.”
Overall, the team finished 8-2-8 and heads into the offseason as one of the PDL favorites come next year.
As is the case every year, the Heat is sure to go through some changes in personnel.
While the club is likely to return the core group of players, nothing is certain.
The Heat is sure to welcome back many of its young players that have grown up in its youth camp system.
Several of the youth players played integral roles in the team’s success this season. The most recent example was its opening-round playoff win against the West Texas Sockers in which Alfredo Ramos scored the lone goal. The former St. Augustine student spent time with the youth team.
“That experience in a big game is exactly what we strive to accomplish, and that makes the season worthwhile no matter where we finish,” Vaswani said.
The one constant in the PDL is that the level of play in the Mid-South division has been improving year after year.
“Working harder than usual in order to keep up is no secret, and we will definitely have our work cut for us,” Vaswani said. “In the meantime, we will work diligently within our youth program to develop as many players as possible.”
The latest teams to join the division have made sure that each season is going to be exciting.
In turn, the Heat has learned that if it’s going to stay atop the division, it needs to keep up its level of play year in and year out.
“I think all of us involved have learned an important lesson: we cannot be lax and expect to coast through to the finals every year,” Vaswani said. “I think it will make us all work harder throughout the offseason and into next year’s campaign.
“In other words, after a storybook ride for three years, we are brought back down to earth, which is not necessarily a bad thing.”
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Heat hosts playoffs, boost local economy
For the fifth consecutive season, the Laredo Heat Soccer Club is hosting portions of the Premier Development League playoffs, continuing this weekend with the PDL quarter- and semifinals at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex.
The Heat itself plays Bradenton Academics of Florida Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Teams are coming from California, Florida and Washington state, bringing players, staff members and various other supporters to Laredo, where they will do much more than put on a soccer show.
“Any sort of recreational sporting event that draws athletes, spectators and family has a strong economic and collateral impact on the hotel/motel and retail industries, as well as service providers,” said Timothy Franciscus-Timm, industrial development specialist for the Laredo Development Foundation. “It’s a huge positive. They aren’t coming to invest, but they are spending their disposable income that they otherwise would have spent elsewhere.”
Added Miguel Conchas, President and CEO of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, “It’s extremely positive. We welcome anything and any organization, whether it be a private group or a city organization, that brings in visitors. It has a tremendous impact on the economy. We have a number of sports events here throughout the year, and the Heat is certainly doing its share.”
But the benefits of the Heat’s hosting duties don’t end with economic impact.
“We’ve inherited this very negative image that is really unfair,” Conchas explained. “There was some violence in Nuevo Laredo years ago that has moved on, but the stigma remained. Any time visitors come to the city and see that it is not a city of crime, that it’s actually a very hospitable city… I think it’s a very good thing.”
Franciscus-Timm agreed.
“People who would not normally come to Laredo will take this opportunity to visit and hopefully leave with a positive image,” he said.
That positive image is something the Heat is happy to portray to the league and those who follow teams to Laredo.
“We call Laredo home, and we want to introduce people to the city,” said President Shashi Vaswani. “We had to supercede what other teams have to offer, and this was the toughest year to bring to bring it here. We had to make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“We tend to play better on the road, but bringing people to our city is a great thing. We want to put it on the map.”
The Heat itself plays Bradenton Academics of Florida Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Teams are coming from California, Florida and Washington state, bringing players, staff members and various other supporters to Laredo, where they will do much more than put on a soccer show.
“Any sort of recreational sporting event that draws athletes, spectators and family has a strong economic and collateral impact on the hotel/motel and retail industries, as well as service providers,” said Timothy Franciscus-Timm, industrial development specialist for the Laredo Development Foundation. “It’s a huge positive. They aren’t coming to invest, but they are spending their disposable income that they otherwise would have spent elsewhere.”
Added Miguel Conchas, President and CEO of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, “It’s extremely positive. We welcome anything and any organization, whether it be a private group or a city organization, that brings in visitors. It has a tremendous impact on the economy. We have a number of sports events here throughout the year, and the Heat is certainly doing its share.”
But the benefits of the Heat’s hosting duties don’t end with economic impact.
“We’ve inherited this very negative image that is really unfair,” Conchas explained. “There was some violence in Nuevo Laredo years ago that has moved on, but the stigma remained. Any time visitors come to the city and see that it is not a city of crime, that it’s actually a very hospitable city… I think it’s a very good thing.”
Franciscus-Timm agreed.
“People who would not normally come to Laredo will take this opportunity to visit and hopefully leave with a positive image,” he said.
That positive image is something the Heat is happy to portray to the league and those who follow teams to Laredo.
“We call Laredo home, and we want to introduce people to the city,” said President Shashi Vaswani. “We had to supercede what other teams have to offer, and this was the toughest year to bring to bring it here. We had to make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“We tend to play better on the road, but bringing people to our city is a great thing. We want to put it on the map.”
Sunday, July 26, 2009
More Heat info
It took the Laredo Heat 120 minutes, plus an additional five minutes of compensation time, to finally get past a determined West Texas United Sockers team on Saturday night at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex.
The 1-0 win gave the Gateway City club its third Mid-South Division title in the last five years.
Not only did the Heat faithful see a hard fought match played by two equally talented teams, they also witnessed seldom-used reserve, 18-year-old Alfredo Ramos, a recent graduate of St. Augustine High School, laser a shot from about 22 yards in the game’s 109th minute to seal the victory.
Ramos entered the game at the 103rd minute when he was substituted in for veteran player Greg Mulamba.
The win advanced the Heat into the Premier Development League quarterfinal/semifinal tournament – the Elite Eight – next weekend.
“We received word (on Friday) from our League Director Lee Cohen that we were the frontrunners to host one of the two Elite Eight tournaments; however, all we needed to do was beat West Texas,” Heat General Manager J.J. Vela said.
“I told him that is a lot easier said than done.”
The Heat, though, got the job done, and playoff soccer will return to Laredo next weekend.
“At this point, we are very excited to once again showcase Laredo to the rest of the United Soccer Leagues soccer members spread throughout the United States and Canada,” Vela said. “Sixty-eight teams started this PDL season back in May and now only eight remain.
“We are going to have a great soccer event this coming weekend with teams coming to Laredo from Florida, California and Washington. We are inviting all the soccer and sports fans to start making plans to come out, and not only support us but the visiting teams as well.”
The three teams coming to Laredo are:
Southeast Division Champions: Bradenton (Florida) Academics.
Southwest Division Champions: Ventura County (California) Fusion.
Northwest Division Champions: Kitsap (Washington) Pumas.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
Friday, game one: at 5:30 p.m., Kitsap Pumas vs. the Ventura County Fusion.
Friday, game two: at 8:30 p.m., Bradenton Academics vs. the Laredo Heat.
On Saturday will be the PDL semifinal pitting the winner of game one versus the winner of game two.
The winner of Saturday’s match will play the winner of the other PDL quarterfinal/semifinal tournament between the following four teams: the Des Moines (Iowa) Menace, the Ocean City (New Jersey) Barons, the Chicago Fire and the Cary (North Carolina) Clarets.
The United Soccer Leagues Premier Development Championship game will be on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The 1-0 win gave the Gateway City club its third Mid-South Division title in the last five years.
Not only did the Heat faithful see a hard fought match played by two equally talented teams, they also witnessed seldom-used reserve, 18-year-old Alfredo Ramos, a recent graduate of St. Augustine High School, laser a shot from about 22 yards in the game’s 109th minute to seal the victory.
Ramos entered the game at the 103rd minute when he was substituted in for veteran player Greg Mulamba.
The win advanced the Heat into the Premier Development League quarterfinal/semifinal tournament – the Elite Eight – next weekend.
“We received word (on Friday) from our League Director Lee Cohen that we were the frontrunners to host one of the two Elite Eight tournaments; however, all we needed to do was beat West Texas,” Heat General Manager J.J. Vela said.
“I told him that is a lot easier said than done.”
The Heat, though, got the job done, and playoff soccer will return to Laredo next weekend.
“At this point, we are very excited to once again showcase Laredo to the rest of the United Soccer Leagues soccer members spread throughout the United States and Canada,” Vela said. “Sixty-eight teams started this PDL season back in May and now only eight remain.
“We are going to have a great soccer event this coming weekend with teams coming to Laredo from Florida, California and Washington. We are inviting all the soccer and sports fans to start making plans to come out, and not only support us but the visiting teams as well.”
The three teams coming to Laredo are:
Southeast Division Champions: Bradenton (Florida) Academics.
Southwest Division Champions: Ventura County (California) Fusion.
Northwest Division Champions: Kitsap (Washington) Pumas.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
Friday, game one: at 5:30 p.m., Kitsap Pumas vs. the Ventura County Fusion.
Friday, game two: at 8:30 p.m., Bradenton Academics vs. the Laredo Heat.
On Saturday will be the PDL semifinal pitting the winner of game one versus the winner of game two.
The winner of Saturday’s match will play the winner of the other PDL quarterfinal/semifinal tournament between the following four teams: the Des Moines (Iowa) Menace, the Ocean City (New Jersey) Barons, the Chicago Fire and the Cary (North Carolina) Clarets.
The United Soccer Leagues Premier Development Championship game will be on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Heat capture division title
For the third time in five seasons, the Laredo Heat Soccer Club is the Premier Development League’s Mid South Division champion.
The Heat (8-1-8) defeated the West Texas United Sockers 1-0 in extra time on Saturday night at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex to continue its quest for a fourth straight PDL championship berth.
A goal by Alfredo Ramos in the game’s 119th minute undid all the hard work the expansion Sockers (8-6-3) had put into keeping the game scoreless through regulation and one period of extra time.
Ramos sent the ball from just inside midfield to the West Texas goal, where it bounced off the post before flying into the net and setting the crowd of 1,425 into a frenzy.
With the win, the Heat clinched the right to host the Southern/Western Conference portion of the PDL’s Elite Eight tournament next weekend.
Semifinal games will be played on Friday at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. with the final scheduled for Saturday at 8:15 p.m.
Laredo will face the Bradenton Academics in the later semifinal, while the Ventura County Fusion will face the winner of Saturday’s game between the Seattle Fusion and Kitsap Pumas in the early game.
The Heat (8-1-8) defeated the West Texas United Sockers 1-0 in extra time on Saturday night at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex to continue its quest for a fourth straight PDL championship berth.
A goal by Alfredo Ramos in the game’s 119th minute undid all the hard work the expansion Sockers (8-6-3) had put into keeping the game scoreless through regulation and one period of extra time.
Ramos sent the ball from just inside midfield to the West Texas goal, where it bounced off the post before flying into the net and setting the crowd of 1,425 into a frenzy.
With the win, the Heat clinched the right to host the Southern/Western Conference portion of the PDL’s Elite Eight tournament next weekend.
Semifinal games will be played on Friday at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. with the final scheduled for Saturday at 8:15 p.m.
Laredo will face the Bradenton Academics in the later semifinal, while the Ventura County Fusion will face the winner of Saturday’s game between the Seattle Fusion and Kitsap Pumas in the early game.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The Playoffs are set
The Laredo Heat now know who their potential opponent is going to be next Saturday for the divisional championship.
The West Texas Sockers beat Rio Grande 3-1 on Sunday and clinched the division's second seed.
In third are the Austin Aztex, who edged out the El Paso Patriots due to their head-to-head games.
The Sockers have the option to host the Aztex on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
The West Texas Sockers beat Rio Grande 3-1 on Sunday and clinched the division's second seed.
In third are the Austin Aztex, who edged out the El Paso Patriots due to their head-to-head games.
The Sockers have the option to host the Aztex on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Getting to know them
Well the initial idea was to make this part of the story, but apparently I couldn't use up a whole page.
So just in case you actually want to read a bit more here is a capsule look at each of the core players
Dionisio “Nicho Infante: While some of the players have been there for only a couple of season. Infante is the only player to have e been there since the team’s inception in 2004.
“Nicho” has been key to the team with his versatility on the field. He has played as a forward and a defender in all his season.
In 2005 he scored eight goals and had one assist. In the postseason he scored once.
In 2006 he added one goal and one assist. In the postseason he repeated the feat with one goal and one assist.
In 2007 he scored three times. In the post season he had one assist. In 2008 he only had one assist.
This season he has shouldered the offensive load, scoring four goals and adding one assist.
In his career he has 16 goals and three assists in the regular season. Combined with the postseason he has 18 goals and six assists. He averages 3.2 goals per season.
Juan de Dios Ibarra: Ibarra has been an integral piece in the middle for the Heat. The offensive minded midfielder has proven to be equally dangerous as a scorer and a passer. The ultimate team player Ibarra is the club career leader in goals and assists.
In 2005 Ibarra tallied seven goals and five assists. In 2006 he scored six times and had one assist. In 2007 he scored five times and had five assists. In 2008 he had five goals and eight assists.
This season he has two goals and four assists.
In total he has scored 25 goals and 23 assists. Including the postseason he has 28 goals 29 assists. He averages five goals per game and 4.6 assists per season.
Daniel Galvan: Galvan has worn the label of Captain for several seasons. He’s a force as a midfielder and has provided some help offensively and defensively for the team.
In 2006 he had 3 goals and two assists. In 2007 he had one goal. In 2008 he had added another goal.
This season he has one goal and one assist.
In total he has 6 goals and 3 assists. Including the postseason he has 8 goals.
Carlos Ordaz: The team’s ironman in the defense. He hasn’t missed a game since last season. Ordaz is the clubs most dependable back and has formed a formidable duo with Ramos.
Ordaz added his only career goal this season. That scored placed Ordaz in the All PDL team for this past week.
Raul Quiñones: Quiñones can be seen providing lateral help game-in and game-out. The speedster helps the Heat offense begin its counterattacks.
In 2006 he had one goal and three assists. In 2007 he had one goal in the postseason
In 2008 he had two goals and one assist.
This season he has one assist.
In total he has three goals and five assists. Including playoffs he has four goals, five assists.
Ryan Cooper: Cooper picked up where Ryan Shaughnessy left off and has provided some stellar goal keeping in his season’s with the club.
In 2007 he played in 15 games and allowed 11 goals, posting a .756 goals against average. His record was 9-2-3 with five shutouts.
In 2008 he played in 13 games and posted a .883 goals against average and allowed 11 goals. He had four shutouts and a 6-3-4 record.
This season he has a 6-1-7 record and has played in 14 games and a 1.071 GAA with three shutouts. He has allowed 15 goals
In total in the regular season he has a goals against average of .881 (37 goals allowed in 42 games). He has 12 shutouts. He has a record of 21-6-14.
He has been even dependable in the playoffs.
In the postseason in 2007 he had three shutouts and allowed one goals in four games. The Heat lost in penalty kicks. 3-1-0
In 2008 he allowed three goals in five games and had 2 shutouts. He went 5-0-0.
In total in the post season he has a 8-1-0 record. A goal against average of .444 and has five shutouts.
Greg Mulamba: Mulamba became a factor around the same time Felix Garcia did, in the 2008 playoff run. He has played himself into becoming a key member for the Heat.
In 2007 played in nine games, sparingly, picking up a few minutes here and there.
In 2008 he was in 14 games and had one goal in the regular season. In the postseason he had two goals and one assist.
This season he has four goals and two assists
In total he has five goals and two assists. Including the post season he has seven goals and three assists.
So just in case you actually want to read a bit more here is a capsule look at each of the core players
Dionisio “Nicho Infante: While some of the players have been there for only a couple of season. Infante is the only player to have e been there since the team’s inception in 2004.
“Nicho” has been key to the team with his versatility on the field. He has played as a forward and a defender in all his season.
In 2005 he scored eight goals and had one assist. In the postseason he scored once.
In 2006 he added one goal and one assist. In the postseason he repeated the feat with one goal and one assist.
In 2007 he scored three times. In the post season he had one assist. In 2008 he only had one assist.
This season he has shouldered the offensive load, scoring four goals and adding one assist.
In his career he has 16 goals and three assists in the regular season. Combined with the postseason he has 18 goals and six assists. He averages 3.2 goals per season.
Juan de Dios Ibarra: Ibarra has been an integral piece in the middle for the Heat. The offensive minded midfielder has proven to be equally dangerous as a scorer and a passer. The ultimate team player Ibarra is the club career leader in goals and assists.
In 2005 Ibarra tallied seven goals and five assists. In 2006 he scored six times and had one assist. In 2007 he scored five times and had five assists. In 2008 he had five goals and eight assists.
This season he has two goals and four assists.
In total he has scored 25 goals and 23 assists. Including the postseason he has 28 goals 29 assists. He averages five goals per game and 4.6 assists per season.
Daniel Galvan: Galvan has worn the label of Captain for several seasons. He’s a force as a midfielder and has provided some help offensively and defensively for the team.
In 2006 he had 3 goals and two assists. In 2007 he had one goal. In 2008 he had added another goal.
This season he has one goal and one assist.
In total he has 6 goals and 3 assists. Including the postseason he has 8 goals.
Carlos Ordaz: The team’s ironman in the defense. He hasn’t missed a game since last season. Ordaz is the clubs most dependable back and has formed a formidable duo with Ramos.
Ordaz added his only career goal this season. That scored placed Ordaz in the All PDL team for this past week.
Raul Quiñones: Quiñones can be seen providing lateral help game-in and game-out. The speedster helps the Heat offense begin its counterattacks.
In 2006 he had one goal and three assists. In 2007 he had one goal in the postseason
In 2008 he had two goals and one assist.
This season he has one assist.
In total he has three goals and five assists. Including playoffs he has four goals, five assists.
Ryan Cooper: Cooper picked up where Ryan Shaughnessy left off and has provided some stellar goal keeping in his season’s with the club.
In 2007 he played in 15 games and allowed 11 goals, posting a .756 goals against average. His record was 9-2-3 with five shutouts.
In 2008 he played in 13 games and posted a .883 goals against average and allowed 11 goals. He had four shutouts and a 6-3-4 record.
This season he has a 6-1-7 record and has played in 14 games and a 1.071 GAA with three shutouts. He has allowed 15 goals
In total in the regular season he has a goals against average of .881 (37 goals allowed in 42 games). He has 12 shutouts. He has a record of 21-6-14.
He has been even dependable in the playoffs.
In the postseason in 2007 he had three shutouts and allowed one goals in four games. The Heat lost in penalty kicks. 3-1-0
In 2008 he allowed three goals in five games and had 2 shutouts. He went 5-0-0.
In total in the post season he has a 8-1-0 record. A goal against average of .444 and has five shutouts.
Greg Mulamba: Mulamba became a factor around the same time Felix Garcia did, in the 2008 playoff run. He has played himself into becoming a key member for the Heat.
In 2007 played in nine games, sparingly, picking up a few minutes here and there.
In 2008 he was in 14 games and had one goal in the regular season. In the postseason he had two goals and one assist.
This season he has four goals and two assists
In total he has five goals and two assists. Including the post season he has seven goals and three assists.
Monday, July 13, 2009
It's official: Heat is in the playoffs
The Laredo Heat can stop worrying about making the playoffs, as the stars aligned for the club on Sunday when the Austin Aztex lost to the Dallas Fort Worth Tornados and the El Paso Patriots were tripped up by the West Texas Sockers.
With its fifth consecutive playoff birth in the books, Laredo can now turn its attention into locking up a third divisional title when the club closes out the season against the Sockers on Friday.
“We have been in the league five years, and five years we have made the playoffs,” Heat general manager J.J. Vela said. “This is something that we are very proud of as an organization.
“However, this is just the first step for us in the bigger picture this year. We are excited about making the playoffs and the opportunity that brings to give our region of the United States continued soccer notoriety.”
If the Heat (6-1-8, 26 points) wins, the club will have 29 points and clinch the Mid South Division, as no other team can total more than 28 points. Additionally, Laredo owns the tiebreaker against all teams except West Texas, which was the only Mid South team to beat the Heat this season.
Making the three points all the more important is that home field advantage is on the line; the divisional winner gets to host the divisional playoffs the weekend of July 24-26.
“The Mid South Division regular season title is still there for us,” Vela said. “The importance it brings to us is hosting the divisional championship tournament next weekend in Laredo… that would be huge for us, plus it gives us more time to rest.”
With a Laredo victory, the club would welcome the two survivors among the Aztex (7-4-4, 25), Sockers (7-4-3, 24), Patriots (7-6-1, 22) and Rio Grande Bravos (5-4-5, 20).
The second and third seeded teams would face off first, with the winner playing the Heat for the right to move on to the Elite 8 the following weekend.
The two conference winners play in the championship on Saturday, Aug. 8.
If Laredo ties against West Texas, then the door is left wide open for the divisional title. But at 27 points, the Heat could still win the divisional title if things fell its way again.
The club is optimistic that the injured Greg Mulamba and Danny Galvan could be available for the contest. Their services would be welcomed, especially since the club is going to be without Dionisio “Nicho” Infante and Esteban Bayona.
Infnate is suspended due to yellow card accumulation and Bayona received a red card in the last match.
On Monday the Premier Development League mandated that all teams freeze their rosters at 26 players with no more signings allowed.
The Heat got a break with the the number of foreign players they can carry as Juan De Dios Ibarra received his Resident Card on Monday and is now classified as domestic.
That allowed the team to keep Luis Reyes, who was on the bubble due to a high-ankle sprain, on the roster.
One player whose injuries played a part in him not the final cut was Esteban Bayona,w ho despite leading the team in goals was the odd man out because of the over-23 limit.
Bayona had returned from his injury but was less then 100 percent and apparently more injured than suspected.
The postseason roster is made up of Erick Acevedo, Rodrio Avila, Soamy Bautista, Theo Browne, Ryan Cooper, Alejandro De La Fuente, Lucas Dyer, Albert Escovar, Danny Galvan, Eusebio Garcia, Wayo Gonzalez, Alex Hergert, Ibarra, Dionisio Infante, Adam Kelemet, Frank Lara, Juan Lara, Reyes, Josh Maley, Mulamba, Carlos Ordaz, Joel Perez, Raul Quiñones, Alfredo Ramos and Pedro Ramos.
With its fifth consecutive playoff birth in the books, Laredo can now turn its attention into locking up a third divisional title when the club closes out the season against the Sockers on Friday.
“We have been in the league five years, and five years we have made the playoffs,” Heat general manager J.J. Vela said. “This is something that we are very proud of as an organization.
“However, this is just the first step for us in the bigger picture this year. We are excited about making the playoffs and the opportunity that brings to give our region of the United States continued soccer notoriety.”
If the Heat (6-1-8, 26 points) wins, the club will have 29 points and clinch the Mid South Division, as no other team can total more than 28 points. Additionally, Laredo owns the tiebreaker against all teams except West Texas, which was the only Mid South team to beat the Heat this season.
Making the three points all the more important is that home field advantage is on the line; the divisional winner gets to host the divisional playoffs the weekend of July 24-26.
“The Mid South Division regular season title is still there for us,” Vela said. “The importance it brings to us is hosting the divisional championship tournament next weekend in Laredo… that would be huge for us, plus it gives us more time to rest.”
With a Laredo victory, the club would welcome the two survivors among the Aztex (7-4-4, 25), Sockers (7-4-3, 24), Patriots (7-6-1, 22) and Rio Grande Bravos (5-4-5, 20).
The second and third seeded teams would face off first, with the winner playing the Heat for the right to move on to the Elite 8 the following weekend.
The two conference winners play in the championship on Saturday, Aug. 8.
If Laredo ties against West Texas, then the door is left wide open for the divisional title. But at 27 points, the Heat could still win the divisional title if things fell its way again.
The club is optimistic that the injured Greg Mulamba and Danny Galvan could be available for the contest. Their services would be welcomed, especially since the club is going to be without Dionisio “Nicho” Infante and Esteban Bayona.
Infnate is suspended due to yellow card accumulation and Bayona received a red card in the last match.
On Monday the Premier Development League mandated that all teams freeze their rosters at 26 players with no more signings allowed.
The Heat got a break with the the number of foreign players they can carry as Juan De Dios Ibarra received his Resident Card on Monday and is now classified as domestic.
That allowed the team to keep Luis Reyes, who was on the bubble due to a high-ankle sprain, on the roster.
One player whose injuries played a part in him not the final cut was Esteban Bayona,w ho despite leading the team in goals was the odd man out because of the over-23 limit.
Bayona had returned from his injury but was less then 100 percent and apparently more injured than suspected.
The postseason roster is made up of Erick Acevedo, Rodrio Avila, Soamy Bautista, Theo Browne, Ryan Cooper, Alejandro De La Fuente, Lucas Dyer, Albert Escovar, Danny Galvan, Eusebio Garcia, Wayo Gonzalez, Alex Hergert, Ibarra, Dionisio Infante, Adam Kelemet, Frank Lara, Juan Lara, Reyes, Josh Maley, Mulamba, Carlos Ordaz, Joel Perez, Raul Quiñones, Alfredo Ramos and Pedro Ramos.
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