Didn't see a thread on this, but did see the Aztexan blog item on "schedule congestion" caused by the open cup games, as follows: 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Structure Finalized — ussoccer.com Want to see a bad case of schedule congestion? Check out what June looks like for the Aztex (and other USL-1 teams, presumably). This assumes, of course, that they'll advance through qualifying. Which they will. 5th (Fri.) vs. Charleston Battery @ home 7th (Sun.) vs. Charleston Battery @ home 9th (Tue.) Open Cup First Round 12th (Fri.) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders @ Puerto Rico 14th (Sun.) vs. Miami FC @ Miami 16th (Tue.) Open Cup Second Round 19th (Fri.) vs. Carolina Railhawks @ home 21st (Sun.) vs. Rochester Rhinos @ Rochester 27th (Sat.) vs. Cleveland City Stars @ Cleveland 30th (Tue.) Open Cup Third Round July 3rd (Fri.) vs. Cleveland City Stars @ Cleveland Does anyone know what the roster size maximums are for USL? Will the Aztex pull from the U23 roster to handle all these games, or do you think they'll try to sign more players?
Roster size maximum is 26, so there is room for 6 more players on the roster, but I've heard that Adrian prefers 20 -- it's better for coaching. At least, for him. So who knows whether they'll pick up players to handle the congestion or not. I'd like to think that, if they were to do so, they'd do it fairly soon so that the players will be well integrated by the time we hit June. On one of the other threads, someone pointed out that the Stoke Reserves are done with their season. The Aztex have said that they could get players from Stoke, so one possibility is that, after a breather, a couple of those guys could show up. I guess we'll find out as the season progresses. And, since I'm posting, I'll add in a link to the U23s qualifying. Well... we're not in last place. We must win all three of the remaining games, and hope Laredo loses one and ties one, as the first tiebreaker is head-to-head. That's a lot to hope for.
So the win by the Rio Grande Valley Bravos (what a mouth full) over the Houston Leones tonight puts a really interesting scenario for Austin to be able to make it in. By my take this is a very low probability of success. It would be best if the Dallas/Fort Worth Tornados (why does the website abbreviate that but not RGV?) tied the El Paso Patriots (as we would beat them on the head-to-head) tonight (anyone heard how that one ended?) Then DFW needs to beat West Texas but not score a lot more goals. In the final qualifying game, RGV needs to beat Laredo. Then the Aztex are a shoe in.
aww crap. According to the USL website El Pisso took the beatin stick to the Dumb.Fuk.Wannabies. El Pisso 3-0 DFW
And that officially eliminates the U23s. Oh, well. Next, they do the draw and we get to find out who the USL1 team will play, and where! June 9, just a couple weeks away!
So....remember that draw at Houston Leones weeks ago. http://www.usopencup.com/2009qual/PDL/303091.html Yeah. That cost us the U.S. Open Cup place. God I hate El Pisso.
Fuk James if you recal thats where the bad penalties, called against us, started. The last Match of the regular season, last year, in El Pisso Gallardo went in on a hard tackle, kinda like he did several times on Sun., and the ref called a fukin penalty, and again like on Sun. it was in the dying moments of the match.
http://www.usopencup.com/home/334056.html The actual draw will be revealed either today or Wednesday. Chivas USA Arizona Sahuaros (Reg. IV) Austin Aztex El Paso Patriots Nebraska (Reg. II)
Just to clarify, though the website is OpenCup.com, that's just a prediction they're making. And, yeah, El Paso are in the Open Cup instead of the U23s. And if that does indeed end up being our group, we'll be getting a VERY EASY one. Two USASA teams and a PDL team. A PDL team that our U23 team stomped. I can't wait to find out the draw. ...to clarify some more, use this webpage. It's a bracket, so we'll play one of the other three non-MLS teams. The remaining two non-MLS teams play each other, and we'd get the winner of that. Then Chivas. At which point it suddenly gets a LOT tougher.
YA THINK?!!! Man oh man wouldn't that just be are luck to have to play the leader in the MLS Supporters Shield chase in the second round.
(Unless you can't do it at work) If you clicked the link that I posted & read it, there no need for further clarification.
I just reviewed the PDL playoffs, and we weren't the only reserve side that nearly made it in. Portland's U23 team was barely nudged out by Kitsap. I'm a little disappointed. It would have been interesting to see how the USSF arranged the groups with two reserve sides in the tournament proper. ...and the other pairings are starting to leak out. We could find out any time who we play and where. My prediction, based on how well OpenCup.com has done so far with their guess: Nebraska. And I'll bet that Phil is working hard to host the game. It'd be better to stay here after the games against Charleston rather than squeezing in a trip somewhere on Tuesday/Wednesday before heading off to Puerto Rico on Thursday.
http://thekartikreport.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/us-open-cup-schedule/ 14 June 9 Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Austin Aztex (USL1) 7:30 p.m. CT Nelson Field; Austin, Texas
Ah. They went that direction. Too bad for Mississippi. They get moved over to an easier division, then get lumped in with us again. Only our USL1 squad. Glad we're hosting!
June 9. Not June 14. It's Game #14. Fri Jun 5 7:00 PM CDT Charleston at Austin Sun Jun 7 6:00 PM CDT Charleston at Austin Tue Jun 9 7:30 PM CDT Mississippi at Austin Fri Jun 12 7:00 PM CDT Austin at Puerto Rico Sun Jun 14 5:00 PM CDT Austin at Miami
And, hopefully Tue Jun 16 7:30 PM CDT El Paso at Austin See, there's more than one reason we needed more than 20 players on our roster.
Some thing tells me if the U23s can get er done against the Brilla, see last season, and El Pisso the pro side will manage just fine.
The official word on the Open Cup game Tuesday is the TBA ticket. From the front office "The Open Cup with be the Exhibition Game for Season Ticket holders and Founders Club members."