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Indy Eleven

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PREVIEW: #INDvLOU

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview

Indy Eleven vs. Louisville City FC (USL)
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Third Round
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

 

Team Records:

 

Watch Live:

  • No TV/streaming video

 

Listen Live:

 

Follow Live:

 

Media Game Notes:

 

Indy Eleven and Louisville City FC are in a peculiar position … geographically they are just two hours apart (or 90 minutes depending on your driving style), but they are separately by league affiliation, putting a wedge in a potential rivalry. However, U.S. Soccer has done fans of both sides a favor for a second straight season, pitting the two together in a Third Round fixture in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup once again – a game that will again be contested at “The Mike.”

While Indy Eleven’s arrival to the American soccer scene preceded Louisville’s by a year, it’s been the newcomers holding the advantage between the two by taking last year’s Third Round affair by a 2-0 score in added extra time in addition to a preseason result each of the last two seasons. While most preseason contests are ragged affairs – the new group of Boys in Blue was still very much figuring things out during the contest this past March – and the results count for nothing, tendencies can be learned, and grudges can fester from them.

Sure, it’s not fit to call the occasional meeting between Indy and Louisville a rivalry at this point, but there will indeed be more than a Fourth Round pairing against MLS’ Chicago Fire SC when the two sides clash on Wednesday night.

 

Last Time Out – Jacksonville Armada FC 1 : 1 Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven travelled to the Sunshine State for the first of two visits in one week, this time to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville where they faced Jacksonville Armada FC.

It was a lethargic start for the “Boys in Blue” as the humid conditions added an extra challenge to the night, and the hosts took advantage of a prostrated midfield to get on the board first. After pummeling ‘keeper Jon Busch with repeated shots in the first half hour – only to see the veteran equal to every effort – captain Matt Bahner rocketed home a distance effort that beat Busch to his near post to give Armada FC a 1-nil advantage. The closest “Indiana’s Team” got to goal was a point-blank header from Eamon Zayed that was denied well by JAX ‘netminder Sebastian Evers.

The second half brought a bit of a flurry from both sides as the Eleven clawed their way towards an equalizer while Jacksonville attempted to build on their one goal lead. In the 73rd minute, Jacksonville’s lead gave way to a thumping header from Justin Braun, his second tally in as many games. Impact substitute Jair Reinoso raced towards the end line and lifted a ball dead center of the box, where Braun put his vertical leap to the test and knocked in an equalizer past substitute ‘keeper Miguel Gallardo.

Both sides scrambled for a winner towards the end of the match, and substitute winger Duke Lacroix nearly created the perfect chance as he drove a low ball into the area, but with no teammates there to meet his cross the chance fell through. The 1-1 draw might not have been the full three they wanted to take back, but it did elevate Indiana’s Team to second place in the 2016 Spring Season table with two matches remaining – this weekend’s visit to Miami FC and a home match against the Carolina Railhawks on June 11.

RECAP | Jax Armada FC 1 : 1 Indy Eleven

 

Testing Squad Depth

A week with a congested fixture list means one where the depth of the squad will be tested. For “Indiana’s Team,” that means some new faces … and some old faces that may seem new again.

For a perfect example, see Eleven defender Marco Franco. One of the more well-known “Boys in Blue,” he suited up for nearly every regular season match last year and ranked first in minutes played during the 2015 NASL season.  However, on a roster that only retained eleven players there were bound to be challenges for the starting spot in each position. Franco has started only one match for Indy Eleven – Saturday night’s bout with Jacksonville Armada FC in place of an injured Lovel Palmer. For him, though, it is necessary to keep a “next man up” mentality going forward.

“You just have to be mentally tough. It’s part of the game, and part of the business. You’re going to have guys come in every year and try to take your spot – you just have to give your all on the field and hope for the best. That’s all you can do. Every day, train hard, get better, improve, and that’s all you can ask for,” said Franco.

While there will be a few familiar bodies in the starting XI Wednesday night, the spotlight will be shining on those with a point to prove, and now a stage to prove it on.

 

One Eye on Two Competitions

The other half of tomorrow night is the difficulty of touching the top in separate competitions. For Coach Tim Hankinson, the emphasis is being placed on the competition within closest reach. Right now, that’s the 2016 Spring Season where the Eleven are two games away from potentially being champions assuming they take six points out of six and get some help from Fort Lauderdale against the front-running New York Cosmos on Saturday night.

However, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a prestigious tournament in its own right, and one that’s gaining more notoriety with each passing year. To not go all out in an attempt to progress would be to disrespect the occasion of the match – something Coach Hankinson is strongly opposed to. Therefore, a balance must be found in the team between going all out for the Spring title and going for the U.S. Open Cup, where the Eleven were not up to the task last season against this same Louisville side.

 

Who to Watch, Indy Eleven edition: MF Duke Lacroix

Like Marco Franco, Duke Lacroix is another player with a likely chance to showcase his talents when the Eleven take the field tomorrow night in this #USOC2016 Third Round encounter. Lacroix, who featured in the first XI in Indy’s first three games to start 2016, has a tendency to flash through the back line and create chances for teammates waiting in the area – or slash inside and create for himself.

While the winger has an eye for goal, he also has a variety in skillset that will allow him to be one of Coach Hank’s most formidable weapons. While he’s the youngest player on the squad as 22 years of age, he’ll still be tasked with jumpstarting the team’s attack against a LCFC defense that has allowed just nine goals in 11 matches and also shut down the Indy attack when the two met in a 1-0 Lou City win in a March preseason fixture.

 

Who to Watch, Louisville City FC edition: FW Jon Chandler Hoffman

A monster in front of net, Chandler Hoffman has netted seven times in ten appearances to put him at third on the USL’s scoring chart. A physical forward with MLS experience, Hoffman most recently played with the Houston Dynamo before going on a loan spell with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Now he commands the attack for the third-highest scoring team in the USL with a chance to prove himself in front of a NASL side.

While it was Andrew Lubahn who scored the winner against Indy in the preseason, Hoffman will want to get off the mark quickly when the two meet tomorrow. An Eleven defense that may have some moving parts will have to communicate effectively and clear their line their lines properly to avoid letting a chance slip through to the scrappy forward.

 

Match-up to Mark: FW Jair Reinoso vs. Lou City goalkeeper TBD

Jair Reinoso has been a fairly major player this season as one of multiple new signings in Coach Hankinson’s attack. He scored the opening goal on the road at Rayo OKC and has shown his ability both on the ball and off, brushing past players with pace while making enough runs forward to outlast Roadrunner.

Playing time has been limited as he worked himself to full fitness through the first month of the season, but he’s shown the ability to both finish (see his stunning strike at Rayo OKC) in addition to set up a teammate as he did with Braun last weekend. One challenge for Wednesday, though, is not knowing the opposition goalkeeper – whether Joseph Goodwin steps in net or his teammate Gregory Ranjitsingh. Both have registered six appearances – Goodwin having conceded eight goals while making 17 saves to Ranjitsingh’s one conceded and 10 saves.

Regardless who is minding the net for LCFC tomorrow, the focus remains the same for Reinoso: make goals happen, then survive and advance. 

PREVIEW: #INDvLOU

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview

Indy Eleven vs. Louisville City FC (USL)
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Third Round
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

 

Team Records:

 

Watch Live:

  • No TV/streaming video

 

Listen Live:

 

Follow Live:

 

Media Game Notes:

 

Indy Eleven and Louisville City FC are in a peculiar position … geographically they are just two hours apart (or 90 minutes depending on your driving style), but they are separately by league affiliation, putting a wedge in a potential rivalry. However, U.S. Soccer has done fans of both sides a favor for a second straight season, pitting the two together in a Third Round fixture in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup once again – a game that will again be contested at “The Mike.”

While Indy Eleven’s arrival to the American soccer scene preceded Louisville’s by a year, it’s been the newcomers holding the advantage between the two by taking last year’s Third Round affair by a 2-0 score in added extra time in addition to a preseason result each of the last two seasons. While most preseason contests are ragged affairs – the new group of Boys in Blue was still very much figuring things out during the contest this past March – and the results count for nothing, tendencies can be learned, and grudges can fester from them.

Sure, it’s not fit to call the occasional meeting between Indy and Louisville a rivalry at this point, but there will indeed be more than a Fourth Round pairing against MLS’ Chicago Fire SC when the two sides clash on Wednesday night.

 

Last Time Out – Jacksonville Armada FC 1 : 1 Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven travelled to the Sunshine State for the first of two visits in one week, this time to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville where they faced Jacksonville Armada FC.

It was a lethargic start for the “Boys in Blue” as the humid conditions added an extra challenge to the night, and the hosts took advantage of a prostrated midfield to get on the board first. After pummeling ‘keeper Jon Busch with repeated shots in the first half hour – only to see the veteran equal to every effort – captain Matt Bahner rocketed home a distance effort that beat Busch to his near post to give Armada FC a 1-nil advantage. The closest “Indiana’s Team” got to goal was a point-blank header from Eamon Zayed that was denied well by JAX ‘netminder Sebastian Evers.

The second half brought a bit of a flurry from both sides as the Eleven clawed their way towards an equalizer while Jacksonville attempted to build on their one goal lead. In the 73rd minute, Jacksonville’s lead gave way to a thumping header from Justin Braun, his second tally in as many games. Impact substitute Jair Reinoso raced towards the end line and lifted a ball dead center of the box, where Braun put his vertical leap to the test and knocked in an equalizer past substitute ‘keeper Miguel Gallardo.

Both sides scrambled for a winner towards the end of the match, and substitute winger Duke Lacroix nearly created the perfect chance as he drove a low ball into the area, but with no teammates there to meet his cross the chance fell through. The 1-1 draw might not have been the full three they wanted to take back, but it did elevate Indiana’s Team to second place in the 2016 Spring Season table with two matches remaining – this weekend’s visit to Miami FC and a home match against the Carolina Railhawks on June 11.

RECAP | Jax Armada FC 1 : 1 Indy Eleven

 

Testing Squad Depth

A week with a congested fixture list means one where the depth of the squad will be tested. For “Indiana’s Team,” that means some new faces … and some old faces that may seem new again.

For a perfect example, see Eleven defender Marco Franco. One of the more well-known “Boys in Blue,” he suited up for nearly every regular season match last year and ranked first in minutes played during the 2015 NASL season.  However, on a roster that only retained eleven players there were bound to be challenges for the starting spot in each position. Franco has started only one match for Indy Eleven – Saturday night’s bout with Jacksonville Armada FC in place of an injured Lovel Palmer. For him, though, it is necessary to keep a “next man up” mentality going forward.

“You just have to be mentally tough. It’s part of the game, and part of the business. You’re going to have guys come in every year and try to take your spot – you just have to give your all on the field and hope for the best. That’s all you can do. Every day, train hard, get better, improve, and that’s all you can ask for,” said Franco.

While there will be a few familiar bodies in the starting XI Wednesday night, the spotlight will be shining on those with a point to prove, and now a stage to prove it on.

 

One Eye on Two Competitions

The other half of tomorrow night is the difficulty of touching the top in separate competitions. For Coach Tim Hankinson, the emphasis is being placed on the competition within closest reach. Right now, that’s the 2016 Spring Season where the Eleven are two games away from potentially being champions assuming they take six points out of six and get some help from Fort Lauderdale against the front-running New York Cosmos on Saturday night.

However, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a prestigious tournament in its own right, and one that’s gaining more notoriety with each passing year. To not go all out in an attempt to progress would be to disrespect the occasion of the match – something Coach Hankinson is strongly opposed to. Therefore, a balance must be found in the team between going all out for the Spring title and going for the U.S. Open Cup, where the Eleven were not up to the task last season against this same Louisville side.

 

Who to Watch, Indy Eleven edition: MF Duke Lacroix

Like Marco Franco, Duke Lacroix is another player with a likely chance to showcase his talents when the Eleven take the field tomorrow night in this #USOC2016 Third Round encounter. Lacroix, who featured in the first XI in Indy’s first three games to start 2016, has a tendency to flash through the back line and create chances for teammates waiting in the area – or slash inside and create for himself.

While the winger has an eye for goal, he also has a variety in skillset that will allow him to be one of Coach Hank’s most formidable weapons. While he’s the youngest player on the squad as 22 years of age, he’ll still be tasked with jumpstarting the team’s attack against a LCFC defense that has allowed just nine goals in 11 matches and also shut down the Indy attack when the two met in a 1-0 Lou City win in a March preseason fixture.

 

Who to Watch, Louisville City FC edition: FW Jon Chandler Hoffman

A monster in front of net, Chandler Hoffman has netted seven times in ten appearances to put him at third on the USL’s scoring chart. A physical forward with MLS experience, Hoffman most recently played with the Houston Dynamo before going on a loan spell with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Now he commands the attack for the third-highest scoring team in the USL with a chance to prove himself in front of a NASL side.

While it was Andrew Lubahn who scored the winner against Indy in the preseason, Hoffman will want to get off the mark quickly when the two meet tomorrow. An Eleven defense that may have some moving parts will have to communicate effectively and clear their line their lines properly to avoid letting a chance slip through to the scrappy forward.

 

Match-up to Mark: FW Jair Reinoso vs. Lou City goalkeeper TBD

Jair Reinoso has been a fairly major player this season as one of multiple new signings in Coach Hankinson’s attack. He scored the opening goal on the road at Rayo OKC and has shown his ability both on the ball and off, brushing past players with pace while making enough runs forward to outlast Roadrunner.

Playing time has been limited as he worked himself to full fitness through the first month of the season, but he’s shown the ability to both finish (see his stunning strike at Rayo OKC) in addition to set up a teammate as he did with Braun last weekend. One challenge for Wednesday, though, is not knowing the opposition goalkeeper – whether Joseph Goodwin steps in net or his teammate Gregory Ranjitsingh. Both have registered six appearances – Goodwin having conceded eight goals while making 17 saves to Ranjitsingh’s one conceded and 10 saves.

Regardless who is minding the net for LCFC tomorrow, the focus remains the same for Reinoso: make goals happen, then survive and advance. 

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