Soccer Watch

The Austin Aztex finished the regular season Saturday with what turned out to be a meaningless 1-0 loss in New Orleans; they're off to Ocala, Fla., this weekend for the Premier Development League Southern Conference playoffs, where they face the host, Ocala Stampede, Friday, 7pm. The other semifinal pits the Orlando City U23s against the Laredo Heat, and the winners face off Sunday, 4pm, for the Southern Conference title. If they survive that, the Aztex would have a chance to host the national semifinals the weekend of July 27-29; the PDL Championship game follows on Saturday, Aug. 4.

The Aztex put up some big numbers in the regular season – ranking fourth in the 73-team league in scoring (40 goals) and goal differential (+27), and tied for sixth for fewest goals allowed (13). They also led the Southern Conference in each of those categories; let's hope that means something in the playoffs... Former Aztex forward Sullivan Silva, now with the Thunder Bay Chill, led the PDL in scoring with 13 goals and 6 assists. The Aztex's Kris Tyrpak (10 goals, 23 points), Kekuta Manneh (10 goals), and Chuy Cortes (6 assists), were in the Top 10 in those categories.

Another "summer of soccer" tour kicked off Wednesday, as some 16 major international teams play a series of exhibition games around the U.S. in the next few weeks, earning some money and travel time in the European pre-pre-season. The visitors include Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, AC Milan, Roma, Paris SG, and several other British and French giants. No games in Texas; wonder if someone told them about the climate.