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Heat Quiet Lightning

The Laredo Heat wasted no time asserting itself against an Austin Lightning team that has nothing but pride left to pay for.The 2-0 win Friday night places the Heat (7-2-3, 24 points) back in the drivers seat of the Mid South Division. They can extend their lead if they manage to sweep Austin with another contest tonight at the Student Activity Center.

The Heat defeated the Lightning with a solid tactical performance from all units.

The defense kept a light and nearly nonexistent Austin attack at bay, and the midfield created the space and pinpoint passing to unleash the strikers.

Austin only managed to create one scoring threat in the game and was mostly relegated to its side of the field with continuous pressure form the Heat, who finished with a total of 18 shots.

With the Heat pressuring from the start, it seemed only a matter of time before the locals took the lead.

The opening score fell in the 31st minute in what might as well be goalie Miguel Gallardos biggest blooper of the season.

Gallardo, with his back to the field, somehow misplayed a high arcing header that seemed destined to his outstretched hands.

Instead of landing safely in his mitts, the ball bounced in front of the goalie and into the back of the net for the stunning goal.

Laredo took ahold of the momentum switch and added its second score of the contest two minutes later.

Juan de Dios Ibarra continued his deft passing by feeding a wide open Joshua Fender down the middle of the area. Fender proceeded to add his third goal in his last two games to extend Laredos lead.

In an interesting twist, the Austin side traveled with only eleven players, leaving head coach Jaime Mimbela without any substitutions.

The wear and tear gradually took its toll on the Austin side as Laredo dominated the sphere for the final 45 minutes.

The Heat couldve finished with two more goals if it wasnt for the adept defensive efforts of the Lightnings defensive unit.

In the 30th minute, Ibarra found an open Hector "Gota" Vallejo in the right side of the box. Vallejo dusted off a couple of defenders, including the goalie, and seemed what appeared to be Laredos opening score.

As the ball trickled towards the goal, defender Chinedu Okoro made a last second save to clear the ball.

In the 80th minut, LBJ player Felix Garcia had what he and the fans believed was going to be his second goal of the season.

Garcia sneaked a shot past the goalie only to have defender Michael Hicks come sliding in and tipping the ball away just when it was going to cross the goal line.

Laredo utilized all of its six substitutions as Collazo got the opportunity to evaluate new players as the roster freeze for the season approaches.

Dionisio "Nicho" Infante, who sat out the game with a red card, is going to miss tonights game due to five accumulated yellow cards.