After recovering from a significant injury during the pandemic and continuing to grind, Carlos Herrera became the third Laredo Heat SC alumnus competing in the USL Championship as Monterey Bay F.C. announced this week the signing of the goalkeeper to a 25-day contract.

Growing up in San Leandro, Calif. where his family moved to from Mexico City when he was 4 years old, Herrera is excited to be playing close to home. However, he is most excited about the chance to train at the next level and would have gone anywhere for the opportunity.

“It’s nice being close to home, but honestly I’m just happy to have gotten the opportunity whether it was Championship, NISA, League One, wherever that may be, that’s all I was looking for,” Herrera said. “It has been a longer process being from Mexican descent. Trying to break in and get a chance in the States has been hard, but the support groups I’ve had around me have been great.”

The USL Championship is sanctioned as a Division II league by the United States Soccer Federation placing it just below Major League Soccer. Herrera is the third Heat player to earn a professional opportunity at that level as he follows in the footsteps of a pair of former teammates. Younes Boudadi plays for the Hartford Athletic and Memo Diaz competes with the Oakland Roots SC.

Herrera, Boudadi and Diaz were three of the most prominent players on a dominant 2018 Heat squad which outscored opponents 37-4 during a perfect 10-0-0 regular season. The team never trailed in those 10 games as it earned the No. 1 overall seed in the National Premier Soccer League out of 98 teams. Laredo’s debut season in the NPSL featured a pair of postseason rallies to claim the Lone Star Conference title before it was edged in overtime in the South Region semifinals.

“It was an eye opener for what it took to be a pro,” Herrera said. “The first year Dana Taylor was there, and the second year Aidan Davison was there. They both gave me insight into what it’s like to be a pro and the kind of commitment and dedication you have to put into it. To have that was huge.

“A lot of people told me I had the potential, but being with the Heat and doing gym work, rehab, taking care of your body and diet, doing extra work on the side and getting extra touches, that showed me there was so much I wasn’t doing that I should be doing. Being with such a high-level group of players makes you have to push yourself that much harder to keep up.”

All three players were named to the Lone Star Conference and South Region XI selections, and Diaz was also one of three forwards to earn NPSL Nation XI honors.

“The 2018 NPSL season will always hold a special place in our hearts. It takes it to another level knowing those players are continuing to grow and thrive in their careers,” Laredo Heat SC President Shashi Vaswani said. “We couldn’t be more proud to have those three representing us in the USL Championship. Carlos, Memo and Younes are outstanding athletes and outstanding young men, and we will continue to follow and support them throughout their careers.”

The feeling is mutual as Herrera continues to keep a close eye on the Heat.

“The love and support they have for the players is second to none,” he said. “The organization is fantastic. They could easily be a pro organization if they chose to go that route. I’ve been to a lot of teams, and they really care about you as a person and not just a player. It makes a world of difference. You really want to play for them not just because it’s a good team but because you care for the ownership group and everyone that makes it work. I have lots of love for that family.”

Herrera also continues to follow the Heat due to strong relationships he developed. He built a strong bond with head coach John Powell who was an assistant during his time with the club, and assistant coach Roger Bonilla was Herrera’s roommate when they played together at Texas A&M International University.

“Roger is very passionate when it comes to coaching and developing that side of the game,” Herrera said. “I’ve always admired that about him.”

The path from Laredo to the USL Championship was challenging. Following his playing career with the Dustdevils, Herrera served as a goalie coach for the men’s and women’s teams while finishing his degree at TAMIU. He tore his ACL that October, and as the pandemic began he was in the thick of rehabbing from the injury.

“That whole period at the start of COVID was just rehab and getting myself back to speed,” Herrera said. “That was the silver lining of COVID was that everyone had to pause, so it gave me a chance to catch up.”

Herrera moved back to California and began coaching youth soccer with the California Magic Soccer Club while also helping for a year with the Saint Mary’s College of California women’s soccer team. Along with coaching, he continued to train hard and seek out playing opportunities.

“It was training, coaching, training, coaching and repeat. It has been a grind,” Herrera said. “It hasn’t been easy. It never is. It’s a lot harder once you’re also balancing your bills and still trying to find the time to train as much as you need to play at the level you want. It’s a hard balance to find, but luckily my girlfriend and family have been very supportive as well as the California Magic Soccer Club. I wouldn’t be able to do it without the help they’ve given me through trials and the flexibility in my schedule.”

Herrera previously spent time as a trialist with Monterey Bay F.C. and was called upon after goalkeeper Rafael Díaz sustained an injury late in a March 26 match against the Oakland Roots SC. He joins Dallas Jaye as the only other keeper on the roster while Díaz recovers.

“Looking back at all the balance and the sacrifices I had to put into it, it makes it that much more meaningful,” Herrera said. “I’m that much more grateful. I’m just happy to have the opportunity to be training in a professional environment with a quality group of players. I’m looking forward to learning as much as I can and being a sponge with everyone, asking them how they go about their life, taking care of their bodies, picking their brains to see what they’ve done to get where they are and stay where they are. I’ll carry that with me as I try to stay in this career.”

The Laredo Heat open the season on the road May 13 against the Corinthians FC of San Antonio before returning to host three matches in seven days. The Heat welcome the FC Brownsville Explorers on Wednesday, May 18 for their home opener. The home stretch continues Saturday, May 21 against the Temple Coyotes FC and concludes on Tuesday, May 24 against the Austin United FC.

The Heat play their home matches at the TAMIU Soccer Complex. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $20 for VIP access, and children 12 and under get in free.

Visit laredoheatsc.com and follow @laredoheatsc on social media to stay up to date on the latest news including upcoming player announcements. Any youth players interested in joining the academy can visit laredoheatscyouth.com for more information.