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Rayados streak past Heat

The Laredo Heat hosted the Monterrey Rayados in a friendly exhibition game at the Student Activity Center in Laredo on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the match was everything but friendly for the Heat.The first half looked promising for both teams, as well-defended squads kept play even most of the period. The Rayados and Heat searched for scoring opportunities early, but the quick feet of the Rayados on defense and the Heat’s ability to control the ball and keep the Rayados offense at bay kept the crowd of more than 2,430 wondering if the match would end in a stalemate.

The first opportunity for the Rayados came in the 24th minute of the match, when Heat goalkeeper Ryan Cooper made a daring run to the 30-yard-line in attempt to regain possession of the ball. Monterrey forward Miguel Morales sent the ball sailing high over Cooper but the ball hit the crossbar, keeping the game scoreless.

After Monterrey’s goalkeeper committed a rare foul in the 37th minute by stepping outside the goalie area with the ball in his hands, Heat forward Juan de Dios Ibarra had a chance to put Laredo ahead. He sent the ball rocketing toward the net but Monterrey was able to stop it, keeping the Heat looking for another rare scoring opportunity.

The match looked as if would remain even going into the half, but Jose Cruz sent an unassisted shot into the net seconds before the whistle blew, giving the Rayados a 1-0 advantage at the half.

Whatever Monterrey used to pull itself out of its offensive funk during the half worked. The Rayados found their footwork and kept the ball in the Heat half of the field for most of the second period.

The Rayados looked faster and fresher than the Heat and their performance reflected it. It took the Rayados only 12 minutes in the second half to do what it took them the entire first period to do. In the 57th minute Carlos Vela found the right side of the net off an assist by Jorge Duran to put the Rayados up 2-0.

Five minutes later a header by Heat forward Josh Fender looked on target, but it sailed just left of the goal. And with it did the hopes for a Heat comeback.

Jorge Duran added to his stats with an unassisted goal in the 70th minute, using speed and fancy footwork to elude two Heat defenders. Twelve minutes later Vela sealed the game by putting the Rayados up 4-0 with an unassisted goal.

Monterrey outshot the Heat 10 to eight, and the Rayados had three more saves than the Heat, with five.

The regular season begins Saturday as the Heat hosts Baton Rouge, a brand new team to the Premier Development League. They can only hope they have more luck than they did Tuesday night.

(To reach Julian Aguilar, call 728-2547 or e-mail jaguilar@lmtonline.com)

©Laredo Morning Times 2007