Allow me to introduce, if you don't know it already, the very worthy Free Beer Movement. The goals and tactics of this movement are simple, but profound:

The success of soccer in the United States depends on a larger and more supportive network of fans that attend games, watch them on TV, and spread their love and knowledge of the game to others.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer learned this evening from several reliable sources who both wished to remain anonymous, that there will be a USL-1 First division team playing in Minnesota in the summer of 2010.

One source close to the Team Owners Association (TOA) and United Soccer League (USL) impasse did not want to expound on who the owners of the team would be but did indicate that it would not be the current ownership group of the Thunder.

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Inside Minnesota Soccer learned this evening from several reliable sources who both wished to remain anonymous, that there will be a USL-1 First division team playing in Minnesota in the summer of 2010.

One source close to the Team Owners Association (TOA) and United Soccer League (USL) impasse did not want to expound on who the owners of the team would be but did indicate that it would not be the current ownership group of the Thunder.

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The Austin Aztex will announce today the hiring of Djorn Buchholz as Chief Executive Officer of the USL-1 franchise.

Buchholz, a 30-year-old Nebraska native, has been with the Minnesota Thunder for 6 years. He was hired as a sales and marketing manager and was promoted his second year to director of marketing.

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The Austin Aztex will announce today the hiring of Djorn Buchholz as Chief Executive Officer of the USL-1 franchise.

Buchholz, a 30-year-old Nebraska native, has been with the Minnesota Thunder for 6 years. He was hired as a sales and marketing manager and was promoted his second year to director of marketing.

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The Aztex have returned from their tour of England, victorious in all 3 of their exhibitions there. They also trained at top-flight facilities, attended a couple of Premier League matches, and even left a player behind for a trial in the big league.

• Game 1, Oct. 14 - Austin Aztex 1-0 Stoke City FC Academy
  This game was a bit of disappointment to some fans, as we had assumed that Stoke would field their first team, or at least some level of it, rather than the U18 academy squad.

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Los Rayados del Monterrey reciben la vista del equipo de Jaguares este Sábado 17 de Octubre, después de un receso en la liga de una semana, debido a la actividad de la selección nacional, el torneo regresa nuevamente a la actividad con la jornada 12.

Monterrey como local esta invicto, no ha perdido en todo el torneo en el estadio Tecnológico, eso es muy bueno, de los 5 partidos que ha jugado en el Tecnológico, solo uno fue empate contra Estudiantes en la jornada 6, los demás son triunfos.

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Rayados tiene que volver a la senda del triunfo, las tres derrotas en forma consecutiva duelen, aunque digan que dos ellas fueron partidos amistosos, son derrotas y calan.

Dice Vucetich, técnico de Rayados, que la gira fue muy productiva, y no lo dudo, por que les dio oportunidad de alinear a jugadores que han tenido poca actividad en el torneo, incluso pudo ver en acciones jugadores de la cantera, eso es muy bueno.

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Just a quick reminder: the Aztex are in England for the next week or so.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the Aztex players and for many of them this is the trip of a lifetime," said Rawlins. "Many of them have never even been to England, let alone been exposed to the English game which they have seen and heard so much about.

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Los Rayados del Monterrey volvieron a perder, y ahora por marcador de 2-1 favor Dynamo de Houston, el equipo de Rayados ligo su tercera derrota al hilo en esta semana, ya que el pasado Sábado en la Jornada 11 perdió contra Chivas 1-0, entre semana perdió contra el Aztex de Austin también por marcador de 1-0 y cierra cierra su gira por Estados Unidos con otra derrota contra el Dynamo.

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photo: Patrick MeredithThe Aztex bagged an impressive win last night at the RRISD Athletic Complex, beating Mexico's first-division contenders Monterrey 1-0.
Though just an exhibition match, the win is significant. For one, it ends 2009 play in Austin on a high note. The fact that it was earned from a good Mexican pro team, in the midst of their season, adds to the victory. Click to continue reading...

Monterrey pierde contra el equipo Aztex de Austin, un equipo juvenil que pertenece a la United Soccer League, se dice que es un liga inferior a la MLS.

Estoy de acuerdo que no se debe de hacer mucho relajo por esta derrota, estoy de acuerdo que es un partido amistoso, estoy de acuerdo que mas que partidos de preparación, el viaje es como un paseo o un premio para los jugadores por el bien momento que esta pasando el equipo, incluso realizaran un Tour por las instalaciones de la NASA, y no dudo que el shoping también este incluido.

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Though the 2009 regular season is finished for them, the Aztex are still going strong. A number of players and other individuals were honored at a recent post-season awards banquet, and the team is still looking forward to a few bigger-than-usual exhibition games.
First, the awards:

• Yordany Alvarez - Fans' Player of Year
• Miguel Gallardo - Chantico's Army's Player of Year (more info)
• Eddie Johnson - Players' Player of Year
• Michael Callahan - Clubman of Year
• Ignacio "Nacho" Araujo (Univision Radio) - President's Award

Additionally, Eddie Johnson was just named to the All-League Second Team. Click to continue reading...

Regular season USL-1 play has now concluded for 2009. The playoffs start tomorrow (Thursday). Sure it would have been nice to see Austin there; but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. We might as well get a head start on looking back.
Both of the league's expansion teams, the Austin Aztex and the Cleveland City Stars, fared poorly in their inaugural seasons, winding up at the bottom of the final standings:
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1 Portland Timbers 30 16 10 4 45 19 +26 58 2 Carolina RailHawks FC 30 16 7 7 43 19 +24 55 3 Puerto Rico Islanders 30 15 8 7 44 31 +13 53 4 Charleston Battery 30 14 11 5 33 21 +12 53 5 Montreal Impact 30 12 7 11 32 31 +1 43 6 Rochester Rhinos 30 11 10 9 34 32 +2 43 7 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 30 11 9 10 42 36 +6 42 8 Minnesota Thunder 30 7 10 13 39 44 -5 31 9 Miami FC 30 8 5 17 26 52 -26 29 10 Austin Aztex FC 30 5 8 17 28 51 -23 21* 11 Cleveland City Stars 30 4 19 7 22 52 -30 19
As you can see, the Aztex escaped the very last spot, if barely. Click to continue reading...

I say (nearly) because there's one game (Austin at Miami, September 5) with no reported attendance. If you know about Miami, there's a possibility there was no actual attendance, but until I get a number, the chart below gives you a fairly good picture of how things went in USL's top division this year:

Team G Total Avg. Click to continue reading...

It looked like they were going to lose after the first half of the game. However, the Vancouver Whitecaps managed to come back and defeat the Austin Aztex 2-1. The tie and winning goals where put in by Marcus Haber and Gordon Chin on home turf at the Burnaby Stadium near Vancouver. It was Chin's first goal on home grounds.

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Photo: Vancouver Whitecaps FacebookAnd so it ends.
Still feeling the energy from their 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers, our Aztex made a valiant effort in their final match of the 2009 campaign. But it was not to be. Their last game was reminiscent of many this year, as they surrendered their lead late in the game. Click to continue reading...

Sore losers (key word, "losers"): Timbers fans shooting the bird at the Aztex after the final whistleHoly cow! We won!
I mean, er, of course we won, I never had the slightest doubt, it was in the bag, like falling off a log, a walk in the park. (A walk in the park that you're used to getting mugged in, that is. Click to continue reading...

Photo: Patrick MeredithWell, what can you say. (No, seriously. I've about run out of things to say about these results.)
The Aztex ended the 2009 home season more or less the same way they played all year. They dug in, they fought, they worked hard, they had a few flashes of danger - and then they gave up a late goal, and lost. Click to continue reading...

After their 3-1 victory on Saturday over the Aztex, Miami FC gets ready to take on The Rochester Rhinos at Lockhart Stadium this Tuesday September 8th at 8 pm.
Last time these teams met was back in April at Lockhart Stadium when the Blues were stunned by the Rhinos 2-1 in front of over 1500 people. Click to continue reading...

It took 8 games for Miami FC to finally win one as they came from behind and scored an important victory over the Austin Aztex at FIU Stadium on Saturday. The fans led by the Miami Ultras came out on a wet night and were rewarded with a stellar performance by Midfielder Brian Shriver who was awarded man of the match. Click to continue reading...

I can't believe it's come so quickly, but this is it: the 14th and final home game of the 2009 Austin Aztex season. It will also be the last game they'll ever play at Nelson Field, since they're moving to House Park next year.
The Portland Timbers make their second trip to town Monday evening, Sept. Click to continue reading...

Miguel's back!
...Okay, that pretty much does it for the good news portion of the post.
Despite now having everybody but Eddie Johnson healthy and on the field, the Aztex were handed another solid defeat in Miami last night. It seems as though playing matches on either corner of North America 3 days apart isn't conducive to solid play. Click to continue reading...

Photo: Vancouver Whitecaps FacebookThey put up a pretty valiant effort, but the Aztex dropped another one Wednesday night, going down 3-2 to the Whitecaps in Vancouver. At least Jean Alexandre's brace and several good, threatening attacks kept Vancouver from being able to coast.
Here's a rundown of post-match coverage:

• box score - USLSoccer.

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Hulkamania will not be coming to FIU Stadium after all. Turns out the Hulkster canceled his South Florida dates. No further info was given.
While all the drama concerning USL's sale was going on, Miami FC signed a new player. He is Forward Aaron King who transferred last Friday. King, will be need up front as Miami's forwards have not been very efficient this year. Click to continue reading...

The Aztex start their sprint to the end of the season tonight, Wednesday, September 2. First, a trip to Canada to face the Vancouver Whitecaps, then a quick hop down to Miami for another match Saturday.
Vancouver is currently 7th in the table, sitting comfortably in the final playoff spot, 7 points up from Miami, the next closest rival. Click to continue reading...

It's been long rumored, practically guaranteed in previous statements, but now it's officially official: the Austin Aztex will play at AISD's House Park in 2010. The downtown stadium is technically located at 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd, though most think of it as being on Lamar Blvd (Google Map).
Yes, it will still be artificial turf. Click to continue reading...

Saturday, August 29, will see the Austin Aztex back home again at Nelson Field. The 7:30 game, against the Miami FC Blues, will be their next-to-last home game, and their last weekend game, of the season (the very last game will be on Monday, Sept. 7).
Miami stumbles into town this weekend in extraordinary shape. Click to continue reading...

Burrito is happy Hulk Hogan going to be at 2 Miami FC games as he wrestle to beat your property taxes, like he used to wrestle Andre the Giant and Ultimate Warrior!
But Burrito really hope the Hulkster brings his daughter Brooke! She is one hot mamacita! Burrito going to ask Hulk if it ok if Burrito marry her and then we have little Hogan Burritos! Click to continue reading...

Well, what can you say. At least the Aztex have been, umm . . . consistent? Sure. Consistent; that's the ticket.

• box score - USLSoccer.com
  

  Weather: Sunny, Attendance: 13,034

  Note per the Montreal Gazette article below: that 13K attendance "was the Impact's first sellout of the season, although a sizable portion of those ticket buyers weren't on hand for the game.

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USL-2 Playoffs
Saturday, August 22
Harrisburg City Islanders 0:1 Richmond Kickers
Delicate lifts Kickers into USL-2 final Richmond Times-Dispatch
Charlotte Eagles 1:0 Wilmington Hammerheads
Hammerheads fall in semifinals to Charlotte StarNewsOnline.com
USL-1
Saturday, August 22
Minnesota Thunder 0 - 1 Cleveland City Stars
City Stars end winless streak by defeating Minnesota clevelandcitystars. Click to continue reading...

Clint Dempsey's Fulham takes on Chelsea while the New York Red Bulls begin life without head coach Juan Carlos Osorio today against FC Dallas in just two of the matches on tap today.

Serie A's schedule kicks into full gear, with defending champion Inter and top contender Juventus beginning their campaigns today.

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                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

Clint Dempsey's Fulham takes on Chelsea while the New York Red Bulls begin life without head coach Juan Carlos Osorio today against FC Dallas in just two of the matches on tap today.

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Yes folks Hulkamania is alive and well! His opponent you ask? He will be wrestling your Property Tax!
Saturday, Sept. 5th Miami FC will play against the Austin Aztex @ FIU Stadium (Season Finale at FIU) There will be a Powerade Pre-Game Parade, Celebrity/Media Game (Uncle Ed will be playing!) and Hulk Hogan! Click to continue reading...

Melvin Tarley named as Player Of The Week and Ricardo Sanchez Team Of The Week

Blaine MN 8/18/09
The Minnesota Thunder continues their road trip with a mid week match against the Rochester Rhinos tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. After Wednesday, the Thunder will only have a couple days before they have to be in Cleveland to face the City Stars on Saturday at 6:00 p.

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