Soccer Watch

The University of Texas Longhorns split their first two regular-season games of the season, losing 3-1 at home to Loyola Marymount on Friday – despite outshooting the Lions 16-7 and dominating the play until Loyola scored three goals in the last 20 minutes – then beating Houston on the road, 3-0, on Monday. It's way too early to draw many conclusions, but the Horns get another good, early test on the road Friday night against the Georgia Bulldogs before coming home to host Cal State Northridge, Sunday, Aug. 28, 1pm; Myers Stadium, Manor Road at Red River; visit www.texassports.com for $5 coupon good for admission, a free hot dog, and 50% off a T-shirt.

No Major League Soccer team had ever won a competitive game in Mexico, but they did so twice this week in Champions League play, with Dallas beating Pumas and Seattle dropping reigning champ Monterrey, both by 1-0 scores. In fact, MLS teams went 5-0-0 in the first round of the six-game group stage and remain undefeated halfway through this week's second round of games.

Meanwhile in the European Champions League, all of the heavyweights made it through the final qualifying round: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Villarreal, and Lyon will join the automatic qualifiers when group play starts Sept. 13.