Match Preview: Austin Aztex FC (0-0-2) vs. Cleveland City Stars (0-1-0)

Published on April 24, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Austin Aztex News Release


AUSTIN, Texas - In a year of firsts, the Austin Aztex FC welcome in the USL-First Division's other first-year team when the Cleveland City Stars come to Austin and take on the Aztex on Saturday, April 25. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm at Nelson Field.

The City Stars entered this year's campaign after a successful 2008 USL-Second Division season in which the team defeated the Charlotte Eagles 2-1 to earn the USL-2 Championship crown.

The trip to Austin is the second straight road match for the City Stars to open the 2009 season. Cleveland looks to bounce back after a season-opening 3-1 loss at Miami FC and hopes to benefit from the return of veteran keeper Hunter Gilstrap, who missed last week's opener because he hadn't been cleared to play by his previous team, Martizburg United of the South African Premier League. Gilstrap has been a member of the City Stars since the team's inaugural season in 2007 and spent a year in the USL-1 with Miami FC in 2006.

The City Stars will also have defender Austin Washington on loan from the MLS Chicago Fire for the match. The 23-year old Washington was an all-West Coast Conference performer at Gonzaga University before being drafted 54th overall by Chicago in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.

After a pair of 1-1 ties against the Minnesota Thunder and defending USL-1 champion Vancouver Whitecaps, the Aztex look to get the full three points and earn the franchise's first victory in its inaugural season. The Aztex, which sits fourth in the standings, also hopes to avoid a repeat of the first two performances in which it fell behind early before defender Lyle Adams (Minnesota) and striker Gifton Noel-Williams (Vancouver) managed to find the back of the net and salvage a tie.

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