“Fans want to hold it. Kids want to touch it. Maybe they should think about making the Stanley Cup, maybe the World Cup, an armadillo.” – D.C. United’s Bobby Boswell, quoted in the Washington Post on the ATX Pro Challenge trophy, held here by D.C. United’s Miguel Aguilar, and coveted by D.C. United’s smallest fan Credit: photo by Stephen Easley

Last weekend’s ATX Pro Challenge – three MLS teams hosted by the Austin Aztex at UT’s Mike Myers Stadium – was a pretty big success by most any measure. There was a really nice atmosphere, with soccer balls being dribbled on most of the concourses, and a healthy tailgate party going on just outside the gates. The MLS teams seemed ecstatic – with both the atmosphere and the climate, not to mention the awesome Armadillo trophy. And the Aztex gave a pretty good account of themselves on the field, despite suffering two shutout losses. There were lapses in defense, and not much fluidity on attack, but that’s to be expected from a team that’s been practicing together for 10 days. The talent is there…

The Aztex preseason continues: They beat the Houston Dynamo in Houston on Wednes­day – 1-0 on an 86th-minute Chuy Cortes cross turned into an own goal – and are now home, playing a series of exhibition games over the next three Saturday afternoons against college teams who are in the middle of their own spring training. It’s SMU this Saturday, Feb. 21, 4pm; Incarnate Word, Feb. 28 at 4pm; and a double-header March 7: Southwestern at 3pm, St. Edward’s at 5pm.

All games are open to the public at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, 10211 W. Parmer.

The European Champions League Round of 16 started this week, and continues this coming week, Feb. 24-25. Fox Sports has a strong lineup: Manchester City-Barcelona Tuesday, and Arsenal-Monaco Wednesday, both at 1:45pm. Then it’s a week off before the return legs… The U.S. Women finished their two-game European trip with a 1-0 win over England last Friday; the Women’s World Cup kicks off June 6 in Canada.

This article appears in February 20 • 2015.

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