Aztex U-23 vs. El Paso Patriots Pre-Game Thread

[VioletCrown]

Our guys start their season away (in case you didn't know already):

Sat May 3 @ El Paso Patriots (http://www.elpaso-patriots.com/) 7:30 PM

(Chapulin may prefer looking at the picture on this link (http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/22323.html))

El Paso has been around since 1991 -- LOTS of history out there! They've been in the A-League (now USL-1), and lost to the Richmond Kickers in the last Open Cup before MLS joined the tournament. Check out their history here (http://www.elpaso-patriots.com/History/index_E.html) (hmmm. Looks like they wimped out and just copied league history for the later stuff).

They beat Miami FC (USL-1) in the Open Cup last year (http://www.usopencup.com/firstround/189315.html) on PKs.

They finished 2nd to the Laredo Heat last year in our division. So it will be a serious test for our boys right out of the gate.

I know there were a couple people considering making the trip. If you do, be sure to give us a report as soon as you can!

...Hmmm. It looks like we may be able to listen to (or maybe even watch) this one online (http://www.elpaso-patriots.com/home/181316.html)!

PS. Remember, they're in a different time zone out there!

[chapulincolorado]

The day I have a bidness trip to Austin.....& Aztex play somewhere else! :mad::( Oh. Well. Go Aztex! :D

[sokaymckay]

Divided we fall, AS TEXans we stand! :)

[Roma_Wolves]

El Paso has been around since 1991 -- LOTS of history out there! They've been in the A-League (now USL-1), and lost to the Richmond Kickers in the last Open Cup before MLS joined the tournament.


Actually they lost to the Battery last year in the Open Cup. The Battery then beat the Dynamo too before FC Dallas finally stood up for Texas and put them down.

[Roma_Wolves]

Anyways, I can't find any 2007 PDL records anywhere, but I'm pretty sure the Lightning started against El Paso last year with a two game away weekend. The lost one and won one if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately the one they lost was also an Open Cup qualifier match and the other was just a regular league match. But the point is, if the Lightning could pull out a win against El Paso last year, maybe they'll start weak again this season; and I think this team will be better.

[Roma_Wolves]

Ok I found it. They played the Pats 4 times:
May 4
Austin 0:1 Pats
May 5
Austin 2:1 Pats
May 26
Pats 0:2 Austin
Jun 29
Pats 1:0 Austin (forfeit)

The results are backwards (American style) so the second team is home.

http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2007/22297.html

[VioletCrown]

El Paso has been around since 1991 -- LOTS of history out there! They've been in the A-League (now USL-1), and lost to the Richmond Kickers in the final of the last Open Cup before MLS joined the tournament.

Actually they lost to the Battery last year in the Open Cup. The Battery then beat the Dynamo too before FC Dallas finally stood up for Texas and put them down.

I forgot three key words in my sentence, which I've now edited in the above. What I was trying to point out is that the Patriots lost in the Open Cup Final. Back in '95 or so. The year is on their history page.

[VioletCrown]

Ok I found it. They played the Pats 4 times:
May 4
Austin 0:1 Pats
May 5
Austin 2:1 Pats
May 26
Pats 0:2 Austin
Jun 29
Pats 1:0 Austin (forfeit)

The results are backwards (American style) so the second team is home.

http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2007/22297.html

Actually, those are pretty good results against the team that finished second in our group. Assuming that the Aztex are a serious upgrade over the Lightning, I'm hopeful that we'll give the Heat a run for the final.

But what I'd really like to see is the Aztex winning this weekend, plus these games:

5/10 Houston Leones @ Austin Aztex
5/17 DFW Tornados @ Austin Aztex
5/23 Austin Aztex @ Laredo Heat

Because that would put us in the Open Cup.

[VioletCrown]

The day I have a bidness trip to Austin.....& Aztex play somewhere else! :mad::( Oh. Well. Go Aztex! :D

So, Chapulin, when are you getting here and how long will you be here? We should all get together and meet this mysterious valley boy face-to-face.

[chapulincolorado]

So, Chapulin, when are you getting here and how long will you be here? We should all get together and meet this mysterious valley boy face-to-face.

:D I am only in Austin for Saturday (5/3). On Sunday, I am heading to SA for the Cinco de Mayo (http://www.sanantoniosoccer.com/) tournament.

[Barbaro]

So, it doesn't sound like a lot of folks are going to El Paso for the opener. Here's a really pathetic idea: Would anyone else be interested in a supporters' outing, if we could talk some bar into hooking the webcast into a TV?
*****y video's better than watching it on a computer?

8:30 Saturday night -- pretty crowded time, at any self-respecting sports bar ...

[VioletCrown]

So, it doesn't sound like a lot of folks are going to El Paso for the opener. Here's a really pathetic idea: Would anyone else be interested in a supporters' outing, if we could talk some bar into hooking the webcast into a TV?
*****y video's better than watching it on a computer?

8:30 Saturday night -- pretty crowded time, at any self-respecting sports bar ...

Absolutely.

I was thinking something smaller, like at someone's house that's not mine because I don't know/have the technology.:)

We've been getting together at Mother Egan's and they've been supportive and not that crowded. But I don't know how busy it'd be or at what point the NBA playoffs will be in.

I've made some small attempts to confirm the 'video' hookup on the Patriots website (emailed a couple people, no response so far). Haven't ever tried it. I'd hate to bug a bar if it's not video but just audio.

But, yeah, I'm totally into the idea!

[VioletCrown]

Alternately, Sherlock's is an Aztex sponsor. I'm sure their TVs will all be tuned to the NBA, but we could maybe ask. But I'd like to hear a couple more 'yes!' before I start calling around.

[Barbaro]

Alternately, Sherlock's is an Aztex sponsor. I'm sure their TVs will all be tuned to the NBA, but we could maybe ask. But I'd like to hear a couple more 'yes!' before I start calling around.
Though, of course, we'd get more 'yes'es if we spread the word more. Catch-22.
I'd be willing to show up somewhere even if it were just audio, and we could say we had a first meeting of a Supporters Club.
I can put something into the Chronicle, if we decide to do something by about 3pm tomorrow.

[Barbaro]

Though, of course, we'd get more 'yes'es if we spread the word more. Catch-22.
I'd be willing to show up somewhere even if it were just audio, and we could say we had a first meeting of a Supporters Club.
I can put something into the Chronicle, if we decide to do something by about 3pm tomorrow.
Or, errr, perhaps there's already been a first meeting of the supporters group...

[VioletCrown]

Though, of course, we'd get more 'yes'es if we spread the word more. Catch-22.
I'd be willing to show up somewhere even if it were just audio, and we could say we had a first meeting of a Supporters Club.
I can put something into the Chronicle, if we decide to do something by about 3pm tomorrow.

I've sent off an email to the Patriots. I haven't been able to find the link that I found yesterday, but I had it in my history and the page is still there.

I'll post as soon as I hear from them.

I also checked with the team, and they suggested we check with Sherlock's. So that's where I'll start, assuming the Patriots do indeed webcast.

[Roma_Wolves]

Is Sherlock's that place on the other side of Burnet from the Soccer Post?

[VioletCrown]

Is Sherlock's that place on the other side of Burnet from the Soccer Post?

Yes.

[VioletCrown]

Well, crap. It's up in the air. I called the Patriots, and they're needing to get league approval. The USL uses one company for online video, the Patriots used a different one last year. Since the Patriots aren't USL-1, it shouldn't matter, but as with all things, league approval, blah, blah, blah.

So the person I spoke with said that they'll post something on their website as soon as they know, but there's no telling when/if it will happen.

So, no go on being able to publish anything in the Chronicle, I'm afraid. Thanks for offering, Nick! We'll just have to keep hitting the Patriots website (http://www.elpaso-patriots.com/index.html) to see.

The person I spoke with did say that the USL agreements for webcasting are video, so the Patriots are intending, at a minimum, to do an audio cast of the game Saturday night. There's no conflicting agreements there.

I've checked with Sherlock's and am expecting a call back this afternoon from the manager. The person I spoke with was enthusiastic, so this is sounding hopeful. They have wifi (who doesn't now?), and the person I spoke with seemed confident that the audio would stream well enough. Me, I don't do wifi yet, so I don't know how well it'd work.

Now, all we need is some people to agree to bring their laptops and speakers. Anyone want to stop by there sometime and test the technology?

[Roma_Wolves]

I say we should meet anyway. Cuatro de Mayo meeting to come up with songs and anti Leones chants? And if we can get the Stoke game on radio or video feed, all the better.