Tornados edge Heat Game 2 today
By NINO CARDENAS
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
The Laredo Heat failed to separate themselves further in the point standings in the Mid South division Friday night.
The Heat dropped game one of their double-header 1-0 against the Dallas Tornados in front of 400 fans at the Student Activity Center.
The Heat plays the Tornados again tonight at 8:05.
The opening minutes of the second half was all the offense Dallas needed to claim its third victory in its last four games.
"We fought 'till the last second and they took advantage of the one play that we fell asleep," coach Eleazar Jepsen said.
Laredo was hit with its first penalty shot of the season in the 47th minute when Jacob Downs brought down the Tornados Paulo Da Silva inside the box.
Da Silva had managed to pass the ball to a closing Robert Luevano who proceeded to knock in the goal, but the referee had called the penalty kick keeping the score tied at zero for the moment.
Dominic Schell placed the ball in the top left corner, giving his team the winning goal.
"We have to come out more aggressive. No excuses, though, tonight we come to win and get those three points. We can't let Dallas go back with 6 points," Jepsen said.
Tornado goalie David Stockton came up big for his team in the second half. He robbed Hector Vallejo of a goal in the 66th minute with a great one handed save.
He later denied a Dwayne Bergeron blast in the 89th minute.
Those were his only two saves of the night.
Laredo goalie Ryan Shaughnessy finished with four saves.
The first 45 minutes of action found both clubs testing each other's defenses, looking for any opportunity to exploit one another.
The defensemen for both teams presented themselves as nuisances for the offensive attackers.
Both teams managed to get into enemy territory, but neither made the extra pass that would put them in scoring position.
The Heat and Dallas finished with three shots on goal apiece.
The only real threat came on a 19-yard blast by Juan de Dios Ibarra on a dead ball foul.
The newest addition to the Heat, midfielder Dwayne Bergeron, suited up in his debut with the club.
Bergeron was released by the Tornados two weeks earlier.
"He's a good player and did a great job for only being with the team four days," Jepsen said.
The Laredo attack was stalled several times, as they were hit with seven offside infractions.
The Heat managed six shots on goal and the Tornados finished with eight.
