Soccer Watch

I will never get used to how fast the college soccer season races by. The UT Longhorns beat Louisville and Kentucky last week (2-1 and 2-0 respectively), to even their record at 3-3, and suddenly, the season's almost half over. This week the Horns host the last two games before the conference schedule starts: Washington State at 7:30pm on Friday, Sept. 18, and undefeated New Mexico at 1pm on Sunday, Sept. 20. Friday is faculty/staff night ($2 with UT ID); for Sunday there's a $3 Web coupon (see this column online, austinchronicle.com) or free admission with a UT football ticket stub from the previous day's Texas Tech game.

The St. Edward's women allowed a goal for the first time all season last Friday – and it led to their first loss, 1-0 to undefeated West Texas A&M. The 15th-ranked Hilltop­pers finish their nonconference schedule this weekend as well, hosting Lee at 2pm on Friday, Sept 18, and Texas A&M-Commerce at 1pm on Sunday, Sept. 20. The St. Ed's men host Eastern New Mexico at 5pm on Friday, and Truman State at 11am on Sunday.

The Austin Aztex finished strong – with a 2-1 win in Oregon over the regular-season champion Portland Timbers, before bowing to Vancouver by the same score in the finale. Don't forget, the Aztex host Rayados of Monterrey on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Round Rock ISD's Palace on Parmer. Tickets are on sale at www.austinaztex.com. Right after that, the Aztex head to England, where they'll play exhibition matches against two Premier League clubs, Stoke City and Burnley.

The European Champions League group stage opened this week; all four English clubs (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United) won their opening games, each by a one-goal margin. Next best were Spanish and German clubs, which each got two wins. CONCACAF Champions League is also ongoing; the Houston Dynamo is in Mexico, at Pachuca, as we go to press.