New Frontiers

The Laredo Heat got a pleasant surprise Monday with the return of Leone Cruz, who was in Monterrey trying out for the Tigres. Heat coach Israel Collazo had no set time table for his defender's return and it seemed he arived in the nick of time. With Oliver Mulamba suspended for one game, Cruz's presence is key for the backfield. It also helps free up Dionisio Infante, as he'll likely man the point alongside Isaac Morales, Theo Browne or Silas Blackwell now that Felix Garcia is serving a one-game suspension due to a red card last weekend at El Paso. In Leone's absence Collazo even used midfielder Steve Su as a defender to some success at home.
An interesting note for historical and stat buffs. The Laredo Heat have lost back-to-back games only twice before, after last weeks debacle against El Paso. The double dippers came back in 2005, the Heat's initial year in the PDL, and they were at the hands of New Olreans and, not surprisingly, rival El Paso Patriots. The Patrtiots have the bragging rights historically with 7 wins in 11 tries. Laredo did sweep the Pats in 2006, but El Paso has won every other series including their own sweep in 2005.
Winning a championship though makes that tolerable and Laredo can at least get the last laugh when they play the Patriots again on July 16.