
Aztex Take Two-Game West Coast Road Trip
August 25, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Austin Aztex News Release
AUSTIN, Texas (www.austinaztex.com) - After a playoff-clinching victory on Sunday at House Park, the Austin Aztex head west for a two-game swing at Portland on Thursday and at Vancouver on Sunday. These two opponents will arguably make for Austin's toughest weekend of the season as Vancouver is ranked third overall in the USSF D-2 Pro League and tops the NASL Conference, while Portland sits just below the Aztex in the USL Conference table.
Austin clinched its playoff spot when it won its 13th game of the year - nearly triple its total from 2009. The Aztex have also shattered their record for goals in a season, while their trio of leading scorers (Eddie Johnson, Max Griffin, Jamie Watson) are amongst the league leaders in every offensive category and have outscored two teams in the league by themselves.
Despite the trio's offensive progress though, the league's leading scorer all season has been Portland's Ryan Pore. The forward has 13 goals for the Timbers this season, three ahead of Johnson's total, and 29 points, six ahead of the Aztex high scorer.
Portland comes into the match on a three-game unbeaten streak, with three of its previous four results ending 1-0. The MLS-bound Timbers have made their mark on the league through their stout defense this season, allowing the third fewest goals in the league. The offense has fired away the most shots in the league, but managed to score only 23 goals - 17 less than the Aztex.
Austin defeated Portland last year in the Aztex only game at PGE Park and deadlocked with the Timbers, 0-0, at House Park this season.
Much like Portland, Vancouver has not had the most prolific offense this season, but has dominated the league on the defensive end of the pitch. The Whitecaps have allowed a league-low 16 goals for an average of a meager 0.67 goals per game. Vancouver handed Austin one of its three losses this year on June 12 at House Park, despite the fact that the Aztex got on the board first. It was the Aztex lone loss this season after scoring first (12-1-1) and only their third in two years (18-3-5).
Vancouver, also headed to the MLS next season, is one of just two teams in the league Austin has yet to defeat, going 0-3-1 against the Whitecaps in four tries.
Thursday's road trip begins what will become a familiar scene for the Aztex, who close the year with five of the last six games on the road and seven of the last nine overall coming away from House Park.
The match against Portland can be seen live Thursday at 9 p.m. (CST) on Portland's website: http://www.portlandtimbers.com/. Sunday's match against Vancouver will be streamed live at: http://www.whitecapsfc.com at 6 p.m. (CST). Both matches will also be streamed live on the Aztex website: www.austinaztex.com.
Game Notes:
Series Histories: Austin has not had much luck with either of its west coast foes to date, garnering just one win in eight tries against the two clubs combined. Last season at Portland, the Aztex defeated the Timbers 2-1 after falling behind early on an own goal and have a 1-2-1 series record overall after tying the Timbers at House Park this season. Against Vancouver, the Aztex are 0-3-1, including an 0-1 record against the Whitecaps this season.
Contrasting Styles: Austin and its opponents average just more than three goals per game combined, while both Portland and Vancouver average well below two goals per game against their challengers. In fact, Austin has only played in seven matches all season where the teams combined for two goals or less, while Portland has played in 16 such games (of 23 total) and Vancouver in 12 (of 24 total).
Double-digit Fouls: The Aztex are 12-0-2 this season when committing between 11 and 19 fouls. Two of their three losses came when they've only been whistled 10 times or less.
Second Half Goals: Austin is 11-0-2 when scoring in the second half, which includes the Aztex last victory against Carolina when they scored two to put the game away late.
Lucky 16: In three straight games, Austin has taken exactly 16 shots and has allowed exactly eight in the past two.
Rookie Moving Up: Max Griffin passed Jamie Watson on the Aztex all-time list of leading scorers with an assist against Carolina. Griffin now has 19 total points this season on seven goals and five assists, while Watson has been stuck on 18 points since he has been held out of the past two games.
Injury Report: Jamie Watson has been given the go-ahead to play this weekend, coming back from a hairline fracture in his collarbone, which kept him out of the last two games. Stephan Campbell remains out with an injury to his groin, but the rest of the squad is fit and ready to play. However, Yordany Alvarez will not travel with the team from Portland to Vancouver due to international travel issues.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 25, 2010
- RailHawks Break Franchise Record with 2-1 Win in Tampa - North Carolina FC
- Timbers Play Host to Austin, Baltimore at PGE Park This Week - Portland Timbers
- Aztex Take Two-Game West Coast Road Trip - Austin Aztex
- Timbers Sign Defender Kevin Goldthwaite for Remainder of 2010 Season - Portland Timbers
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.
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