LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Vanessa Guajardo,

( Laredo , TX): A new crop of recently signed players by the Laredo Heat was announced today and a few of them not only saw action at last Friday’s home opener but actually contributed to the win over the visiting Rio Grande Valley Bravos.

The new player additions represent several areas of the country, including Laredo and several universities and a local high school. United High School senior standout and future Dustdevil Daniel Garza made an impact when he came into the game late on Friday and showed the Heat fans the intensity he had shown during his high school career and showed flashes of brilliance for a young man that was playing for the first time in the PDL spotlight. Garza definitely showed that he would be able to compete with the Heat at the PDL level.

Another local player that brings a wealth of experience to the Gateway City club is former Nuevo Laredo Bravos player Alfredo Martinez. Because Martinez played in Mexico, the Heat had to wait a few weeks for his FIFA International Clearance to get approved. Martinez is a speedy defender that plays well out of the left back side and because he is familiar with the Heat players, he should be able to see more than his fair share of the pitch.

 Two University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) players have also been added to the Heat roster for this upcoming season and both showed why UIW is an NCAA D-II soccer powerhouse. Michael Abalos, a native of Midland , TX and former West Texas United Sockers player, not only started on Friday but put the nail in the coffin by scoring the game winner in the second half.

 His partner, Max Gunderson, a native of Henderson , NV , showed off his skills in the mid-field and showcased the speed and tenacity that impressed Coach Collazo during the tryouts in March. Gunderson and Abalos should see considerable playing time for the Heat in 2010.

 Veteran player Alex Hergert will be joining the Heat later this week after completing his finals at Texas Lutheran University. The Heat are looking forward to having him join the team after losing Hergert late in the 2009 campaign due to a severe knee injury. Hergert torn both his ACL and MCL and after having to redshirt this past season at TLU and completing an intense physical therapy regime is ready to go.

 After the departure of Ryan Cooper, the 2007 USL PDL Championship Game MVP, to the USL-2 Charleston (SC) Battery, the Heat reloaded at the goalkeeper position via the youth movement. Joining 17 year old and former Alexander High School and Laredo Heat Youth Club keeper Rodrigo Avila are current Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX) and NCAA D-II All-American Raul Herrera and former Newman University keeper Stephen Williams.

 Herrera joins the Heat after a stellar junior season at Midwestern State University and this past Friday, he relieved Avila of his duties in the second half. Herrera also saw PDL action for the first time in his career versus the Rio Grande Valley franchise.

 Williams, like Herrera, is playing in the PDL for the first time in his career. The 22 year old Williams attended the Heat tryouts in March and clearly demonstrated athletic abilities that promised that if given an opportunity could easily contribute to the success of the Laredo Heat. Williams is a former basketball student athlete at Newman University who had played soccer in high school but after an injury to the universities starting keeper was pressed into action and by the end of the season had won the starting goalkeeper position.

 After several seasons of not having to be concerned with the goalkeeper position, these three young men will be battling weekly for playing time and for Coach Collazo and his staff, their work will be cut out in figuring playing time for each of them.

For additional information on the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, please visit our website at www.laredoheatsc.com