Aztex Take on Familiar Foes on the Road

Published on September 14, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas (www.austinaztex.com) - Austin faces two road games in three days this week as it closes in on an end to the 2010 regular season and the beginning of the USSF D-2 Pro League playoffs, where the Aztex have already clinched a seat at the table.

Austin first travels to FC Tampa Bay at 6:30 p.m. (CST) on Thursday to play a squad who has played the Aztex to a near stalemate in three matches this season. The renewed Rowdies franchise scored equalizers in the 86th and 88th minutes in their first two matches against the Aztex to give each team a point in the standings. In August though, the potent Aztex attack overtook Tampa Bay, routing them with four first-half goals to claim a 4-2 victory at House Park.

Tampa Bay comes into the match having registered only one win since May 29, but its offense has not been to blame for the 1-7-9 record of late. The Rowdies have scored 14 goals in the past nine games and remain in the upper half of the league in goals scored on the season with 33. Leading scorer Aaron King has scored the third most goals in the league behind only Portland's Ryan Pore (15) and Austin's Eddie Johnson (13).

Meanwhile, AC St. Louis ranks second to last in the league in goals scored and third to last in goals allowed, which had been a recipe for disaster all season until hiring new coach Dale Schilly to take the reins. Under Schilly's command, AC St. Louis has a respectable 4-5-7 record and improbably has found itself back in the hunt for the playoffs after a ruinous 2-7-1 start to the season.

Against the Aztex though, AC St. Louis has dropped matches by scores of 2-1 and 2-0, both home and away. Austin's 2-1 victory was the first game played at Anheuser Busch Park for the first-year franchise and the Aztex later followed with another victory thanks to a pair of goals at House Park. All four of Austin's goals against St. Louis have been scored by different players.

The Aztex need just three more points to clinch the third seed in the USSF D-2 Pro League playoffs and are just two points behind Rochester (with two games in hand) for the top seed overall and rights to home field advantage throughout October.

Austin heads back to House for one more home game following this trip before finishing the season with two more on the road. Thursday's game at FC Tampa Bay can be seen streamed live at 6:30 p.m. (CST) on Tampa Bay's website: www.fctampabay.com/. Saturday's 7:10 p.m. (CST) kickoff will be streamed live on St. Louis' site: www.ac-stlouis.com/. Both matches can also be seen on the Aztex website: www.austinaztex.com. Watch parties for both events will be held at Mister Tramps in Austin (8565 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78758).

Game Notes:

Series History: Both clubs are new to the USSF D-2 Pro League this season and Austin has welcomed them with a 1-0-2 record against FC Tampa Bay and a 2-0-0 record against AC St. Louis. FC Tampa Bay stole two victories early in the season from the Aztex with late equalizers at home and on the road, but Austin avenged the draws with four first-half goals in the third game of four this year. Austin plays AC St. Louis in back-to-back games with the away game Saturday and a home game on September 25. Austin was the first opponent to play both FC Tampa Bay and AC St. Louis in their new home stadiums this season.

Fight to the Finish: Four teams have clinched a playoff spot so far: Austin, Rochester, Portland and Vancouver. Carolina can clinch its spot with a win Wednesday night against NSC Minnesota, while no teams have been mathematically eliminated yet. Austin needs just three more points to clinch at least the third seed and either three points by Rochester and/or five points from Austin gives the USL Conference the guaranteed top seed in the playoffs.

Battle For the Boot: Thursday's game matches up the second and third top goal scorers in the league in the Aztex Eddie Johnson and Rowdies' striker Aaron King. Johnson was out last game at Puerto Rico due to yellow card accumulation but scored both his team's goals in their win against NSC Minnesota. King last scored against Vancouver on August 19 to send the Rowdies to a draw against the NASL Conference's top team. Johnson has 13 goals on the year and King has 9.

Offense Doesn't Come Easy: Last game the Aztex managed just five shots at Puerto Rico, which tied their lowest output of the season. Along with the season-low shot total, the Aztex racked up 20 fouls, which tied a season high set on May 8 against Tampa Bay. Offensive help could be on the way though against St. Louis. The Aztex have averaged six corner kicks a game against them - more than two above their season average and piled up 27 shots in their last matchup. Additionally, the Aztex have nine goals against Tampa Bay this season alone, which is their second highest goal total against any opponent behind only their total against Miami FC (13).

Rebound: Following its three losses this season, Austin is a perfect 3-0-0. The Aztex bounced back from a losses to Rochester, Vancouver and Puerto Rico with wins at NSC Minnesota, against Miami FC and against Carolina.

Score Early and Lead Late For Victory: This season, Austin is 13-2-1 when scoring first and 13-0-2 when leading after 75 minutes of play. The Aztex also like playing in high-scoring affairs and have accumulated a 14-0-3 record when scoring at least two goals. AC St. Louis has scored two goals or more just five times all season, while FC Tampa Bay has done it 10 times.

Injury Report: Midfielders Lawrence Olum (Groin), Joey Worthen (Hamstring) and Stephan Campbell (Groin) are still nursing injuries and remain out for the two road games this week. The L.A. Galaxy lost a defender due to injury and have recalled Yohance Marshall for the time being, but it is expected Marshall will be back with the Aztex before the end of the regular season to resume the title chase. Defender Jay Needham is returning to the club for the first game since August 22, when he left at halftime with an injured hamstring.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from September 14, 2010


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