The Laredo Heat dominated their first road trip this weekend as they followed Friday’s 8-0 victory over Katy 1895 FC with a 2-0 win at Tyler FC.

Carlos Herrera was in net again as the Heat (3-1) posted consecutive shutouts in a span of three days. Laredo gave up three combined goals at home in its first two National Premier Soccer League games of the season and had a 1-0 shutout May 7 over Brazos Valley Cavalry FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Before the dominant weekend, the Heat were coming off their first regular-season loss in NPSL play falling 2-1 at home against the Denton Diablos. They responded with a dominant 10-0 stretch in their first road games of the year including the second win of the season over Tyler FC following a 2-1 win in the season opener. With the last goal allowed to Denton coming in the 51st minute, the Heat have a scoreless streak spanning 218 minutes of regulation along with extra time.

Ivan Sakou took the team lead with his first two goals of the season in Friday’s big win. He added to that lead Sunday scoring in the 10th minute to put Laredo ahead early for the second straight contest as they scored in the fifth minute Friday. Just behind Sakou is newcomer Denron Frederick who scored in the second half for the second straight game.

After Sakou’s early goal, scoring subsided the rest of the opening half despite quality chances on both sides. The Heat dominated possession, but Tyler made the most of limited touches. Herrera had to make back-to-back saves in the 20th minute with a pair of shots coming from the right side.

Johan Portales dribbled around a pair of Tyler defenders in the 27th minute and got a shot on net from the top of the box, but it was saved. Herrera made a diving fingertip save in the 31st minute. He deflected another shot high two minutes later then broke up the ensuing corner kick.

Sakou nearly scored again in the 42nd minute is Jose Luis Hincapie broke free up the middle and fed the ball inside to him. However, the Tyler goalkeeper turned away his initial shot and the rebound.

A sliding kick save by Herrera kept the Heat ahead four minutes into the second half. In the 65th minute, a cross from the right side was over the head of Frederick. However, Jeremiah Egujie gathered the ball in the corner and passed it out to Johan Portales. He kicked to the front of the net and found Frederick this time. As Frederick corralled the kick, the goalie made a diving attempt to get the ball. Frederick pulled back and shot around two defenders for a 2-0 lead.

Egujie nearly added to the lead in the 71st minute with a breakaway up the middle, but the goalkeeper made a point-blank save. Egujie was stopped again nine minutes later by a diving save.

The Heat will attempt to continue their dominant stretch back home this week as they host the Midland Sockers FC at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at TAMIU’s Dustdevil Field. The Sockers are unbeaten at 3-0-1 following a 3-0 win Saturday over Dallas City FC.

jmack@lmtonline.com

Twitter @jmacklmt