Road Warriors: Laredo Heat SC heading to Tennessee
The Laredo Heat SC (8-6-0 / 24 points) will know its post-season fate after concluding its Premier Development League (PDL) Season this weekend in Tennessee.
On Friday, July 22nd, the club will play the Memphis Express (5-9-1 / 16 points) at Collierville High School in Collierville, TN. The game is slated to start at 7:30 PM. On Saturday, July 23rd, the Nashville Metros (6-9-0 / 18 points) will host the Heat in what will be both clubs final PDL game of the regular season. Kick-off for that game is set for 7:00 PM.
The Laredo Heat is currently in Second Place in the Mid-South Division of the Southern Conference and is in control of its playoff destiny by virtue of being one point ahead of the third place Austin Lightning (7-5-2 / 23 points). Both games in Tennessee are crucial for the Heat in order for the team to make the PDL playoffs. The El Paso Patriots (11-3-2 / 35 points) have already concluded their season and have clinched 1st place in the Mid-South Division.
The Austin Lightning also have two games this weekend as they take on the Augusta Fireball United in Austin on Friday and then travel to New Orleans to play the Shell Shockers on Sunday, July 24th to finish their season in a postponed game from earlier this season. A loss on Friday by Austin and a win by the Heat on Friday versus the Memphis Express will also advance the Heat into the playoffs.
"Regardless of what happens with Austin, the players and coaches know that both games in Tennessee are important and that we need to go into Memphis and Nashville with the right frame of mind and return to Laredo with two victories and hopefully take that momentum into the playoffs", said Heat General Manager, J.J. Vela.
Regarding the teams position in the standings, Heat Head Coach, Israel Collazo, said, "What the players did this past Saturday by beating the Lightning at home and taking sole possession of second place was a gift to themselves." Collazo added, "They put themselves in a position that they control what will happen next without having to worry about outside factors."
Heat Owner and Chief Executive Officer, Shashi Vaswani, concluded, "I thank the Heat fans and sponsors for their support and enthusiasm last weekend, as that was crucial for the performance of the players."
The Laredo Heat will be practicing at United Day School (weather permitting), located on McPherson Rd. next to Doctors Hospital, on Wednesday, July 20th from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The team will depart to Tennessee right after practice at 9:00 PM from the La Quinta Inn and Suites located at 7220 Bob Bullock Loop, next to the LEC.
For additional information on the Laredo Heat Soccer Club and complete game schedule and updates, please visit their web site at www.laredoheatsc.com .
