Well, I’m not going to deny that it’s more fun to root for a winning team than a losing team. And having earned as many points from the first 10 games of this season (23 from a 7-1-2 record) as they did from all 30 games last year, our Austin squad certainly qualifies as a winning team. I will admit that there’s a little part of me that’s getting nervous about how long this streak can last, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But thinking about it rationally (as rationally as a fan can, anyway), there doesn’t seem to be that much to worry about. This team that keeps racking up the wins is actually already hurting from injuries, at least on paper. The defense is still missing Kieron Bernard, and the offense last night was not only still missing Brazilian dazzler Sullivan Silva, but also Eddie Johnson, this season’s leading goal-scorer. And midfield spark plug Lance Watson was subbed out early in the game, after getting a cut of some kind on his neck (he re-entered the game after a rumored set of sideline stitches, but wound up being replaced by Joey Worthen soon after anyway).

Despite all this, the Red & White stayed in the fight after the Islanders drew level, and fought to the very last. They have now scored at least twice in every league game so far this year, with the lone exception of their 1-2 loss to Rochester in April.

The crowd and atmosphere at House also continue to thrive. Boosted by more than a thousand tickets sold recently through the popular discount website Groupon, the 4,218 in attendance were enough to open seating in the far-side stands.

Here’s a rundown of other post-match coverage:

  • box score — USSF

  • Aztex capitalize on odd play to get a win — Austin American-Statesman

    The goal came shortly after head coach Adrian Heath was ejected from the game for arguing a call with head referee John McClosky in the 74th minute.

    [Assistant coach Bobby] Murphy took over on the sideline while Heath, who was not available for comment after the game, watched from the east stands.

    “It was just the heat of competition,” Murphy said of the ejection.

  • Aztex Earn Another Big Home Victory — AustinAztex.com

    Austin was able to draw first blood though when Maxwell Griffin’s shot made its way past Puerto Rico goalkeeper Gaudette in the 24th minute. Griffin received the ball at the top of the box and was able to get himself turned around and beat a defender before lacing a shot, which was deflected by a Puerto Rico defender past the outstretched arm of Gaudette.

    It took Puerto Rico 13 minutes to answer Griffin’s goal but the Islander goal was taken with flair.
    As the ball bobbled around five yards outside the Aztex goal, Puerto Rico forward Nicholas Addlery was able to get himself set in prime position if a bounce were to fall his way. That bounce came to Addlery and he was able to rifle a left footed volley past Gallardo for the Islander score in the 35 minute.

I must admit, that goal of Addlery’s was a real beauty, an impressive rocket struck from midair.

The Aztex will be back at House twice more this week: hosting the Portland Timbers on Wednesday, then the Vancouver Whitecaps next Saturday. Will Austin keep racking up the goals? Will they keep bagging all the points? Will those confounded locker rooms ever be finished? Come on down and see for yourself!