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Five Austin FC players are out and several more have been injured during the club's first season. (Laura Figi/Austonia)
Austin FC has been through the ringer for their first season: a seven-week stretch on the road to kick off, one goal in seven games, and a slew of injuries that left half of the club's starters off the pitch at one point.
Here's a quick look at who's on, who's off and who's been injured on the Austin FC roster to date.
Jon Gallagher, forward: unknown foot injury
The same foot that kicked in Austin FC's first home goal could keep forward Jon Gallagher out of the next few practices or matches.
Gallagher said he downed some Ibuprofen just before he scored the first goal at Q2 Stadium. By the end of the first half, Gallagher said he was "pretty useless," and he was seen on crutches around halftime, though he was walking regularly as time went on.
Gallagher said he's unsure on the verdict of the injury.
"I don't know the extent of it. Hopefully it's not too bad," Gallagher said after the match. "Mentally, it's a bittersweet night because I don't know how bad it is."
Danny Hoesen, striker: out indefinitely on hip injury
Hoesen has been out for several matches in a row but may recover by the end of the season. (Danny Hoesen/Instagram)
Fans were dismayed when Head Coach Josh Wolff announced that Hoesen, who had been the offensive frontman at the beginning of the season, would be out for the season on a hip injury.
Luckily, Sporting Director Claudio Reyna clarified a day later and said Hoesen is progressing well after surgery and could be back sooner. "We're still hopeful that he could recover in time for the later games in the year," Reyna said.
The club has made a few moves to help out the striker position, though Reyna said they were looking to sign new forwards during the summer transfer window regardless. The club signed 21-year-old Moussa Djitté from Grenoble in the French Ligue 2 on Monday, and Reyna said their third Designated Player slot is still open.
Nick Lima, right back: pulled hamstring
Nick Lima is out indefinitely after pulling a hamstring against Minnesota United. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Nick Lima was the last of a string of last-minute injuries that saw three starters—Lima, Captain Alex Ring and center back Matt Besler—out in a 2-0 loss against Minnesota United on June 23.
While Ring (right ankle) and Besler (right foot) recovered just in time to help shut out the Columbus Crew on Sunday, Wolff said Lima will be out "for a little while" as his pulled hamstring heals.
In his stead is Hector Jimenez, who Wolff said is the only true right back they have left in a press conference after the Minnesota match. Jimenez, who suffered an injury himself in his first start of the season in May, has helped the club to their second shutout at Q2.
Aaron Schoenfield, forward: left knee
Aaron Schoenfield has yet to debut with the club due to injuries. (Aaron Schoenfield/Instagram)
Aaron Schoenfield, another scoring option for the club has yet to make his debut with Austin FC after a "setback" with his left knee. Wolff said that "it'll still be a good ways" before Schoenfield can hit the pitch for the first time, furthering a need for new signees up top.
Ulises Segura, midfielder: left knee
#GirlDad
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) June 28, 2021
💚🖤 @USeguraCRpic.twitter.com/WWB4wOB8ha
Segura's debut has yet to be determined this season as well after the midfielder underwent knee surgery near the start of the season. Both he and Schoenfield have been out for the entire season to date on left knee injuries.
Ben Sweat, left back: ACL tear
Ben Sweat is now back on a daily basis at @StDavidsPC doing exercises on his surgically repaired knee. pic.twitter.com/ldSAUkBs2L
— Eric Goodman (@Goodman) June 29, 2021
Starting left back Ben Sweat suffered one of the first matchday injuries with the club, and the verdict was an athlete's worst nightmare. With an ACL tear, Sweat is looking at a long path to recovery, though he's already undergone surgery and has been spotted doing exercises on his injured knee.
Sweat's injury propelled new signee Žan Kolmanič into the starting XI just after flying in from his former team NK Maribor in Slovenia. Wolff has praised the 21-year-old Kolmanič for his fitness and eagerness on the ball, but Sweat will still be welcomed with open arms the next time he hits the pitch.
While a five-man injury list may not be ideal, Austin has seen some quick recoveries so far: Besler and Ring are back in tip-top shape, No. 1 SuperDraft pick Daniel Pereira has returned after a stint on the bench, Jhohan Romana is once again available at center back, and Rodney Redes, who suffered a "ding" to his knee, has seemingly fully recovered.
The club will need all hands on deck as they attempt to combat the scoreless "curse" (we're the only ones calling it that) at Q2 Stadium.
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(Austonia)
Austinites love to lament the loss of “Old Austin”—they’ve been saying it since 1884. And with one-bedroom rents up 112%, home appraisal rates up 56% and the cost of living on a seemingly endless upward trend, it's hard not to see Austin's past through rose-tinted lenses.
But even in money-stretching times like these, some Austinites are taking a break from their usual complaints to remind themselves why they choose to stay.
Mark Coffey has stayed in Austin for decades due to its uniqueness, inclusivity and community. (Mark Coffey)
As a near-original Austinite, Mark Coffey didn't have too much trouble buying a house or finding a job with pension benefits at a local utility service decades ago. Still, he said he's stayed in Austin for more than financial security.
"Despite the cost of living, the brutal heat and traffic... I think the trade-off is that Austin has always kind of had that sense of possibility," Coffey told Austonia. "Of all the cities in Texas, it's been the most open to change and future possibilities and I don't think that's ever completely lost."
Austin's unique spirit has attracted like-minded small-town Texas kids looking for community. Gabriel Rodriguez, who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, moved to Austin a few years ago after graduating from Texas State University and still hasn't become bored with the vibrant live music scene.
Gabriel Rodriguez, who has experience as a musician has found a home in Austin's live music scene and with Austin FC. (Gabriel Rodriguez)
"The big thing to me was the music," Rodriguez said. "That's what made me want to move to Austin in the first place... I grew up in a place that didn't have that."
Coffey, Rodriguez and many others have also found the Austin spirit with Austin FC, the city's first major league sports team, and its vibrant and community-minded fanbase.
"Austin FC has come around and it's caused both old and new Austinite to kind of rally around something that like, yeah, this is our club, but it's also a statement about the kind of community we want to be," Coffey said.
For others, like Michelle Sanchez, Austin is home for many reasons—namely, a famed food scene, family and plenty of outdoor activities.
In a Reddit post that saw nearly 800 comments, dozens of users pointed to outdoor activities—from Barton Creek's Greenbelt swimming holes to paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake and trails dotting the city's outskirts. Others said that despite its flaws, they've never found anywhere better.
"Austin doesn't do anything spectacularly, but does more things adequately than most anywhere I can think of," user boyyhowdy said.
However, for some, those "adequacies" still aren't enough to stay.
Rodriguez said he's thought of leaving too. But whenever he thinks too long about the city's flaws, he finds solace in Austin's live music venues, including his favorite, Moody Theater. Coffey, meanwhile, recommends longtime spots like Continental Club, the Broken Spoke or even South Congress for a quick "old Austin" fix.
And with housing prices showing signs of slowing down and longtime haunts like Austin's longest-standing grocery store opening back up, there still may be time to reignite a romance with what "Keeps Austin Weird."
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