The Aztex announced their 2008 Under-23 Roster on Thursday, April 24, at a press conference held at SoccerZone North in Cedar Park. Sorry, I couldn’t be there myself; but the lineup looks pretty solid. My further first impressions from yesterday are repeated below.
The Austin Aztex announced their 2008 roster Thursday, April 24, in a media event at SoccerZone North in Cedar Park. We got a sneak peek, and recognized a few names that local fans may be familiar with: veteran local goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo;
St. Stephen’s grad A.J. Godbolt, who had a brief stint with Major league Soccer’s Kansas City Wizards; Round Rock’s Zack Pope, recently drafted out of Duke University by the Chicago Fire; and veteran defender Beto Papandrea, the oldest player on the squad at 32. Also making the cut: both Wes Allen and Marcellino Uriarte, the two center midfielders profiled in Thomas Hackett‘s “Playing Through” column April 4. Way to pick ’em, Thomas. The Aztex season opens the weekend after next, on the road in El Paso; the first home game is May 10 against the also-brand-new Houston Leones.
The full roster:
1. Miguel Gallardo Goalkeeper 24-10-84 6 ‘1″ 179lbs. PDL save leader 2005-2006 season
2. Andy Taylor Defender 28-12-85 5′ 11″ 185lbs. Oklahoma City University; Native of Liverpool, England
3. Zack Pope Defender 20-03-86 5′ 7″ 140lbs Duke University Grad; MLS Chicago Fire ’08 draft pick
4. Kieron Bernard Defender 02-08-85 6 ‘3″ 190lbs. San Jacinto College; Captain U17, U20, U23 Jamaican National Teams
5. Beto Papandrea Defender 21-04-76 6′ 0″ 180lbs. UT-Austin Grad; Player/Coach of National Semi-Finalist Real Madrid-Austin
6. Ezual Lewis Midfield 19-04-84 5 ‘7″ 160lbs. St. Edward’s University; Former member U20 Jamaican National Team
7. Jorge Vega Midfield 05-01-87 5′ 6″ 155lbs Hardin-Simmons University; District MVP at Manor HS 2006
8. Marcel Uriarte Midfield 05-06-79 6′ 0″ 172lbs St. Edward’s University Grad; PDL All-Conference 2007
9. Edgar Alvarez Forward 14-09-86 5′ 11″ 150lbs. San Jacinto College; Holds record at Mayde Creek HS for career goals scored
10. AJ Godbolt Midfield 07-03-84 5′ 10″ 175lbs. University of Maryland Grad; MLS Kansas City Wizards ’07 draft pick
11. Andres Cuero Forward 07-08-89 5′ 10″ 165lbs. UNC-Charlotte; Preseason Atlantic-10 All Rookie selection
12. Craig Hill Goalkeeper 27-12-87 6′ 1″ 192lbs Southern Methodist University; 2005 NSCAA All-American at Reagan HS
13. Joshua Alcala Defender 05-01-84 5’9″ 165lbs. University of South Carolina Grad; Played for USL-2 Crystal Palace USA
14. Carlos Vicens Midfield 12-02-83 5’7″ 151lbs. UT-Austin; Played for RCD Mallorca in Spain
15. Westley Allen Midfield 17-09-86 6′ 1″ 170lbs UT-Austin; 3rd Team Freshman All-American at Oakland University
16. BJ Olonilua Forward 10-01-86 6′ 1″ 160lbs. UT-Austin; Native of Kingwood, TX
17. Abdiel Amador Midfield 07-07-98 5’8″ 145lbs. Texas A&M International University; Edinburg North HS
18. Chris Spendlove Defender 18-12-84 5’10” 170lbs Oklahoma City University; Native of Liverpool, England
19. Jamie Scope Defender 16-12-86 6′ 4″ 192lbs University of Incarnate Word; Native of Newcastle, England
21. Austin Da Luz Midfield 09-10-87 5′ 10″ 160lbs. Wake Forest University; 2007 NCAA National Champion
This article appears in April 25 • 2008.