The United States Soccer Federation unveiled the schedule and playoff format for the 2010 USSF Division II league. The season kicks off April 10 and will conclude October 3 with three rounds of playoffs concluding with a two-leg, aggregate score series for the championship.

The Austin Aztex announced that they will host the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer in a preseason friendly on Sunday, March 14 at Nelson Field. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale immediately by visiting www.austinaztex.com or by calling 512-335-8881.

The Portland Timbers will face Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC in a preseason match Thursday, March 11, at 6 p.m. at Qwest Field in Seattle. In support of relief efforts in Haiti following the recent earthquake, the Timbers and University of Portland men’s soccer have joined together to host a special charity match on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. at Merlo Field. All proceeds from the match benefit Mercy Corps. The club also set a friendly versus the Earthquakes in San Jose March 20.

United Soccer Leagues’ original professional league, the USL Second Division, received official sanctioning Friday of the United States Soccer Federation Board of Directors at its Annual General Meeting in New Orleans, marking the league’s 16th season of operation as the Federation’s only Division III Men’s Professional Outdoor League and longest-running professional soccer league in North America.

"I want to play at the highest possible level," said Gazda. "I will chase the game for a few years no matter where I end up starting from. I’ll continue to do that until I reach the point where I am not learning or growing as a player. "[Pittsburgh is] a team I grew up watching since I was a little kid. I am aiming as high as possible but if that’s where I start out, then I’d be all for playing for my hometown team."

United Soccer Leagues released the 2010 Premier Development League schedules for the Central and Southern Conferences. The PDL, the top men’s developmental league in North America, opens its 17th season of play in the north central region of the country on May 7 in Denver and its 22nd season of play in the south, the league’s birthplace, on April 30 in Laredo. Also unveiled was the 2010 PDL playoff format.