Big games looming for Heat

The Premier Development League season is nearly over and the Laredo Heat is in control of its own destiny.

Not only is a playoff berth a very real possibility, but the club can also win its third Mid-South divisional title.

The Heat (6-1-7, 25 points) can practically assure itself a spot in the postseason with a win over the Rio Grande Valley Bravos (5-4-4, 19) tonight at the Texas A&M International soccer complex.

“In all honesty, what better way to finish out the regular season than playing two teams (Bravos and Sockers) that are in playoff contention, at home, and the results of those games will have implications as to the future of all the teams involved,” Heat General Manager J.J. Vela said. “Talk about controlling your destiny.”

If the Heat beats the Bravos, then the Valley team becomes the club’s third swept team for the season.

Laredo already holds the tiebreakers against the Austin Aztex (6-3-4, 22) and the El Paso Patriots (7-5-1, 22).

Both the Aztex and Patriots would have to win two and tie once, or win out, and hope the Heat loses one of its next two games, to get ahead of the Heat in the standings.

The Aztex take on the Patriots in their season finale, so only one can actually win out.

If the Heat beats the Bravos, the Valley team’s slim playoff hopes practically evaporate and they’re left on the outside looking in.

The other team in contention is the West Texas Sockers (6-3-3, 21). The Sockers have the inside track on the division, as they can amass 33 points if they win their final four games.

The Heat and the Bravos have played three times on the season, with Laredo winning once and tying twice.

Two of the three matches have had suspensions on both sides, with the latest game a 4-2 win by Laredo.

The Heat is without an important midfield presence in Greg Mulamba, who is day-to-day with a knee injury.

Danny Galvan is also a game-time decision for tonight.

The team had played with all their players for the first time since the opening game last weekend against Dallas before Mulamba went down later in that contest.

Returning to add some offensive spark was Esteban Bayona, who knocked in his sixth goal of the season against the Tornados.

“While we are glad that we finish off the regular season at home, we are aware that we will need to defend our turf versus two quality expansion teams,” Vela said.

The Heat finishes the season against West Texas on July 17.

“First thing’s first, we need to get three points versus the Bravos (tonight) in order to create some distance in the standings and then prepare for our final game of the season next week versus the West Texas United Sockers,” Vela said.

Austin plays twice this weekend, with the first contest against the winless Houston Leones (0-10-3, 3) at home on Friday; and the second at Dallas Fort Worth (2-6-4, 10) on Sunday.

The Aztex wrap up the season hosting the El Paso Patriots on July 17.

The Aztex can finish with a maximum of 31 points.

The Patriots can also total 31 points if they win out in their final three games.

They have a tougher schedule than Austin, since, besides playing the Aztex, they take on the Sockers on Sunday.

It won’t be easy; all their games are on the road against Dallas and El Paso over the weekend.

They close out the season against Laredo and Rio Grande Valley.

The Bravos (5-4-4, 19) can collect 28 points if they win their final three games.