Islanders lose again, 1-3 to Aztex

By: BoriQa | May 29th, 2009

The Islanders are now winless in five games. They lost their 2nd straight game this season as they fell to the Aztex 3-1 last night in Austin; dropping them to 7th place in the USL standings, tied on 9 points with the Aztex.

Cuban midfielder Yordany Alvarez scored two goals and had an assist to lead the Aztex to their 2nd win of the year (their other one was against the Cleveland City Stars).

Austin lead 1-0 at halftime on Alvarez’ first goal on the 42nd and 2-0 in the 2nd half on the 52nd on a goal by Lyle Adams (Alvarez assist).

The Islanders cut the Aztex lead in half on the 63rd on a header by Cristian Arrieta after a corner kick, but the Texans put the final nail on the Puerto Rican coffin on the 87th after Alvarez’ 2nd goal of the night.

Bill Gaudette faced 9 shots and had 1 save. Michael Behonick and Domenic Mediate returned from injury to the roster last night. Mediate suffered an injury in the 1st game of this season against Vancouver, while it was the first 2009 roster appereance for Behonick who had a season ending injury last year.

It is the first time a USL team scores 3 goals against the Islanders since June 21st last year, when the Atlanta Silverbacks defeated the Puerto Ricans 3-1.

It’s also the first time the Islanders lose two in a row since they dropped the first two games of the 2008 season against Portland and Miami.

With a 2-3-3 record (9 pts), the 2009 Islanders match their 2007 & 2008 record (after 8 games), making their 2006 record their best season start ever after 8 games (4-1-3 [W-T-L], 13 pts). Even the 2005 Islanders had a better record (3-3-2, 12 pts).

After two wins (Vancouver & Montreal) in their first 4 games of the season, 2009 was the Islanders best recorded start ever!

But since losing their 5th game of the season in Vancouver, the Islanders have struggled with three losses and a tie in their last 4 appearances.

The 2008 turnaround point for the Islanders that made them USL Championship contenders and CCL Semifinalists started on game number 10 last year, against the Minnesota Thunder.

The Islanders face the Thunder for the first time in 2009 tomorrow (May 31) on game number 9.

Lets hope the Islanders can start the championship run turnaround one game earlier this year.

Scoring Summary:
1. AUS: Yordany Alvarez (Jeff Harwell) 42’
2. AUS: Lyle Adams (Yordany Alvarez) 52’
3. PRI: Cristian Arrieta (Sandy Gbandi) 63’
4. AUS: Yordany Alvarez (Ryan McMahen) 87’

Cautions:
1. PRI: Petter Villegas 10’
2. AUS: Jeff Harwell 59’
3. PRI: Kendall Jagdeosingh 65’
4. PRI: Josh Hanson 68’

Shots:
PRI (10): P. Villegas (3), C. Arrieta (2), N. Delgado (1), S. Gbandy (1), N. Henry (1), J. Krausse (1), S. Fraser (1)
AUS (9): Y. Alvarez (5), J. Alexandre (2), L. Adams (1), K Brown (1)

Puerto Rico Islanders Lineup:
Bill Gaudette (GK), Nigel Henry, John Krause, Scott Jones (Kevon Villaroeal 84’), Cristian Arrieta, Noah Delgado (Domenic Mediate 62’), Sandy Gbandy, Petter Villegas (Josh Hansen 61’), Jonathan Steele, Sean Fraser, Kendall Jagdeosingh (Martin Nuñez 75’)

Subs not used: Michael Behonik (GK), James Marcelin, Alexis Rivera

Austin Aztex Lineup:
Miguel Gallardo-Aparicio (GK), Yordany Alvares Oropeza, Michael Callahan (Alexander Tapp 77’) , Jeff Harwell (Ryan Caugherty 70’), Ryan McMahen, Lyle Adams, Kieron Bernard, Aaron Godbolt (Joshua Alcala 61’), David Austin Sias, Jean Alexandre (Wes D Allen 84’), Kyle Brown (Kyle Helton 79’)

Subs not used: Sam Reynolds (GK)

Attendance: 2,019

Referees: Alejandro Mariscal, Carlos Salas, Jack Damrill, Matthew Foerster