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Heat Signs Five Returning Players; Adds One New Player to Master Roster

Wednesday, March 21, 2007 (Laredo, TX):

The defending Premier Development League (PDL) Mid-South Division and Southern Conference Champion Laredo Heat Soccer Club has started their 2007 Pre-Season Training Sessions and Coach Israel Collazo has started putting the puzzle together to make another run at the title.

Collazo and the Heat made building a strong foundation for the upcoming season a top priority by making sure that several key players from last seasons United Soccer Leagues (USL) PDL Championship Finalist were signed first.

The five returning starters that were signed this week by the Heat are forward Hector Vallejo, midfielders Juan de Dios Ibarra, Daniel Galvan and Jacob Almack and defensive standout Carlos Ordaz.

Of the first five returning players signed, Collazo said, “We had a great season last year and many players contributed to our success; however, these five players played an instrumental part during the season due to the experience they brought to the pitch”. Collazo added, “It was important for me to get as many of the key players from last year signed for this season and these five individuals should play a significant role on whether our 2007 campaign is successful.”

In addition to the five returning players, Collazo also signed a former Heat player Mark Vega. Vega played in Laredo during the club’s inaugural provisional season in 2004 and the team’s 2005 season in the PDL. In 2006, Vega played for the Mid-South rival DFW Tornados due to pursuing personal interests back in his hometown.

Collazo said of Vega, “Mark helped me when I took over the club during the middle of the 2005 season and his maturity on and off the field will help our club play to its potential this season”. Collazo also mentioned, “During these past two weeks of training, Vega has demonstrated that he is ready to lead by example and is ready to take on a leadership role with the team.”

The Heat will continue with their Pre-Season Training at United Day School, from 6:00 PM until dusk Monday to Friday, and Coach Collazo will be making additional signing announcements during the coming weeks.

For additional information on the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, please visit their web site at www.laredoheatsc.com .