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Aztex Gear up for Battle with Tampa Bay

August 5, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas (www.austinaztex.com) - The first-place Austin Aztex take the field at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday at House Park to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies; a team that has used late goals to snatch away victories from the Aztex in two meetings this season.

Austin's first encounter with Tampa came on May 8. The Aztex led the game 2-1 going into the final 10 minutes until Jeremy Christie put one away in 83 rd minute to tie the game at 2-2.

Tampa had similar fortune in the May 18 meeting between the two teams. Austin again had the lead late in the game, but this time in the 88thminute, Tampa midfielder Gordon Kljestan rifled a free kick into the back of the net to tie the game at three.

Austin is confident it can take the three points that has now been taken away twice due to its recent defensive performance.

In four games through the month of July, Austin gave up only two goals. In that same stretch, the Aztex posted consecutive shutouts for the first time all season.

Since its last meeting with Tampa, Austin also has only given up two or more goals in a game once.

While the Aztex defense has gotten tighter, the offense has hit full stride once again. Austin, the highest scoring team in the league, has found the back of the net five times in its previous two matches. Each of the five goals were scored by a different player as Maxwell Griffin, Jamie Watson, Eddie Johnson, Lawrence Olum and Kendell McFayden have all scored goals in Aztex last two games.

The rookie McFayden's late goal was the first of his career and sealed the Aztex 3-1 victory over Miami FC on July 31. Johnson's goal was his first since scoring two against Miami on June 26. The league's second leading scorer spearheads an Austin attack that features three of the top four goal scorers in the league in Johnson, M. Griffin and J. Watson.

The Aztex duel with Tampa Bay will be the third of four matches to be played by the two teams this season (September 16 at Tampa Bay). Austin is seeking to extend its six-game unbeaten with a victory.

During the game, the Aztex are also hosting the Austin Police Department, AISD Police, Austin Fire Department, and the Austin-Travis County EMS, who will all be honored for their hard work during halftime. The units will bring a police car, fire truck and ambulance for children that will be available for kids to play with at the State Farm Kids Zone before and during the game.

The Aztex travel out of the country for its next match on August 14 at Puerto Rico. The road trip is the team's first since July 9 when the club played to a scoreless draw at Rochester.



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 5, 2010


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