Heat Dominate Regals in Inaugural NPSL Match
Team Dedicates 2018 Season to the Life of Former Youth Coach
The Laredo Heat Soccer Club (1-0-0, 3 points) returned to action after a two-year hiatus by blanking the visiting Houston Regals SCA (0-3-0, 0 points) by a score of 7–0 on a beautiful Friday evening in the Gateway City.
In addition to the being on the positive side of the scoresheet, the Heat organization also announced the dedication of their 2018 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) season to their former youth coach, the late Jose Eduardo “Lalo” Salinas whose life tragically ended this past March.
It took Laredo a mere 12 minutes to get on the scoreboard in their inaugural NPSL season when Creighton’s Ziyad Fares found the back of the net in what was the first goal of seven that the Heat would score during the evening at the Texas A&M International University’s Dustdevil Stadium.
“The players came out, we have not looked at any score lines – and we just worked hard all evening,” said Heat head coach Dana Taylor. “We’re going to be a very skillful, hardworking team. We got depth on the team, we got pace everywhere – everyone will know that after tonight. We proved that we could also score some goals.”
Former Tyler Junior College standout and future Creighton player Yudai Tashiro added three goals (plus an assist) and got himself a very nice hat trick with goals in 27th, 31st, and 76th minutes of the match.
In addition to Tashiro’s and Fares’ goals, three local college players added the three other goals that gave the Heat their first win in the NPSL.
Laredo Community College’s Gabriel Rodriguez netted his first goal for the Heat in the 50th minute and just two minutes later, Texas A&M International University’s Alan Rivera converted a penalty kick to give the home side a 5-0 lead.
Spanish forward and TAMIU’s all-around soccer player headed a beautiful cross by Tashiro in the 62nd minute that gave Laredo an insurmountable lead of 6-0.
The Heat now travel to Midland-Odessa to take on their former foes whom they last played in 2015 for a Thursday match at Grande Communications Field and then head to Houston for a Saturday tilt versus their opponent from last night, the Houston Regals.
Fans will be able to catch both away games via the team’s YouTube channel with play-by-play color commentary by the voice of the Laredo Heat, Rodrigo Marina. The streaming links for both matches will be provided on game day via all Laredo Heat Soccer Club social media outlets.
Contributor: Laredo Heat Soccer Club
Photo Credit: Luis Tienda
