LAREDO, TX -- It took penalties, but the Laredo Heat got their vengeance Saturday night in the first-ever Premier Development League Championship rematch, winning the title 4-3 in a six-round penalty kick tiebreaker after a scoreless draw against the Michigan Bucks side that beat them on the same field a year ago 2-1. Seventeen-year-old Felix Garcia would strike the winner in the dramatic shootout.

Smothered by the intense Texas heat, both sides came out at a slower pace than last year’s final which saw two goals in the first eight minutes. Laredo had the earlier chances with two headers on goal in the first nine minutes, but Michigan keeper Steve Clark made easy catches to keep the hosts off the board.

Defense would become the story of the match as the second-ranked Laredo back line and the Michigan defensive unit, tied for sixth-best in the league, would keep their composure and limit the quality of chances throughout the remainder of the game despite the intense pressure of the temperature.