Laredo Heat News Release -- www.laredoheatsc.com
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
LAREDO, Texas – The Laredo Heat must produce perfection, beginning with Thursday’s Mid South Division match against the Mississippi Brilla, if they are to continue their decade-long run of postseason qualification. With three matches left, the Heat sit five points outside the division’s final playoff berth – held by the Midland-Odessa Sockers (6-4-2, 20 points). Essentially, for Laredo, the playoffs start now.
After a heart-breaking loss to the Brilla (3-5-3, 12 points) on July 5 in Clinton, Miss., the Heat have their backs against the wall. The Brilla stole the match at the death, winning a penalty kick in the 88th minute. The conversion cemented a 2-1 victory for Mississippi and served as the prologue to this weekend’s two-match series at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex. The Heat host the Brilla on Thursday and Saturday with both matches kicking off at 8 p.m. CT.
Laredo, the only Mid-South team to play on natural grass in a soccer-specific venue, stand 2-1-2 at home with a plus-5 goal differential, while Mississippi is 1-3-0 with a minus-3 differential on the road.
For Laredo, postseason qualification hinges on every tackle, every shot and every match. The Heat (4-4-3, 15 points), if they win out, would finish with 24 points. The Sockers face just two remaining games, with the opportunity for a maximum of 26 points, but their schedule holds more treacherous challenges on paper.
Midland-Odessa faces the defending PDL champion Austin Aztex (10-1-1, 31 points) on Friday. Austin has only suffered two losses in the last two years – both via the Heat – but it may field a reduced team as it has already clinched the Mid South title and qualification in the Southern Conference Championship.
For the Heat to have a chance to qualify for the postseason, the Sockers would have to drop points – by losing or drawing – one of their final matches against Austin or the Houston Dutch Lions.
There are several potential scenarios that could see the Heat qualify, with some help. Assuming the Heat claim maximum points and the Sockers finish with a draw and a win, the postseason qualification process would go to tiebreakers, the first of which -- head-to-head results -- favors the Heat. Laredo took a win and a draw against the Sockers this season, which would give the Heat the upper hand should the teams finish with the same amount of points.
But, in order for that possibility, the Heat need to win and need the Sockers to lose at least once.
All the action can be watched for free online at www.YouTube.com/LaredoHeatSC.
Each home game will see the Heat offer four fans a chance at winning $500. If the randomly selected fans can bury an undefended penalty kick at halftime, they will win $400 for themselves and $100 to the evening’s selected benefactor.
Thursday’s match will be Laredo Community College Night, with LCC Community Outreach staff on hand to assist prospective students and offer college information and exciting giveaways. Registration for Summer Session 2 and the Fall 2014 Semester is under way at LCC. The LCC Palominos Pride Team will offer a special half-time cheer and dance performance.