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 RGV Bravos Visiting Laredo, Playoff Implications Abound

As the Premier Development League (PDL) Regular Season comes to end, the Laredo Heat Soccer Club (6 – 1 – 7 / 25 points) has two crucial games left to determine their playoff fate.The good news for the Gateway City club is that both of these games will be played in the friendly confines of the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Soccer Complex.

 First up for the Heat will be the Rio Grande Valley Bravos (5 – 4 – 4 / 19 points) on Thursday, July 9, 2009. Kick-off for this match is set for 8:00 PM at TAMIU.  Though they currently sit in fifth place in the competitive Mid-South Division, the Heat know very well that the Bravos are a team not to be taken lightly. Most especially at this point of the season where their playoff lives are at stake.  “Thursday’s match versus the Bravos is very important for both teams as the playoff scenario is still very murky within our division as we all enter the last two weekends of divisional play”, said Heat General Manager J.J. Vela.

      “While we (the Heat) currently sit in first place, making the playoffs is still not a done deal because we are the only team in the division that has played 14 games and we only sit three points ahead of both the Aztex (Austin) and the El Paso Patriots”.  Vela added, “While we are glad that we finish off the regular season at home, we are aware that we will need to defend our turf versus two quality expansion teams. First things first, we need to get three points versus the Bravos on Thursday in order to create some distance in the standings and then prepare for our final game of the season next week versus the West Texas United Sockers (Midland)”.

 “In all honesty, what better way to finish out the regular season than playing two teams that are in playoff contention at home and the results of those games will have implications as to the future of all the teams involved. Talk about controlling your destiny”.  “From experience, we are constantly preaching the old adage of taking one game at a time to our players and these final two games definitely fall into that category. The players know how hard they have worked to put themselves into this position and they are aware of what they need to execute in order to make things happen in terms of the post-season”, concluded Vela.

 As a reminder to all fans, General Admission ticket pricing for all Heat home games is only $5.00 for adults and all kids 12 and under are admitted into the game free of charge. Additionally, if the Heat scores three of more goals at any home game, all the fans that purchased tickets will be eligible for a coupon that they can redeem for a regular Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich courtesy of Chick-Fil-A Mall del Norte.

 Game Entertainment Information:

 The Laredo Heat announces that Mariachi Los Arrieros will be performing mariachi classics for all arriving fans prior to the start of the Rio Grande Valley match. Mariachi Los Arrieros will also perform the United States National Anthem as well as after the game.

 At halftime, the LBJ High School Marching Band will entertain everyone present.

 Heat Injury Report:

 Mid-fielder Greg Mulamba will not be suiting up on Thursday versus the Bravos due to an injury he suffered last weekend versus the DFW Tornados. His status will be day-to-day.

 Also hurt last weekend in San Marcos, TX versus the Austin Aztex, Captain Dany Galvan will be a game time decision for Coach Israel Collazo.

 Mid-South Division News:

 Standings as of Wednesday, July 8, 2009

–          Laredo Heat (6 – 1 – 7 / 25 points, 14 games played)

–          Austin Aztex (6 – 3 – 4 / 22 points, 13 games played)

–          El Paso Patriots (7 – 5 – 1 / 22 points, 13 games played)

–          West Texas United Sockers (6 – 3 – 3 / 21 points, 12 games played)

–          Rio Grande Valley Bravos (5 – 4 – 4 / 19 points, 13 games played)

–          DFW Tornados (2 – 6 – 4 / 10 points, 12 games played)

–          Houston Leones (0 – 10 – 3 / 3 points, 13 games played)

 For additional information on the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, please visit our website at www.laredoheatsc.com or call the Heat office at 723 – 4700.