Game Recap: Heat Win, Stay Undefeated in Lone Star Division Play 

Rematch Versus Houston FC at Home Was Successful for the Home Side

Sunday, June 15, 2025 (Laredo, TX): The Laredo Heat SC stayed perfect and continued to pull away from the field in the USL League 2’s Lone Star Division as it opened the second half of the regular season with a 3-1 victory over Houston FC on Saturday at PEG Energy Stadium.

With five games remaining, the Heat (7-0-0, 21 points) have an eight-point advantage over the AHFC Royals (4-2-1, 13 points). However, with one fewer game played, Laredo’s next opponent Lonestar (4-2-0, 12 points) is the biggest threat in the race. Defending champion Corpus Christi FC (3-2-1, 10 points) is close behind in fourth place.

Along with dominating the division, the Heat have one of only two remaining perfect records in the 143-team USL2. The other is Asheville City SC (6-0-0), which has dominated the South Central Division with 31 goals scored and only one allowed.

Coming off a pair of 2-0 victories on a road trip to Houston, including a win over Houston FC, the Heat nearly posted a third straight clean sheet Saturday. Starting for the second straight match, goalkeeper Ioannis Koupepides made several big saves in the first half to preserve a scoreless draw heading into the break. He didn't allow a goal until the closing minutes of the game on a penalty kick in added time.

Laredo opened the scoring in the 56th minute as Kai Louviere continued his hot streak. Louviere scored three of the four goals on the Houston road trip, and he is up to a team-high five goals after Saturday.

Louviere’s goal came about a minute after a point-blank header from Todd Vromant was narrowly gloved away by the keeper. Louviere gathered a deep ball up the right side, cut left just inside of the 18-yard box and quickly shot into the lower right corner.

Sergio Meza started a hot streak of his own in the 66th minute as he scored his first goal of the season on a free kick just outside the box and slightly left of center. Meza made it a second-half brace with a goal in the 88th minute to cement the victory.

After Gael Gallegos beat three defenders to a through ball up the left side, he protected the ball long enough to center a pass to Meza in front of the net. Meza cut around one defender before shooting into the left side past a diving effort from the keeper.

Laredo ranks eighth in the USL2 with a plus-15 goal differential, which is more than double the next closest competitor in the division with Lonestar at plus-seven. The Heat have 20 goals from 10 players led by five from Louviere and four from Ismael Mane. Laredo also has two goals each from Meza, Elie Bokota and Volkan Celikkol and one each from Gallegos, Adam Knutson, Vincent Montoya, Martin Piedeleu and Henox Roque.

The Heat continue their homestand Wednesday in a crucial match hosting Lonestar at 7:45 p.m. at PEG Energy Stadium.

For tickets, visit laredoheatsc.thundertix.com/events, and for additional information, visit team.laredoheatsc.com. Tickets will also be on sale starting Monday for a June 28 friendly at PEG Energy Stadium against the U21 squad from Liga MX's Cruz Azul.

To stream matches for free this season using SportsEngine Play, visit sportsengineplay.com or download the app.