By TRAVIS CLARK
Austin and Rochester keep on rolling through USSF D-2 opposition.
In upstate New York, the Rhinos kept a firm hold on first place in both the overall standings and the USL Conference, defeating Miami FC by a 3-1 score.
Down in Texas, the Aztex were not going to be outdone, holding off a comeback by the Carolina Railhawks to win 3-2. Randi Patterson, recently acquired from Crystal Palace Baltimore, scored what ended up being the game winner with ten minutes to go. Both teams also secured a spot in the playoffs with the weekend results.
Here's a look at the rest of the weekend's D-2 action:
MONTREAL CRUSHES BALTIMORE
The rotating home venues continued to be a concept that just doesn't pay off for Crystal Palace Baltimore. A notably poor performance in Maryland was punished by former Toronto FC forward Ali Gerba, who scored a hat trick en route to a 5-0 win for the Impact. Baltimore had been able to keep up with Montreal in recent meetings, but this loss could mean the end of any lingering hopes of a playoff spot.
ST. LOUIS, PUERTO RICO, TIE
Two sides needing three points only came away with one apiece when they squared off in St. Louis on Friday evening. Nicholas Addlery grabbed an early goal in the 4th minute for Puerto Rico, but the Islanders couldn't take advantage and add to their lead. This proved costly late in the first half, when Puerto Rico's Marco Velez took down St. Louis' John Lesko in the box. Mike Ambersley dispatched the ensuing spot kick, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
PORTLAND NABS VITAL ROAD WIN
Ryan Pore was at it again, scoring a penalty kick that made up the game's lone tally as the Portland Timbers won 1-0 over NSC Minnesota. Pore's chance came when Stars 'keeper Joe Warren took down Portland forward Bright Dike in the box in the 68th minute. Matt Pyzdrowski earned a surprise start for normal incumbent Steve Cronin in the Portland goal, blanking the Stars and maintaining hold on fourth place in the overall league standings.
Andre Akpan was loaned to Tampa, a one month deal that has already expired. He got a decent amount of playing to due to the injury problems up front for the Rowdies, but he didn’t really contribute too much.
At this point, St. Louis may not even be ready for D3 let alone D2 or MLS. We’ll see what happens this off-season.
Thanks, Babieca’s post led me to check out the box scores for a bunch of games and try to figure out what players I recognized. I’m a Philly Union fan so don’t hear much about the USL teams and are affiliate Harrisburg is in the lower division. I noticed Stefan Jerome was getting about 15 mins. a game with Miami. Aztex seem like they have a formidable backline with Marshall and Jay Neednam. I also noticed the Rochester Rhinos have Andrew Hoxie who played well at the MLS Combine and that Josh Lambo has been loaned out. It is funny to think Lambo and Dario Sala make more money than Kevin Hartman, funny for everyone except Hartman and family- I keep wishing the Union had drafted him in the expansion draft.
The St. Louis web site is pathetic. Everything I hear about this team makes me think they are not ready for MLS. Portland and Vancouver seem to have their heads on straight.
Try this one:
http://ussf.demosphere.com/Top10/
I know that Miami got two or three players on loan from MLS teams recently. But I don’t remember which ones.
Aztex have had LA Galaxy defender Yohance Marshall for the entire season — and he scored a lovely goal on Sunday. It’s the second one here:
http://www.youtube.com/aztexsoccer#p/u/3/4uDfImaYTNE
Obviously, if you’re thinking about next season, the entire teams of Vancouver and Portland are worth keeping an eye on. Vancouver has 30+ players on their roster now.
The ussf2 site has game stats, though it’s not particularly intuitive to navigate.
Click on the result you want for game stats.
http://ussf.demosphere.com/Teams/20945465/20945468-20952154/TEAM.html
I didnt use to read this column but since Luis Gill has been loaned to St. Louis I have begun to pay more attn. to this league. I think this might take a lot of work but what would really spice up this column for non-USL watchers would be a list of young players to watch or maybe a list of players on loan from MLS and how much they played. I believe Andre Akpan has been loaned to USL and he is someone I think MLS and USMNT fans would enjoy hearing about.
I also wish the St. Louis website had stats or if they do that they were easier to find.