Austin Aztex U23
Encyclopedia
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2007, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games in Dragon Stadium on the campus of Round Rock High School
Round Rock High School
Round Rock High School is a 5A high school within the Round Rock Independent School District in Round Rock, Texas. During the late 1990s, it was the largest high school in Central Texas.Five middle schools feed into this school:*Chisholm Trail Middle School...
. The team's colors were red and white.
The team was part of the official development system of the Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex FC was an American professional soccer team based in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the USL First Division, and in the USL Division of the USSF D2 Pro League, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
franchise, which also has an affiliation with English Premier League club Stoke City.
History
The Aztex originally joined the PDL as a 2008 expansion franchise, and were initially named Austin Stampede, but were re-branded after their controlling shares were bought by Austin Football Holdings LLC, (AFH). The team made its professional debut on 3 May 2008 in a 0-0 tie away to El Paso PatriotsEl Paso Patriots
Chivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
, and picked up its first victory in the next game, 2-0 at home to Houston Leones
Houston Leones
Houston Leones was an American soccer team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Founded in 2007, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference...
off goals by A. J. Godbolt
A. J. Godbolt
Aaron John "A. J." Godbolt is an American soccer player, currently without a club.-College and Amateur:...
and Robin Martinez. The Aztex enjoyed an auspicious beginning to their debut season, winning six of their next seven games, including a 4-0 thrashing of DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados was an American soccer team based in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1986, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference...
that features a hat-trick from striker Andres Cuero
Andres Cuero
Andres Cuero is an American soccer player currently playing for Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
. The team's positive early season form also saw them qualify for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
at the first time of asking, where they managed to hold USL1 side Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
to a 2-2 tie before ultimately 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out; Jamie Watson
Jamie Watson (soccer)
Jamie Watson is an American soccer player who currently plays for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-College:...
and Willy Guadarrama scored Austin's goals. Austin's impressive form continued through June and early July with three more home victories, but in the final games of the regular the team stuttered, losing three on the bounce, including a 1-3 turnaround to El Paso Patriots
El Paso Patriots
Chivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
, their worst defeat of the season. Nevertheless, the team's early and mid-season consistency kept them at the top of the Mid South Division division, finishing the season as champions, three points ahead of second place Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat is an American soccer team based in Laredo, Texas, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference....
, and into the Southern Conference playoffs. A 2-1 victory over Southeast Division runners-up Bradenton Academics
Bradenton Academics
The Bradenton Academics are an American soccer team based in Bradenton, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference.The team is associated with...
put the Aztex into the Conference final, where they were overrrun by a resurgent Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat
Laredo Heat is an American soccer team based in Laredo, Texas, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference....
who, despite having been beaten twice by the Aztex during the regular season, put them away with a 3-1 scoreline. Also in 2008, the Aztex played an exhibition match at home against the popular Mexican team Tigrés, coming away on the wrong end of a respectable 2-1 scoreline. Jamie Watson
Jamie Watson (soccer)
Jamie Watson is an American soccer player who currently plays for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-College:...
and Andres Cuero
Andres Cuero
Andres Cuero is an American soccer player currently playing for Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
were the Aztex's top scorers, with 7 and 5 goals respectively, and Watson topped the assists sheet too, with three to his name. Miguel Gallardo
Miguel Gallardo
Miguel Gallardo is a Mexican footballer who currently plays for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and Amateur:Gallardo grew up in Round Rock, Texas, and attended Westwood High School...
enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics in the PDL, with a goals-against average of 0.615 per game, and keeping 9 clean sheets in his 13 games.
Final squad
vs. West Texas United SockersWest Texas United Sockers
West Texas United Sockers is an American soccer team based in Midland, Texas, United States. Founded in 2008, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
, July 22, 2009
Notable former players
- See also All-time Austin Aztex U23 rosterAll-time Austin Aztex U23 rosterThis list comprises all players who participated in at least one league match for Austin Aztex U23 from the team's first season in the USL Premier Development League in 2008 until their last in 2009...
Wes Allen
Wes Allen
Wes Allen is an American soccer player currently playing for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and Amateur:Allen grew up in Austin, Texas, attended L.C...
Kieron Bernard
Kieron Bernard
Kieron Bernard is a Jamaican footballer currently playing for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and amateur:...
Miguel Gallardo
Miguel Gallardo
Miguel Gallardo is a Mexican footballer who currently plays for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and Amateur:Gallardo grew up in Round Rock, Texas, and attended Westwood High School...
A. J. Godbolt
A. J. Godbolt
Aaron John "A. J." Godbolt is an American soccer player, currently without a club.-College and Amateur:...
Jeff Harwell
Jeff Harwell
Jeff Harwell is an American soccer player who currently plays for Austin Aztex in the USL First Division.-Youth and Amateur:...
Kyle Helton
Kyle Helton
Kyle Helton is an American soccer player who currently plays for Mjøndalen.-Youth and Amateur:Helton grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before moving to Alpharetta, Georgia, attended Milton High School, and played college soccer at Duke University where he earned a degree in economics and public policy...
Zach Pope
Zach Pope
Zach Pope is an American soccer player, currently without a club.-Youth and Amateur:Pope attended Stony Point High School, and played college soccer at Duke University on a partial soccer scholarship, graduating with a psychology degree and a minor in sociology.He was drafted in the third round ...
Chris Salvaggione
Chris Salvaggione
Chris Salvaggione is an American soccer player currently playing for Charlotte Eagles in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
Jamie Watson
Jamie Watson (soccer)
Jamie Watson is an American soccer player who currently plays for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-College:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Mid South | Conference Finals | 1st Round |
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid South | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify |
Stadia
- Dragon Stadium; Round Rock, TexasRound Rock, TexasRound Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
(2008–2009) - Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field; Waco, TexasWaco, TexasWaco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
1 game (2009) - Stadium at Bastrop High SchoolBastrop High SchoolBastrop High School is a 4A high school located in Bastrop, Texas . It is part of the Bastrop Independent School District located in central Bastrop County.-Athletics:The Bastrop Bears compete in the following sports:...
; Bastrop, TexasBastrop, Texas-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there are 5340 people in Bastrop, organized into 2034 households and 1336 families. The population density is 734.8 people per square mile . There are 2,239 housing units at an average density of 308.1 per square mile...
1 game (2009) - Bobcat Soccer Complex; San Marcos, TexasSan Marcos, TexasSan Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
1 game (2009)
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.- 2008: 1,166
- 2009: 240