- Source: 2023 Austin FC II season
The 2023 Austin FC II season was the club's first season in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of soccer in the United States. They played in the league's Western Conference. The club finished the regular season 4th in the Western Conference and 8th overall in the regular season, qualifying for the MLSNP play-offs. In the four play-off games, Austin FC II only allowed one goal on their way to the MLS Next Pro Cup.
Damian Las had a standout season, being selected to both the MLSNP Bext XI and the MLSNP Goalkeeper of the Year. Joe Hafferty was also selected to the MLSNP Bext XI for the 2023 season.
Background
Austin FC started playing in the MLS Western Conference in 2021. In August 2022 it was announced that they would launch a MLS Next Pro team for the 2023 season. On December 13, Austin FC announced that Brett Uttley will be the first coach for Austin FC II.
Season
= Preseason
=On January 4, the team announced it had hired its first two assistant coaches, Dennis Sanchez and Jason Grubb. The next day, Austin FC announced the signing of their first three players to the Austin FC II team, Ugandan midfielder Bobosi Byaruhanga, American forward David Rodríguez, and Dutch midfielder Cheick Touré. Both Byaruhanga and Rodríguez are on season long loans with options to buy. Continuing to work on their 2023 team, Austin FC II signed goalkeeper Eric Lopez on January 10, 2022 from LA Galaxy II. On January 23, Austin FC II announced the signing of Anthony De Anda, the first Austin FC Academy player to sign with the team. Continuing to build their inaugural team, Austin FC II announced the signing of Leo Torres and Chris Pinkham on January 24. On January 31, Austin FC II announced signing of Emmanuel Johnson on a year-long loan with option to buy from Hibernian for its inaugural season. After it first couple of preseason games, Austin FC II continued building their roster by signing Christo Vela on loan from Cancún F.C. on February 13. As the first team prepared for the first game of the season, Austin FC II continued to build its squad by signing Sébastien Pineau to a two-year contract through the 2024 season. After acquiring an international slot from New York City FC II for cash consideration on March 1, Austin FC II announced the following day they had signed AAlonso Ramírez on a season long loan from Atlas F.C.. On March 3, Austin FC II announced they had signed three of the four Austin FC MLS Super Draft picks. As the opening of the 2023 season approached, Austin FC II announced they had signed two new players, Joe Hafferty and Jonathan Santillan, to the team on March 16. One day prior to their first game of the season, Austin FC II announced they had signed Micah Burton from the academy team. Making final roster adjustments for the MLSNP season, on March 24, 2022 Austin FC II announced that five players from the first team were placed on loans with the team, and another six players were signed to amateur agreements.
= March/April
=Austin FC II started their MLSNP season with a 2–1 win over cross-state rivals Houston Dynamo 2 on the back of a two goal performance by Austin FC Superdraft pick Valentin Noël. Austin FC II first ever game on the road resulted in a tie with Sporting Kansas City II, but they dropped a point in their first kick from the marks experience in the MLSNP. Coming back home for their third game of the season, Austin FC II managed another late game winner against Tacoma Defiance, winning 2–1 on an extra-time strike by Christo Vela. Keeping their unbeaten streak alive through the first four games of the season, Austin FC beat North Texas SC 3–0, aided by a brace from Valentin Noël. On the road for their second game of the season and looking to remain unbeaten, Austin FC II faced LA Galaxy II earning a point from the draw, but dropping a point in the shoot-out. Austin FC II finished their first full month of play undefeated with a 1–1 draw against Minnesota United FC 2. But, in their third draw of the season, the team secured their first shootout win edging Minnesota United FC 2 6–5.
= May/June
=Austin FC II started the month of May by winning their first ever road game at Providence Park against Portland Timbers 2 in a hardfought 1-0 victory coming off a goal by Rodriguez in the 4th minute of the game. May 14 was the first visit to Colorado for Austin FC II, it was also their first loss as the fell 1–0 to Colorado Rapids 2. Austin FC II, lose both its first home game and their first back-to-back games of the season in a 1–0 lose to the San Jose Earthquakes II. In the second iteration of the Austin/Houston cross state rivalry, Austin FC II loss the game 2–0, bringing the record to 1 win and 1 loss. In their first game in June, Austin FC II returned to their winning ways by beating Real Monarchs 3–0 at Parmar Field. David Rodríguez (footballer, born 2002) scored a brace and Valentin Noël returned to his scoring way, adding the third goal. Coming off a strong win, Austin FC II hosted Whitecaps FC 2, the second place team in the Western Conference. Though the game was hardfought, Austin FC II managed the 1–0 win with a goal off CJ Fodrey. Austin FC II continued to perform well in the month of June, earning their fourth win in a row, defeating Portland Timbers 2, 4–0. After four wins in a row, Austin FC II dopped their first game in June to the Tacoma Defiance 1–0. Austin FC II ended the month of June 4–1–1 after drawing with Real Monarchs 0–0, but did earn the extra point in the shootout on two saves by Damian Las.
= July/August
=Austin FC II started their summer stretch with a 3–0 win against cross state rivals Houston Dynamo 2 on goals from CJ Fodrey, Sébastien Pineau, and Christo Vela before they headed into a two-week break. After their two week break, Austin FC II had an opportunity to gain some points on the Western Conference leader Colorado Rapids 2. Despite taking an early 3–0 lead on goals from CJ Fodrey, Sébastien Pineau, and Sal Mazzaferro, Colorado Rapids 2 came back in the second half to earn the tie and then gained another point by winning the penalty shoot-out 6–5. A week later Austin FC II had one of their best performances against LA Galaxy II, winning 4–0 on goals from Micah Burton, Alonso Ramírez, Sébastian Pineau, and Leo Torres. A week later, Austin FC II took on Los Angeles FC 2 and played them to a 0–0 draw, earning a point and then secured a second point by winning the penalty shoot-out 4–3. Extending their unbeaten streak to six games, Austin FC II defeated San Jose Earthquakes II 2–0 on a brace by Sébastien Pineau, who scored in the 50th and 89th minutes of the match. Austin FC II added one more game to their unbeaten streak by earning a point in a 1–1 tie against Whitecaps FC 2, but dropped a point is the shootout, falling 4–3.
= September
=Austin FC II started the month by qualifying for their first MLS Next Pro playoff berth when they earned two points against Los Angeles FC 2, winning the penalty shoot-out 5–4, after a 1–1 draw in regulation. Joe Hafferty scored his first goal of the season on a corner kick, and Damian Las came up big with several strong saves, including one in the penalty shootout. On the road in Minnesota, Austin FC II was able to add another point to its season total, after a 1–1 draw with MNUFC 2, but were not able to earn the second point after a 13 round penalty shoot-out, losing 8–9 in the shoot-out. On September 22, 2023, the team announced that they had signed two more goalkeepers to the team on amateur contracts. Nicolas Aristizabal came to Austin FC II from the Academy's U-15 team and Greg Monroe joined the team from Sienna College, where he played from 2018 to 2022. Austin FC II fell in a weather interrupted game with North Texas SC 3–1, dropping the team to fourth place in the west going into the play-offs.
= Play-offs
=With the new pick your play-off opponent format for this year's MLS Next Pro play-offs, Sporting Kansas City II made a surprise selection and chose Austin FC II for their first round match, which will be played at Rock Chalk Park in Kansas. Austin FC travelled to Rock Chalk Park and secured a 2–0 victory of Sporting Kansas City II on goals from David Rodríguez and Alonso Ramírez, advancing to the Conference semifinals. In the Conference Semi-finals draw, Colorado Rapids choose Earthquakes II, leaving Austin FC II to play Tacoma Defiance in Washington. Austin FC II earned a 1–0 win against Tacoma Defiance in the Western Conference semi-finals on a late goal by Valentin Noël. Austin FC II advances to play Colorado Rapids II in Colorado for the Western Conference finals. Austin FC II and Colorado Rapids 2 played to a 0–0 score after extra time, going to a penalty shoot-out in the Western Conference Finals. Austin FC II went on to win the shootout 4–1 to advance to the MLS Next Pro Cup Finals and move on to face Columbus Crew 2 in Columbus, Ohio for the 2023 MLS Next Cup.
= MLS Next Pro Cup
=After winning three away games to secure a spot in the MLS Next Pro Cup Finals, Austin FC II found themselves on the road again, facing Columbus Crew 2 at Lower.com field in the MLS Next Pro Cup. Austin FC II were on their heals in the first half with Columbus Crew 2 getting four shots on goals, all resulting in Damian Las having to make the save. Early in the 2nd half Cheick Touré was whistled for a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Columbus Crew midfielder Thomas Robert converted the PK to put them up by one goal. Austin FC II continued to push and Valentin Noël earned a penalty kick. Alonso Ramirez converted the PK, tying the game 1–1. Seven minutes later CJ Fodrey and Valentin Noël pushed the ball up the left side, resulting in a goal from the top of the box by Valentin Noël. In the last 10 minutes of the game CJ Fodrey forced an own goal to take a two goal lead and carried that lead through the end of the game. Austin FC II were crowned the 2023 MLS Next Pro Champions.
Management team
Roster
As of October 22, 2023.
Transfers
= In
== Loan In
== Out
=Non-competitive fixtures
= Preseason
=Competitive fixtures
= Major League Soccer Regular Season
=Standings
= Western Conference =
= Overall =
Matches
= MLS Next Pro Playoffs
=Statistics
= Appearances and goals
=Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.
= Top scorers
== Top assists
== Disciplinary record
== Clean sheets
=Awards and honors
= MLS Next Pro Cup
=Champions
= MLS Next Pro Cup MVP
=Valentin Noël
= MLS Next Pro Western Conference Play-offs
=Champions
= MLSNP Best XI
== MLSNP Goalkeeper of the Year
== MLSNP Save of the Year
== MLSNP Midseason Goalkeeper of the Year
== MLS All-Star Game Goalie Wars
== MLSNP Team of the Week
== MLSNP Goalkeeper of the Month
=References
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- 2023 Austin FC II season
- Austin FC
- Austin FC II
- 2024 Austin FC II season
- 2023 Austin FC season
- 2025 Austin FC season
- 2024 Austin FC season
- Austin Bold FC
- 2023 MLS Next Pro season
- 2021 Austin FC season
