Aztex Thump Colorado Springs; Vancouver Up Next

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Sainey Touray scored the franchise's first professional goal. (by Carlos Barron; courtesy of Austin Aztex)

The Austin Aztex had a successful pro debut Saturday evening, beating the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 2-0, before 4,105 fans. Next up, the Aztex host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, in the lone mid-week date on the 14-game home schedule. 8pm at House Park.

The Aztex dictated the play pretty much throughout against Colorado Springs, dominating the midfield, and limiting the Switchbacks to long-range shots and hopeful long balls over the top. Goals came from the Aztex’ international squad: Gambian youngster Sainey Touray late in the first half, and his second-half replacement, Trinidadian international Trevin Caesar midway through the second. But special credit as well to midfielder Lance Rozeboom, who dominated the center of the field, and defender Kalen Ryden, who was the designated chaser on most of the Switchbacks long-ball attempts, and was equal to the task every time.

The crowd of 4,105 set a regular-season record for the fourth-year franchise – just short of the 4,754 who came to last season’s PDL playoff game. By comparison, that was the third-largest crowd in the country, among the 12 games on the first full weekend of USL play – trailing Tulsa’s 8,335 and Louisville’s announced 6,067. The atmosphere and amenities were a big upgrade from anything previously seen at House Park: rigid seatbacks and extra leg room for the preferred seating sections, good trailer food options – and they pulled off the much-anticipated Shiner Beer Garden without a hitch. Good work.

The Austin Aztex 2015 Schedule:
(Home games in bold)

Sat., March 28, 8pm Colorado Springs
Wed., Apr. 1, 8pm Vancouver
Sat., Apr. 4, 7pm at Tulsa
Sat., Apr. 11, 8pm Arizona
Sun., Apr. 19, 7pm at LA
Sat., Apr. 25, 8pm Colorado Springs
Fri., May 1, 8pm OKC
Sat., May 9, 8pm Real Monarchs
Sat., May 16, 9:30pm at Arizona
Sat., May 23, 8pm Tulsa
Sun., May 31, 7pm at OKC
Sat., June 6, 10pm at Sacramento
Sun., June 14, 8pm at Portland
Sat., June 20, 8pm Tulsa
Sat., June 27, 8pm Sacramento
Fri., July 3, 8pm at Colorado Springs
Sat., July 11, 8pm at Real Monarchs (Salt Lake City)
Fri., July 17, 8pm Arizona
Sat., July 25, 9:30pm at Arizona
Sat., Aug. 1, 8pm Portland
Sat., Aug. 8, 9pm at Orange County
Sat., Aug. 15, 8pm LA
Sat., Aug. 22, 8pm Orange County
Sat., Aug. 29, 7pm at OKC
Sat., Sept. 5, 8pm Seattle
Wed., Sept. 9, 8pm at Colorado Springs
Thu., Sept. 17, 9:30pm at Seattle
Sun., Sept. 20, 5pm at Vancouver