Laredo Heat Soccer Club is an American soccer team based in Laredo, Texas. The team competes in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, as a member of the Lone Star Division.
The team plays its home games at the PEG Energy Stadium, where they have played since 2024. The team's colors are red, black and white.
Founded in 2004, the team was a member of the USL Premier Development League from 2004 to 2015. The club took a hiatus for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
History
2004 Laredo Heat initially joined the USL Premier Development League in 2004 as an expansion franchise, playing a limited 'exploratory' schedule of eight exhibition games against selected opponents, but only managed two wins, both over the Lafayette Swamp Cats, 4–0 and 5–0, the latter of which featured a hat trick from striker Nelson Mata-Meza. Former Tampa Bay Mutiny, D.C. United and US national team striker Roy Lassiter played for Laredo in their 2–1 loss to DFW Tornados, but did not get on the score sheet.United Soccer Leagues (USL) He also played in a 1–1 draw against UNAM.
2016 The Heat decided to opt out of the PDL's 2016 season, citing the slow growth of the Mid-South Division as the reason.
2017 The Heat announced they will be part of an expansion team of the National Premier Soccer League in 2018.
2025 The Heat announced would return to USL League Two for the 2025 season, marking the club's return to the league after a 10-year hiatus. The Heat, who had previously competed in League Two from 2004 to 2015 and won the league title in 2007, will play their home matches at the new PEG Energy Stadium in Laredo, Texas, as part of the Lone Star Division.
Team Technical staff Updated June 2024Coaching Staff Position Head coach John Powell Assistant coach Braeden Anderson Assistant coach Johnny Ibarra
Notable former players
Armando Begines, played for Chivas USA and Querétaro F.C. Roy Lassiter, played for L.D. Alajuelense, D.C. United, Miami Fusion and Kansas City Wizards Lexton Moy, played for the Philippines national football team Yaikel Perez, plays for the Cuba national football team Javier Santana, plays for FC Tuggen and Dominican Republic national football team
Year-by-year YearLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsOpen Cup2004USL PDL8th, Mid Southdid not qualifydid not qualify2005USL PDL2nd, Mid SouthConference Finalsdid not qualify2006USL PDL1st, Mid SouthNational Final1st Round2007USL PDL1st, Mid SouthChampionsdid not qualify2008USL PDL2nd, Mid SouthNational Finaldid not qualify2009USL PDL1st, Mid SouthConference Finalsdid not qualify2010USL PDL1st, Mid SouthConference Semifinaldid not qualify2011USL PDL1st, Mid SouthNational Finaldid not qualify2012USL PDL1st, Mid SouthConference Semifinal2nd Round2013USL PDL2nd, Mid SouthConference Finals2nd Round2014USL PDL2nd, Mid SouthConference Semifinal4th Round2015USL PDL3rd, Mid Southdid not qualify2nd Round2016On Hiatus20172018NPSL1st, Lone StarRegional semifinalsdid not qualify2019NPSL5th, Lone Stardid not qualify2nd Round2020NPSLCancelled due to COVID2021NPSL2nd, Lone StarConference Finaldid not qualify2022NPSL1st, Lone StarRegional semifinalsdid not qualify2023NPSL5th, Lone Stardid not qualifydid not qualify2024NPSL4th, Lone StarConference Semifinalsdid not qualify2025USL21st, Lone StarRunner-updid not qualify2026USL21st, Lone StarNational SemifinalsFirst Round
Events hosted by the Laredo Heat
April 20, 2006: Laredo Heat vs Tigres UANLHeat to play Tigres, Chivas reserves in exhibitions May 24, 2006: Laredo Heat vs Chivas de Guadalajara July 9, 2008: Laredo Heat vs Mexico U-20U.S. Prepares for Mexico U-20 match by studying Mexican match vs Laredo Heat
Honors NPSL Lone Star Conference Champions 2018 USL PDL Southern Conference Champions 2011 USL PDL Mid South Division Champions 2011 USL PDL Mid South Division Champions 2010 USL PDL Mid South Division Champions 2009 USL PDL Southern Conference Champions 2008 USL PDL Champions 2007 USL PDL Southern Conference Champions 2007 USL PDL Mid South Division Champions 2007 USL PDL Southern Conference Champions 2006 USL PDL Mid South Division Champions 2006
Stadiums Veterans Field; Laredo, Texas (2004) The Student Activity Center; Laredo (2005–2007) Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex; Laredo (2008–2023) PEG Energy Stadium; Laredo (2024–present)
Average attendance Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match.https://web.archive.org/web/20100105175057/http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html
2004: 1,300 (2nd in PDL) 2005: 542 (15th in PDL) 2006: 705 (9th in PDL) 2007: 737 (10th in PDL) 2008: 974 (9th in PDL) 2009: 1,228 (7th in PDL) 2010: 989 (10th in PDL) 2011: 929 (11th in PDL) 2012: 718 (11th in PDL) 2013: 615 (17th in PDL) 2014: 610 (16th in PDL) 2015: 425 (18th in PDL)
References
External links