By Jose Carrillo, uslfans.com Match Reporter

2009/05/08
Jose "BoriQa" Carrillo, uslfans.com Match Reporter

May 10th, 2009

The Islanders tied the Aztex 1-1 Friday night to remain undefeated in the 2009 USL season. The Islanders now have 2 wins (Vancouver & Montreal) and 2 ties (Rochester & Austin) in the season.

The Islanders came out aggressive in the 1st half but were only able to convert one (unassisted) goal by Cristian Arrieta on the 39’ minute. On a counterattack, the 2008 USL Defender of the year, took the ball on a run up the right side and managed to get just inside the 18-yard box before delivering a shot high and to his left for his first goal of the year. Arrieta also has 2 goal assists this year.

The Islanders had a few other opportunities to get a bigger halftime lead, but were unable to convert before the 45-minutes whistle. On the 9th minute Noah Delgado found a clear lane in front of the Austin goalkeeper, who dove to his right to make a spectacular save. On the 22nd minute Petter Villegas took a shot at goal from just inside the 18-yard box, but the ball sailed over the crossbar. Delgado and Villegas each had a 2nd missed opportunity in the 1st period.

The Puerto Rican Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette had 3 saves in the game, the first one on a shot by Eddie Johnson around the 12th minute. Gaudette denied Johnson again on the 53rd minute after the Aztex striker missed a one-on-one opportunity against the Islanders keeper.

Johnson was involved again in a 67th minute offensive threat, but this time he passed back to former Cuban National Yordany Alvarez, who took the shot high to the Puerto Rican keeper’s left. Gaudette managed to get a portion of his hand on the ball, but was unable to prevent it from scoring Austin’s tying goal.

Both teams had several attacking and counterattacking in the final 20 minutes of play, but neither team was able to score the terminating goal.

The Islanders made four 2nd-half substitutions: Nicholas Addlery came in for Jagdeosingh in the 60’; Sean Fraser replaced Villegas in the 76’; Martin Nuñez came in for Fabrice Noël in the 83’; and Kyle Veris replaced Delgado in the added (90+) time.

The Islanders sit currently in 4th place in the USL standings with 8 points; behind Carolina (10 pts), Rochester (10 pts) and Charleston (9 pts), each of which has at least one more game played than the Islanders.

The Islanders will play in Vancouver tonight, and have a chance to take the lead in the standings with a win over the Whitecaps. Puerto Rico won the first game between the teams this season, 2-1 at Juan Ramón Loubriel on April 18th.

Scoring Summary:
1. PRI: Cristian Arrieta 39’
2. AUS: Yordany Alvarez (Eddie Johnson) 67’

Cautions:
1. PRI: Kendall Jagdeosingh 14’

Puerto Rico Islanders Lineup:
Bill Gaudette (GK), Scott Jones, Nigel Henry, John Krause, Cristian Arrieta, Noah Delgado (Kyle Veris 90’), Peter Villegas (Sean Fraser 76’), Sandy Gbandy , James Marcelin, Fabrice Noël (Martin Nuñez 83’), Kendall Jagdeosingh (Nicholas Addlery 60’)

Subs not used: Chris McClellan (GK), Alexis Rivera, Josh Hansen

Austin Aztex Lineup:
Miguel Gallardo-Aparicio (GK), Yordany Alvares Oropeza, Ryan Caugherty, Ryan McMahen, Sullivan Silva, Lyle Adams, Kieron Bernard, Aaron “AJ” Godbolt, David Austin Sias, Kyle Brown, Edward “Eddie” Johnson

Subs not used: John Deric (GK)

Attendance: 5,216

Referees: Tyler Ploeger, Matthew Foerester, Masoud Rasti, Carlos Salas