Heat Set to Open 2011 PDL Season at Home
Written by Post Public Information Representative, May 6, 2011, 2 Comments
Courtesy Vanessa Guajardo,
Laredo Facing Rio Grande Valley at TAMIU Today
LAREDO, Texas -The Laredo Heat Soccer Club will be ushering their eight season in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) this Friday, May 6th when they host the expansion Rio Grande Valley Grandes FC at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex. Kick-off is set for 8:00 P.M.
The Gateway City team has announced a series of veteran player additions over the past two weeks and recently announced that several members of their youth academy will be joining the ranks of their PDL club.
The “young guns” named were Rodrigo “Rorro” Avila (Alexander High School / TAMIU), Eduardo “Wayo” Gonzalez (Alexander High School / LCC), Daniel Garza (United High School / TAMIU), Ricardo Mejia (Cigarroa High School), Omar Lopez (LBJ High School / LCC) and Gabriel Muñiz (LBJ High School).
The Heat will be without the services of one their veteran starters for the first game of the season as Greg Mulamba will have to sit out this Friday versus the Grandes due to having to serve a one game suspension for receiving a red card in the PDL Conference Semi-Final game last season in Jackson, MS. Penalty point suspensions and card accumulations carry from one year to the next in the USL.
“The players and coaching staff are excited to get the season off the ground at home and in front of the best fans in the PDL”, mentioned Heat Head Coach Israel Collazo.
“Personally, I cannot wait for the Un Gol, queremos un Gol and yo si le voy, le voy a Laredo cheers”.
Collazo continued, “While Greg’s presence on the field will be missed, there will be plenty of opportunity for our younger players to show what they are made of. I am looking forward to seeing some of these youngsters in action at a higher level as I have seen them mature over the past three to four years from U-14 and U-15 players in our academy”.
“I want to invite everyone to our home opener in order to support the players that I am sure will be giving it their all on the pitch come Friday night. The team has had a great pre-season and is ready to showcase itself for the 2011 season and like always, any team from the Rio Grande Valley will have the talent to play and will be coming into Laredo to make a statement”, concluded Collazo.
Start of the 2011 PDL Regular Season
At halftime of the Laredo Heat and RGV Grandes FC match, former Guinness World Record Holder in ball domination, Beto Dominator, will be performing his amazing skills. Beto promises to give a great show to all fans that will be present.
Once again this season, in cooperation with the Chick-Fil-A Mall del Norte location, if the Heat scores three or more goals during a game, every person that purchases a ticket to the match will be given a voucher for a free regular Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich (Mall del Norte location only) so let’s come support the home team.
After the season opener, the Heat will once again be at home the following weekend for back to back games versus the West Texas United (Midland) Sockers on Friday, May 13th and the Chivas El Paso Patriots on Saturday, May 14th. The West Texas United and Chivas El Paso games will both be Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Matches for the Gateway City club. Kick-off is set for 8:00 PM for all Heat home games at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex.
About the PDL
The top U23 men’s league in North America, the PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The USL Premier Development League has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.
United Soccer Leagues
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, United Soccer Leagues has become the largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America by building on the vision, commitment, and passion of players, fans and investors. Now in its third decade of operation, USL continues to be a driving force in the growth of soccer in the United States, Canada and Caribbean. USL provides a clearly defined path for the progression of male and female soccer players beginning at the youth level (USL Super Y-League/USL Super-20 League), continuing through the amateur level (USL Premier Development League/USL W-League) and up to the professional level, both outdoor and indoor (USL PRO, I-League). A platform for countless players to reach for their dreams each year, USL is devoted to developing the sport at the grassroots level in every community across the region.
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.
go saint Agustin highschool! Got to represent where I’m from
Omar lopez is gay he k ows it