Laredo Heat Soccer Club

Title Sponsor

Heat tests Rayados in preseason before Saturday’s opener

With the opening kick-off for the Premier Development League just days away, the Laredo Heat are going to get a taste of competitive soccer tonight at the Student Activity Complex.The “Primera A” Monterrey, Mexico team pays a visit to Laredo in an effort to promote soccer in the border city.

The Rayados have just finished playing their season and are in top form tonight against the Heat, which is looking to start the PDL season running. The Heat was in the PDL title game last year.

Gametime is at 8.

“It’s a team (Rayados) that is composed of five or four older players and the rest are under 24. Some of their players have the experience of playing in the first division. Primera A is a step away from the top division,” Laredo coach Israel Collazo said in Spanish.

For Collazo, the Rayados offer his team the opportunity to work out some wrinkles and gain some momentum headed into the Saturday night opener against Baton Rouge at the SAC.

“We are going to play them man for man,” Collazo said.

The coach hopes to see the majority of his player’s take the field, but the pace of the action will dictate if that happens.

“You always have to respect the game and make sure you keep the players that will do so,” Collazo said.

His main concern though is on the three possible points up for grabs against Baton Rouge, which is an expansion team.

“We will showcase a great and beautiful soccer game for the fans in attendance,” Collazo said.

Teams from Mexico traditionally draw well in Laredo and Heat officials are expecting a good crowd for tonight.

The club has hosted Mexican Soccer Federation teams since 2004. Previous games were against Tigres and Chivas out of Guadalajara.

The Heat is missing only a couple of players who are still in college.

Their core group though is intact and ready to pick up where it left off.

The most pressing question will be at the goalie position. The club might be without the quality services of Ryan Shaughnessy for the season.

Shaughnessy is a two-time All-PDL selection and the Heat’s team MVP.

Among the players due in action tonight are former Laredo schoolboy stars Jose Macias of Martin and Raul Quiñones of Nixon. Both played at Texas A&M International University.

Others on the field tonight will be Hector “Gota’’ Vallejo, Carlos Ordaz, Daniel Galvan, Juan de Dios Ibarra, Jacob Almak and Dionisio Infante.

Admission to this International friendly match and all Laredo Heat home games will be $6 for general admission tickets.

Once again this year, and keeping up with the team’s philosophy of offering affordable family entertainment, the Heat will allow all children 12 and under who wear a red shirt free admission into all the games.