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Heat Down New Orleans 2-1

Saturday, June 9, 2007 (Laredo, TX):

Due to heavy thunderstorms and lighting in the Student Activity Complex (SAC) area, the start of the match between the visiting New Orleans Shell Shockers and the Laredo Heat Soccer Club was moved to 9:00 PM from its original start time of 8:05 PM. Ironically, the game was called with a couple of minutes still left in injury time; however, it was not due to nature, but a bench clearing skirmish that could have gotten out of hand.

The Heat (5 – 1 – 3 / 18 Points) won the match against the Shell Shockers (2 – 2 – 3 / 9 Points) by a count of 2 - 1 at the SAC in one of the most physical matches we have seen in a while in the Gateway City. The Heat capitalized on the few opportunities on goal and they are still sitting on top of the tough Mid-South Division.

The Laredo Heat was the first score and get on the board in the 4th minute. The goal came off the thrown-in to Heat Mid-Fielder Isaac Morales from the right side. Morales scored with a low shot inside the left post to make it 1-0.

Four minutes later, Laredo Heat Defender Raul Quinones was called for a hand ball in the box and the Shell Shockers were awarded a penalty kick for the infraction. New Orleans Forward P.J. Kee stepped up to take the shot and Ryan Cooper dove to his right side to make the stop and before Cooper even had a chance to think, the rebound was loose and the ball went directly to the waiting feet of Josh Couvillion who fired back but sailed the ball over the goal.

Early in the second half, New Orleans tied the game in the 50th minute when Shockers Forward Ray Gino found the back of the net. Shell Shockers Forward P.J. Kee took a shot from the outside of the box forcing a rebound off Laredo Heat GK Ryan Cooper, which Gino took advantage of when he followed the ball unmarked and tucked it in behind Cooper.

Like last week versus the Tornados, the Heat threw everything forward but the kitchen sink in trying to break the stalemate but the New Orleans defense held strong.

In the 84th minute, the Heat took advantage of a corner kick which was played back to defender Danny Galvan, who blasted a shot from 22 yards out into the right upper corner and pass the outstretched hands of Shell Shocker GK Dustyn Brim to seal the victory.

The game was filled with hard tackles and hits throughout the 90 minutes and at the end, both teams finished with a combined of 12 caution cards, including a red card for each team in supplemental time.

After Saturday’s game, the Heat hit the road for their next three games and will not play in Laredo until July 13th when they start a back to back home series against the Austin Lightning.

For additional information on the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, please visit our website at www.laredoheatsc.com or call the Heat office at 723 – 4700.