Austin Aztex News Release - www.austinaztex.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
AUSTIN, TX -- Haitian national team star Leonel Saint-Preux has signed a two-year deal with the Austin Aztex. Saint-Preux arrived with the team late Monday night, just in time for the start of the team’s training camp.
Saint-Preux spent the 2009 season with the Minnesota Thunder, where he played in 23 regular season games, scoring two goals and adding two assists. He scored in his league debut against the Aztex on April 18. Most recently, Saint-Preux was gaining experience on Hoa Phat FC in Hanoi, Vietnam.
As a member of the Haitian national team last year, Saint-Preux grabbed national attention when he beat a U.S. National Team defender and tallied an assist in the Gold Cup match that saw his side draw with the U.S., 2-2. During World Cup qualifying, the forward played in a team best seven matches and scored a goal against Canada.
He spent the previous three seasons with Zenith in the Ligue Haitienne in his home country.
“We are delighted to have Leonel because we thought he played very well when we played against him last year,” Coach Adrian Heath said. “We think he’ll be a very good addition to the squad and will give an injection of pace to the team. Overall, it is a good signing for us this year.”
Saint-Preux joins an Aztex team that returns to the pitch in a preseason match on March 7 against the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer at Carl Lewis Track Field in Houston. Houston returns the trip a week later on March 14 at 5 p.m. at Nelson Field in Austin.
Tickets are currently available at www.austinaztex.com or by calling 512-335-8881. The Aztex’ regular season begins less than a month later with a pivotal match against last year’s USL-1 champions, the Montreal Impact, at its new venue in Downtown Austin, House Park.
Wayne Estopinal joins Austin Aztex Board of Directors
Wayne Estopinal, president of The Estopinal Group, has joined the Austin Aztex Board of Directors after making an investment in the team on Tuesday.
Estopinal has worked in project planning and design for 25 years providing specialized facility services. He and his wife, Theresa, founded The Estopinal Group in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. The Group then moved to the Estopinals’ hometown, Jeffersonville, Ind., in 1991. Since its inception, the engineering firm has grown to employ more than 90 people in four locations across the country.
Outside of work, Estopinal is a keen marathon runner and has significant interests in soccer in the Louisville, Kent., area. He is president of the Mockingbird Valley Youth Soccer Club and the Louisville Lightning professional indoor soccer team.
Estopinal’s interest in the Austin Aztex came from a meeting between Estopinal and Aztex President, Phil Rawlins, at an Aztex game last summer. Estopinal was in Austin on a fact-finding mission before he launched the Lightning in the fall of 2009. The two shared views and best practices on the game and struck a firm friendship.
“I am delighted that Wayne has agreed to join the Board and seen fit to invest in our vision here in Austin,” Austin Aztex President Phil Rawlins said. “His extensive business experience and engineering/architectural background will be a big boost for us as we look to secure a soccer-specific stadium here in town.”
The Ball State University alum is a registered architect in 23 states and is the proud owner of multiple individual and business-wide awards.
He now joins the Aztex Board of Directors, who oversee the USSF Division-2 Professional League team that is looking to make a run to the top of the standings in their second year of league play.
Austin begins its preseason on March 7 against the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer at Carl Lewis Track Field in Houston. Houston returns the trip a week later, March 14, at 5 p.m. at Nelson Field in Austin. The Aztex’ regular season begins less than a month later with a pivotal match against last year’s USL-1 champs, the Montreal Impact, at its new venue in Downtown Austin, House Park.
