Soccer Watch
By Nick Barbaro, Fri., April 24, 2015
Whose House? Our House!
The Austin Aztex dropped a 2-1 decision at the LA Galaxy II last Sunday to fall to 2-3 on the season. The good news: They're back in the friendly confines of House Park for the next three weeks – in what feels like a key stretch of games in the early season. The Aztex have been playing well, but not getting results, and certainly not getting as many scoring chances as they expect to create in coach Paul Dalglish's wide-open style. Now's the time to make it happen – starting with Saturday's rematch with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, who've won a couple of games since the Aztex shut them out in the season opener. After that comes unbeaten Oklahoma City on Fri., May 1; and Real Monarchs Sat., May 9, all at 8pm. (There's also a Military Appreciation Night exhibition game against an All-Air Force team on Wednesday, May 6.)
With the season ticket deadline passed, the Aztex are now offering 3- and 5-game packages, where fans can pick the games they want to attend, plus a half season ticket, good for the remaining games starting June 20. www.austinaztex.com.
Congrats to the Vandegrift High girls, Liberty Hill boys, and Georgetown East View boys, who all made it to the state championship game last weekend in Georgetown... UT goalkeeper Abby Smith was among the players called into the U.S. U-23 women's national team camp this week, in advance of a three-game trip to Europe in May... Soccer Assist, a new local nonprofit, focuses on "helping lower income Austin area youth grow and develop through soccer." Their launch party today, Thursday, April 23, appears to be sold out at press time, but you can still donate or get info at www.soccerassist.org.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich breezed into the European Champions League semifinals Tuesday; Real Madrid and Juventus eked through to join them on Wednesday. The semis are May 5-6, 12-13, with the final June 6 in Berlin... The Concacaf Champions League final is under way as we go to press: Club América hosting Montreal – only the second non-Mexican team to make the CCL final since the current format started in 2009. Montreal hosts the return leg next Wednesday (7pm April 29, Fox, Univision).
Aztex vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Saturday, April 25, 8pm. House Park, 13th & Lamar.
