Aztex Advance in U.S. Open Cup
Second-round U.S. Open Cup Game Coming up Tuesday
By Nick Barbaro, 8:18PM, Wed. Jun. 10, 2009
The Austin Aztex bounced back from a bad loss to the Charleston Battery on Friday, and a first-minute red card Sunday, to come back and tie that game against the first-place Battery, and then dominate their first-round U.S. Open Cup game Tuesday, 2-0 over the Mississippi Brilla.
That sets up a second-round game hosting El Paso Tuesday, June 16, 7:30pm at Nelson Field, after a weekend road trip to Puerto Rico and Miami. Friday's Puerto Rico game (June 12, 7pm) is on Fox Soccer Channel, and there are at least two watch parties: at Cuatro's, 1004 W. 24th, and the Chronicle-hosted event at Nomad, 1211 Corona Dr., just off Cameron Road.
It was nice to see just about everyone back on the active roster this week, and to see some of the backups get their first starts or serious game time of the season in the Open Cup win. Of particular note: the three-quarters-local back line of Wes Allen and Gareth Evans in the middle, and Josh Alcala and Zach Pope on the wings, all played 90 minutes, and played very well (especially Pope's runs up the right side). Backup keeper Sam Reynolds was solid as well in his first action of the season. And Jeff Harwell – a 22-year-old midfielder out of Dallas Jesuit and SMU, still on an amateur contract with the U-23 team – seems to have found a regular spot on the senior roster. He hit a difficult volley for the tying goal against Charleston, earning USL Team of the Week honors, then had a goal and an assist in the 2-0 U.S. Open Cup win.
This week: The Aztex take their three-game-a-week grind on the road: The U.S. Open game was last night; as you read this, the Aztex are already on their way to Puerto Rico for a game Friday; Saturday they travel to Miami for a game Sunday; Monday they return home for the second-round U.S. Open Cup game Tuesday; then two whole days off before a game next Friday, and another Sunday. Whew. …
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