Playoff Bound: Laredo Heat Headed to Greensboro, North Carolina
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 (Laredo, TX):
With the first of many goals set forth by the Laredo Heat this season under their belt, that of winning the 2006 Mid-South Division Title and earning a playoff berth, the team left Laredo on Tuesday evening headed to Greensboro, North Carolina to take on the Augusta (Georgia) Fireball on Friday, July 28th at 5:30 PM EST (4:30 PM Laredo time).
The Augusta Fireball is the wild-card team in the four club Premier Development League (PDL) Southern Conference Championship Tournament in Greensboro; however, by no means is the Fireball the weakest team in the tournament. The Fireball were the second place team in the tough South Atlantic Division of the Southern Conference and finished with 31 points behind the host of the tournament, the Carolina Dynamo, who finished tied with the Cape Cod Crusaders from the New England Division for first place in the PDL's points standings with 44 points.
The Laredo Heat finished the season with 42 points and tied with Chicago Fire Premier from the Great Lakes Division and Boulder Rapids Reserve from the Heartland Division for second place in the point standings.
The fourth team in the Southern Conference Championship Tournament is the IMG / Bradenton Academics team from Bradenton, Florida. Bradenton won the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference with 34 points to qualify to play in Greensboro this weekend. Bradenton and the Carolina Dynamo will play after the Fireball and Heat game at 8:00 PM EST with the winners from these two matches playing on Saturday, July 29th at 7:30 PM EST for the Southern Conference Championship.
Heat General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, J.J. Vela, mentioned, "We like our chances this weekend in Greensboro and I know the players are focused on the task at hand." Vela added, "And more importantly, the team is healthy and we have no issues with cautions (yellow and red cards) entering our first game versus Augusta." Vela concluded, "On behalf of the Heat Administration, Players, Coaching Staff and Volunteers, I promise the City of Laredo and its population to give it our best shot and represent the Gateway City proudly in North Carolina."
For additional information on the Laredo Heat Soccer Club and future game updates, please visit their web site at www.laredoheatsc.com .
