Carolina RailhawksThe Aztex have a hurried finish to their season this weekend, starting at 6:00 CT Friday evening against the Carolina Railhawks in Cary, North Carolina.

The Railhawks are also playoff-bound, currently holding the top spot in the NASL Conference, which would give them the second seed. They’ve had a pretty strong run lately, winning 3 and drawing 1 of their last 5, though two of those wins were against the dead-last Crystal Palace Baltimore. Their third win, however, and their most recent match, was a 2-1 home win over the Puerto Rico Islanders (match report/box score).

The Aztex will welcome back a couple of players to the squad (Lawrence Olum, Joey Worthen), but unfortunately may have to do without a couple of others (Eddie Johnson, Michael Callahan). The team’s trip continues to Canada on Sunday, to face Montreal, and so they’ll also be without a couple of other players who can’t easily cross the border there & back: Haitian Mechak Jerome and Cuban Yordany Alvarez.

A win on Friday will give Austin the league title (whatever that title turns out to actually be called). A draw or a loss doesn’t ruin their chances, as there’s still the game on Sunday, and there’s still Rochester‘s Saturday match in St. Louis, but a win clinches.

Aztex fans will congregate, as usual, at Mister Tramps on 183 for the watch party, at 6:00. Being a Friday night, without competition from college football, we’ll have the big screen room. There will also be some folks from the Aztex organization there, with some playoff tickets to give away. What better way to end the week? Come on out and cheer on our boys in red & white!