Austin Aztex News Release -- www.austinaztex.com
Friday, July 12, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Austin Aztex (9-1-1, 28 pts) host Oklahoma City FC (7-3-2, 23 pts) in Austin’s regular season home finale on Saturday night at House Park. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT. The match is filled with playoff implications for both squads as the Aztex and OKC FC are on top of the PDL Mid South Division at first and second, respectively.
“It definitely heightens the level of focus and intensity of the game,” Aztex defender Leone Cruz said. “Both teams are going to come out to win so that we can solidify our playoff berth.”
The Aztex need a win or a draw in order to secure a spot in the playoffs, and a win would secure the Aztex as 2013 Mid South Division Champions. In addition, the Aztex need seven out of a possible nine remaining points from their final three games to win the right to host the Southern Conference Championships in Austin.
OKC FC, on the other hand, need three points to try and wrestle the division championship from Austin’s grasp. In addition, OKC FC are trying to hold off the Laredo Heat for a spot in the playoffs, and a win Saturday night would help hold off the Heat. On Thursday night, OKC FC travelled to Laredo and settled for a 1-1 draw.
OKC FC were without their top scoring weapon Adam Black Thursday evening versus the Heat. Black served a suspension received resulting from a red card from the team’s prior match. Black, who is tied for third in the PDL in goals scored with 10, is expected to be back in the fold Saturday night versus the Aztex.
Outside of Black, OKC FC’s squad have split the scoring load evenly. Two players, Nicolas Alberto and Kevin Cabello, have scored three goals apiece while seven other players have scored at least one goal.
Tactically, the matches between the Aztex and OKC FC take a different shape each match. In their first game, Aztex head coach Paul Dalglish countered OKC FC’s direct style by utilizing 6-foot-5 forward Tucker Hume, who scored the game-winning goal at the end of the match. In the second match between the squads at House Park, Aztex forward Kris Typrak scored two goals in a 3-2 victory. OKC FC recovered and held the Aztex to a scoreless draw in the third match between the squads.
“They have changed their formation every single time,” Tyrpak said. “They played with three backs last time (in OKC) and the time before they played with four. It all depends on what they come out with and how we can adjust.”
In goal, OKC FC has kept an even rotation between Ray Clark and Brian Byars. Both goalkeepers have played an even 540 minutes on the season. However, Byars kept the Aztex scoreless in their previous game, earning a spot on the following USL PDL team of the week. Byars sat out OKC FC’s match Thursday in Laredo and will be rested for Saturday’s match if he receives the starting nod. Byars has allowed fewer goals than Clark, averaging 0.833 goals allowed versus an even 2.000 by Clark.
Aztex goalkeeper Devin Cook will look forward to the challenge presented Saturday. Cook leads all goalkeepers in the league in goals allowed (5), wins (8), and goals-against-average (0.500). Cook is also in second place in shutouts with six.
Cook’s rankings are a testament not only to his stellar individual efforts in goal, but also to the team’s defensive work ethic. With strong collective defending along the backline and the remaining players all pressing up top, the Aztex have limited their opponents to an average just more than four shots per game. However, the Aztex defenders are aware that of the six goals they have allowed so far in the PDL, three have come at the hands of OKC FC.
“I think we have prepared well,” Cruz said. “We have played OKC FC a few times and got to see how they approach us and work against our tactics. We are confident in our preparations and to go out and give a good performance in front of our home fans.”
In the midfield, Zachary Garcia and Tony Rocha will be called on to contain Black while Andres Cuero looks to continue to ride his hot streak. Cuero leads the Aztex in all competitions with eight goals and is making a late season surge up the PDL’s charts for points and goals.
The Aztex will see attacking options Kris Tyrpak and Tony Rocha return from their brief training spell with Houston Dynamo’s first team.