Soccer Watch

The Austin Aztex will announce a key signing today: defender Leonard Griffin, 27, who's been on three Major League Soccer teams, most recently the L.A. Galaxy, before losing the whole 2009 season to injury. Griffin's résumé also includes a couple of youth national teams and an NCAA title at UCLA. More signings are in the works, but no names yet. It better be soon, because it's just over two weeks now until the preseason opener. The Aztex will open against the Houston Dynamo Sunday, March 7, 1pm at the Carl Lewis Track Stadium, in addition to the previously announced March 14 return date in Austin ... which may be the last game the Aztex play at Nelson Field, because – surprise, surprise – it looks like the House Park renovations will be done ahead of schedule, in time for the regular-season opener, Sunday, April 11, against the defending champion, Montreal Impact. Very exciting.

Aztex big brothers, England's Stoke City, advanced to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup by beating Manchester City 3-1 on Wednesday.

Fox Soccer Plus debuts March 1 with lots of games from Italy and various English competitions, plus rugby from England and Europe. Not sure yet which providers will carry it in Austin.

Women's Professional Soccer announced its expanded 24-game schedule this week; with two expansion teams and the demise of the Los Angeles Sol, the WPS now has eight teams, and the season will run April 10-Sept. 12.