Aztex Travel to Face Arizona United SC
May 15, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Austin Aztex News Release
AUSTIN, Texas (Friday, May 15, 2015) - The Austin Aztex (4-3-1) will travel to the Sonoran desert where they will face Arizona United SC (3-3-1) Saturday evening at Scottsdale Stadium. The match will kick off at 9:30 CST and can be viewed live online on YouTube.
The match will be crucial to the standings in USL's ultra-competitive Western Conference, where the Aztex are tied in second place, yet stuck with a pack of teams competing for higher positioning as five teams are within three points of each other in the standings. With a win, the Aztex could seize the pole position of the conference with 16 points. With a loss, the Aztex could slide out of the top five.
On the other hand, Arizona are looking to close out their four game home stand on a high note, where they have secured only one point after a 1-1 draw with the Tulsa Roughnecks last Saturday. Arizona will be looking for their first win since they defeated the Aztex in early April.
The Aztex will be looking to avenge that 1-0 loss to United the first time these two clubs met earlier this season at House Park. In that match, Arizona capitalized on an Aztex turnover and quickly countered as Long Tan hammered the ball past Aztex goalkeeper Devin Perales.
Since then, the Aztex have rebounded and return to the road after closing out a successful three game home stand in which they secured seven points, including a come-from-behind, confidence-boosting victory in which the Aztex scored twice in the dying minutes of their last game to defeat Real Monarchs SLC by a score of 3-2.
The Aztex attack is led by Kris Tyrpak, who was named to USL's Team of the Week. Tyrpak has continued his aggressive start to the season, scoring his team-leading fourth goal of the season. The Aztex attack has the flexibility to play direct through Adam Bedell or flow through the channels through Tyrpak and other attacking options including Drew Yates and Trevin Caesar. Aztex forward Sainey Touray continues to rehab from a successful arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss this weekend's action.
In the midfield, the Aztex tandem of Brazilian midfielder Guaraci and team captain Lance Rozeboom have allowed for the Aztex to take control of the midfield to maintain possession and distribute the ball up to the attacking third. Mozzi Gyorio may have earned a longer look at midfield after he earned Honorable Mention for Team of the Week after he provided the assist on both last-minute goals for the Aztex last Saturday.
The Aztex defense is led by the tandem of Kyle Hoffer and Kalen Ryden, who will need to contain Long Tan, Dennis Chin, and Brad Stisser. Tan leads Arizona's attack with five points on the season and remains aggressive as he leads the squad with 16 shots on the season.
Cody Laurendi has started between the posts for the Aztex since the loss to Arizona and has allowed six goals through four matches. Laurendi joins fellow Aztex goalkeeper Perales in the league's top ten standings for save percentage. Joining the Aztex goalkeepers on that very same list is Arizona goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski, who is among the top goalkeepers in the league, consistently among the leaders in various categories.
Select Physical Therapy Injury Report:
Sainey Touray - Out (Knee)
• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 15, 2015
- Switchbacks Match Rescheduled - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Red-Hot Los Dos Host Defending Champs in USL's Week 9 - USL
- URMC Sports Medicine & the Rochester Rhinos Team up for Athletic Combine - Rochester Rhinos
- Match Preview: Orange County Blues Look to Get Third Consecutive Win - Orange County SC
- Match Preview: Louisville City vs Toronto - Louisville City FC
- Match Preview: Arizona United SC vs Austin Aztex - Phoenix Rising FC
- Real Monarchs Host Portland Timbers 2 Saturday Night at Rio Tinto Stadium - Real Monarchs
- Aztex Travel to Face Arizona United SC - Austin Aztex
- First Place Rhinos Travel to Wilmington Saturday Night - Rochester Rhinos
- Hammerheads Face Unbeaten Rhinos - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
- Hounds Back on Home Soil to Face Kickers - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- U.S. Soccer Star to Host #SheBelieves Event at Highmark Stadium - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
