News

#INDvMEM Gameday Preview  

Indy Eleven vs. Memphis 901 FC

Saturday, July 17, 2021 – 7:00 P.M. ET  

Michael A. Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

FOLLOW LIVE  

Local/National TV: MyINDY-TV 23

Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  

Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 94.3 FM / exitos943.com

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   

Live stats: #INDvMEM MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-3D, 15 pts. (-2 GD); 4th in Central Division

Memphis 901 FC: 3W-4L-3D, 12 pts. (-3GD); 8th in Central Division

What the Boys in Blue absolutely did not do last Saturday was play 46’ of a soccer game. There certainly wasn't a weather delay followed by a power outage at OKC Energy FC’s Taft Stadium. Cammy Smith totally did not score his second goal of the season in the first half to initially put Indy Eleven up 1-0, before Energy FC found the back of the net to equalize. None of that happened, alright? Instead, OKC Energy and Indy Eleven will play at a later date. The Time Variance Authority forgives you for your confusion and encourages you to get ready for Indy Eleven’s match against Memphis 901 FC this Saturday at Carroll Stadium.

Indiana’s Team returns home looking to turn around its fortunes at The Mike, a task that will once again need to get done without defender Neveal Hackshaw, one of four USL Championship standouts representing Trinidad and Tobago at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Indy will have to continue to patch the hole he leaves in their defense, as opposing teams average just over five more shots when Hackshaw isn’t present in the backline (11.5-16.75). Results have not favored the Boys in Blue when the 25-year-old has been absent on national team duty, but while their 0W-3L-1D record in such games could be cause for alarm, only one goal conceded in each of those last two outings – including the latest performance last Wednesday at Atlanta United 2 that saw the Eleven boast a season-high eight shots blocked and 12 interceptions – shows the coping mechanisms are coming into form.

Something that certainly isn’t lacking for Indy is the high volume of production they’re seeing from its goalkeepers. Jordan Farr, Bobby Edwards and Eric Dick have all stepped in between the sticks across the first 13 12 games, the first time in franchise history that Indy has had three different goalkeepers appear in goal in one season, with each making a significant impact. Farr, now in his fourth season with Indiana’s Team, is the #1 in the box, having registered 25 saves before he was sidelined with a wrist injury in June. Edwards stepped up in a big way, registering eight saves in his Indy Eleven debut at Sporting Kansas City II on June 20 that helped elevate his side to a much needed 2-1 victory. The Butler University Alumnus Dick was brought in on loan from Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew SC in response to Farr’s injury and made his debut against ATL UTD 2 with an inspired performance that saw seven saves from the Carmel native. With top showings from a rotating cast of ‘keepers, there’s no doubt that there are safe hands in goal for Indy, making Interim Head Coach Max Rogers’ top of the lineup sheet decision both easy and difficult at the same time.

Memphis 901 FC come into this weekend trying to find their way out of the basement of the Central Division – although their situation is not as dire as it first appears. Memphis has been riddled with injuries and players missing due to international duty throughout the 2021 season, but are starting to find solid footing and carry multiple games in hand on all but one Central foe. Kyle Murphy has caught fire in the goalscoring department for the Bluff City squad, having netted four times in the past three games and earning a nod to the bench of the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 11 after scoring twice against Atlanta United 2.

It wasn’t all blue skies for Memphis in that game against ATLUTD 2 however, as they lost starting goalkeeper John Brener to a season-ending injury. However, Memphis signed former Saint Louis FC goalkeeper Kyle Morton on loan from MLS’ Houston Dynamo, providing a more than suitable back-up plan. Morton wasted no time, grabbing a clean sheet and helping Memphis take down Central Division leaders Birmingham Legion FC 1-0 in his debut last Saturday.

 

SERIES HISTORY

USL Championship Regular Season: 3W-1L-0D (11 GF/ 4 GA)

USLC Regular Season Home: 1W-1L-0D (4 GF/2 GA)

June 5 | IND 1:2 MEM

IND: Ouimette 90+6’

MEM: Salazar 3’, Murphy 35’

Saturday vs. Memphis (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sat., Sep. 22 at Memphis (8:00 p.m. ET)

Sat., Oct. 30 at Memphis (7:00 p.m. ET)

Indy Eleven will look to avenge its loss last time out against the Memphian side, which featured some questionable calls that didn’t fall in Indy’s favor. The most infamous was perhaps the “no-goal” call on forward Manuel Arteaga’s shot that banged off the bar and straight down across the goal line before rebounding back into play, for what would’ve been his third on the season at that point. It wasn’t meant to be for Arteaga or the Eleven that night, as they would eventually fall to Memphis 2-1, nearly clawing their way back into it after a goal from defender Karl Ouimette six minutes into second half stoppage time and a surge of Indy play right before the final whistle.

The Boys in Blue have historically owned this series, never scoring less than three goals in a meeting before first meeting of 2021. That includes their only previous meeting in Indy prior to 2021, a 3-0 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 5, 2019.

 

IND Player to Watch: MF Nick Moon

Another game, another player to watch nod for Nick Moon. Since (again) Indy definitely in no way played a game last Saturday, it’s only fair to highlight Moon for the Eleven’s matchup with Memphis (again). Moon’s versatility has been on full display through the 2021 campaign. In his second year with the Boys in Blue, Moon has featured in several different roles for Indy, mostly on the right side. Last year, Moon mostly played in a forward position for Indy, but Moon has experienced playing in both offensive and defensive positions through his collegiate career and into his rookie season with former USL League One side Lansing Ignite, where he earned a spot on the inaugural All-League Second Team for his efforts.

That hasn’t stopped his offensive production though, as the 25-year-old is currently second on the team with two assists on nine chances created. Moon looked dangerous once again in Saturday’s scrimmage, dribbling up and down that right side and looking for opportunities in attack.

Moon has been impressively on the wing, having won 66 duels so far this season (only trailing Arteaga’s 80) as well as adding 15 clearances and nine interceptions. Numbers don’t lie – Moon is a strong contributor up and down the flank for the Eleven, and they’ll need him to step up on both sides of the ball in order to send Memphis home to face the music.

 

MEM Player to Watch: GK Kyle Morton

Morton returns to USL Championship play once again after the former Saint Louis FC goalkeeper made the move to Major League Soccer with Houston Dynamo during the offseason. With Brenner now out due to a season-ending injury, Morton has been brought in on loan by Memphis to boost the side’s goalkeeping corps. The 27-year-old has spent a bevy of time with different USL Championship sides including the Rochester Rhinos, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, and most recently Saint Louis FC (R.I.P). Indy tallied a 1W-2L-1D record against Morton-guarded goals in 2020, the ‘keeper collecting a clean sheet and clinched playoff berth for STL along the way. Morton was also named as a 2020 USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year for his efforts.

In Morton’s Memphis 901 FC debut he helped propel his new team to perhaps its biggest victory of the season so far, taking down division leader Birmingham Legion FC 1-0. The West Chester, Pennsylvania, native came up in a big way with eight saves over the course of the match, earning a spot on the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 12 for his performance. The James Madison University alum is going to be a tough one to beat Saturday, but one of Indy’s missions will no doubt be throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at Morton.

#INDvMEM Gameday Preview  

Indy Eleven vs. Memphis 901 FC

Saturday, July 17, 2021 – 7:00 P.M. ET  

Michael A. Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

FOLLOW LIVE  

Local/National TV: MyINDY-TV 23

Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  

Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 94.3 FM / exitos943.com

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   

Live stats: #INDvMEM MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-3D, 15 pts. (-2 GD); 4th in Central Division

Memphis 901 FC: 3W-4L-3D, 12 pts. (-3GD); 8th in Central Division

What the Boys in Blue absolutely did not do last Saturday was play 46’ of a soccer game. There certainly wasn’t a weather delay followed by a power outage at OKC Energy FC’s Taft Stadium. Cammy Smith totally did not score his second goal of the season in the first half to initially put Indy Eleven up 1-0, before Energy FC found the back of the net to equalize. None of that happened, alright? Instead, OKC Energy and Indy Eleven will play at a later date. The Time Variance Authority forgives you for your confusion and encourages you to get ready for Indy Eleven’s match against Memphis 901 FC this Saturday at Carroll Stadium.

Indiana’s Team returns home looking to turn around its fortunes at The Mike, a task that will once again need to get done without defender Neveal Hackshaw, one of four USL Championship standouts representing Trinidad and Tobago at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Indy will have to continue to patch the hole he leaves in their defense, as opposing teams average just over five more shots when Hackshaw isn’t present in the backline (11.5-16.75). Results have not favored the Boys in Blue when the 25-year-old has been absent on national team duty, but while their 0W-3L-1D record in such games could be cause for alarm, only one goal conceded in each of those last two outings – including the latest performance last Wednesday at Atlanta United 2 that saw the Eleven boast a season-high eight shots blocked and 12 interceptions – shows the coping mechanisms are coming into form.

Something that certainly isn’t lacking for Indy is the high volume of production they’re seeing from its goalkeepers. Jordan Farr, Bobby Edwards and Eric Dick have all stepped in between the sticks across the first 13 12 games, the first time in franchise history that Indy has had three different goalkeepers appear in goal in one season, with each making a significant impact. Farr, now in his fourth season with Indiana’s Team, is the #1 in the box, having registered 25 saves before he was sidelined with a wrist injury in June. Edwards stepped up in a big way, registering eight saves in his Indy Eleven debut at Sporting Kansas City II on June 20 that helped elevate his side to a much needed 2-1 victory. The Butler University Alumnus Dick was brought in on loan from Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew SC in response to Farr’s injury and made his debut against ATL UTD 2 with an inspired performance that saw seven saves from the Carmel native. With top showings from a rotating cast of ‘keepers, there’s no doubt that there are safe hands in goal for Indy, making Interim Head Coach Max Rogers’ top of the lineup sheet decision both easy and difficult at the same time.

Memphis 901 FC come into this weekend trying to find their way out of the basement of the Central Division – although their situation is not as dire as it first appears. Memphis has been riddled with injuries and players missing due to international duty throughout the 2021 season, but are starting to find solid footing and carry multiple games in hand on all but one Central foe. Kyle Murphy has caught fire in the goalscoring department for the Bluff City squad, having netted four times in the past three games and earning a nod to the bench of the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 11 after scoring twice against Atlanta United 2.

It wasn’t all blue skies for Memphis in that game against ATLUTD 2 however, as they lost starting goalkeeper John Brener to a season-ending injury. However, Memphis signed former Saint Louis FC goalkeeper Kyle Morton on loan from MLS’ Houston Dynamo, providing a more than suitable back-up plan. Morton wasted no time, grabbing a clean sheet and helping Memphis take down Central Division leaders Birmingham Legion FC 1-0 in his debut last Saturday.

 

SERIES HISTORY

USL Championship Regular Season: 3W-1L-0D (11 GF/ 4 GA)

USLC Regular Season Home: 1W-1L-0D (4 GF/2 GA)

June 5 | IND 1:2 MEM

IND: Ouimette 90+6’

MEM: Salazar 3’, Murphy 35’

Saturday vs. Memphis (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sat., Sep. 22 at Memphis (8:00 p.m. ET)

Sat., Oct. 30 at Memphis (7:00 p.m. ET)

Indy Eleven will look to avenge its loss last time out against the Memphian side, which featured some questionable calls that didn’t fall in Indy’s favor. The most infamous was perhaps the “no-goal” call on forward Manuel Arteaga’s shot that banged off the bar and straight down across the goal line before rebounding back into play, for what would’ve been his third on the season at that point. It wasn’t meant to be for Arteaga or the Eleven that night, as they would eventually fall to Memphis 2-1, nearly clawing their way back into it after a goal from defender Karl Ouimette six minutes into second half stoppage time and a surge of Indy play right before the final whistle.

The Boys in Blue have historically owned this series, never scoring less than three goals in a meeting before first meeting of 2021. That includes their only previous meeting in Indy prior to 2021, a 3-0 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 5, 2019.

 

IND Player to Watch: MF Nick Moon

Another game, another player to watch nod for Nick Moon. Since (again) Indy definitely in no way played a game last Saturday, it’s only fair to highlight Moon for the Eleven’s matchup with Memphis (again). Moon’s versatility has been on full display through the 2021 campaign. In his second year with the Boys in Blue, Moon has featured in several different roles for Indy, mostly on the right side. Last year, Moon mostly played in a forward position for Indy, but Moon has experienced playing in both offensive and defensive positions through his collegiate career and into his rookie season with former USL League One side Lansing Ignite, where he earned a spot on the inaugural All-League Second Team for his efforts.

That hasn’t stopped his offensive production though, as the 25-year-old is currently second on the team with two assists on nine chances created. Moon looked dangerous once again in Saturday’s scrimmage, dribbling up and down that right side and looking for opportunities in attack.

Moon has been impressively on the wing, having won 66 duels so far this season (only trailing Arteaga’s 80) as well as adding 15 clearances and nine interceptions. Numbers don’t lie – Moon is a strong contributor up and down the flank for the Eleven, and they’ll need him to step up on both sides of the ball in order to send Memphis home to face the music.

 

MEM Player to Watch: GK Kyle Morton

Morton returns to USL Championship play once again after the former Saint Louis FC goalkeeper made the move to Major League Soccer with Houston Dynamo during the offseason. With Brenner now out due to a season-ending injury, Morton has been brought in on loan by Memphis to boost the side’s goalkeeping corps. The 27-year-old has spent a bevy of time with different USL Championship sides including the Rochester Rhinos, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, and most recently Saint Louis FC (R.I.P). Indy tallied a 1W-2L-1D record against Morton-guarded goals in 2020, the ‘keeper collecting a clean sheet and clinched playoff berth for STL along the way. Morton was also named as a 2020 USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year for his efforts.

In Morton’s Memphis 901 FC debut he helped propel his new team to perhaps its biggest victory of the season so far, taking down division leader Birmingham Legion FC 1-0. The West Chester, Pennsylvania, native came up in a big way with eight saves over the course of the match, earning a spot on the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 12 for his performance. The James Madison University alum is going to be a tough one to beat Saturday, but one of Indy’s missions will no doubt be throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at Morton.

TAMPA/INDIANAPOLIS – The USL Championship announced today the contest between OKC Energy FC and Indy Eleven that was abandoned prior to completion on July 10 due to heavy rain and lightning in the vicinity of Taft Stadium and a subsequent power outage at the venue has been rescheduled.

The teams will now meet on Wednesday, Sept. 29, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. Under USL Championship rules, the game will be replayed in its entirety from the opening kickoff.

The game will be the second in the Oklahoma capital in a four-day span for Indiana’s Team, which will first meet OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 26, for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.

Indy Eleven (4W-5L-3D, 15 pts.; 4th in Central Division) returns to action this Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night presented by Community Health Network against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

TAMPA/INDIANAPOLIS – The USL Championship announced today the contest between OKC Energy FC and Indy Eleven that was abandoned prior to completion on July 10 due to heavy rain and lightning in the vicinity of Taft Stadium and a subsequent power outage at the venue has been rescheduled.

The teams will now meet on Wednesday, Sept. 29, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. Under USL Championship rules, the game will be replayed in its entirety from the opening kickoff.

The game will be the second in the Oklahoma capital in a four-day span for Indiana’s Team, which will first meet OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 26, for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.

Indy Eleven (4W-5L-3D, 15 pts.; 4th in Central Division) returns to action this Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night presented by Community Health Network against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Indy Eleven’s match at OKC Energy FC this evening was postponed early in the second half following storms that pummeled the Oklahoma City area and a subsequent power outage at Taft Stadium that compounded the difficult conditions. The portion of the match that was contested will be abandoned, and the full match will be made up on a yet to be determined date.

Indiana’s Team and OKC Energy were tied at 1-1 when the match was halted not even a full minute into the second half, goals by Indy’s Cammy Smith in the 15th minute and OKC’s Frank Lope in the 20th minute offsetting each other at the time. Those goals – and all other statistics from the abandoned match – will be stricken from the record books, with the teams starting fresh and playing the full 90 minutes on the settled upon make-up date.

Indy Eleven (4W-5L-3D, 15 pts.; 4th in Central Division) will return to action at home next Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Indy Eleven’s match at OKC Energy FC this evening was postponed early in the second half following storms that pummeled the Oklahoma City area and a subsequent power outage at Taft Stadium that compounded the difficult conditions. The portion of the match that was contested will be abandoned, and the full match will be made up on a yet to be determined date.

Indiana’s Team and OKC Energy were tied at 1-1 when the match was halted not even a full minute into the second half, goals by Indy’s Cammy Smith in the 15th minute and OKC’s Frank Lope in the 20th minute offsetting each other at the time. Those goals – and all other statistics from the abandoned match – will be stricken from the record books, with the teams starting fresh and playing the full 90 minutes on the settled upon make-up date.

Indy Eleven (4W-5L-3D, 15 pts.; 4th in Central Division) will return to action at home next Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

#OKCvIND Gameday Preview  

Indy Eleven at Oklahoma Energy FC

Saturday, July 10, 2021 – 8:30 P.M. ET  

Taft Stadium | Oklahoma City, Okla.

FOLLOW LIVE  

Local/National TV: N/A

Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  

Radio (Spanish): N/A

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   

Live stats: #OKCvIND MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
Official Indy Eleven Watch Party Locations: Ellison Brewing Co. | Union Jack Pub

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven 4W-5L-3D, 15 pts. (-2 GD); 4th in Central Division

OKC Energy FC 3W-4L-5D, 14 pts. (-2GD); 6th in Central Division

 

The Boys in Blue continue this week’s road show Saturday at OKC Energy FC on short rest after their 1-1 draw at Atlanta United 2 three days prior. The Eleven snatched the lead when Jordan Hamilton netted his team-leading fourth goal in the 64th minute after a wonderful ball in from Nick Moon. Ultimately, Atlanta would level the game late when Manchester United loanee Connor Stanley made a swift turn inside the box to fire home a well-placed goal in the 73rd minute. This leaves Indy undefeated in their last three road contests (1W-0L-2D), but also winless their last three times out overall (0W-1L-2D), leaving the squad eager to take three points away from an OKC team that has been energized as of late.

Through the highs and lows of Indy’s play throughout the season a consistent bright spot has been the performances of their wide players. Six of the Eleven’s ten assists have come from players who were gracing the wings, with five of those coming from the combination of Moon and forward Gordon Wild. It’s perhaps unfair to classify Wild as a “wide player” as he is naturally more of a traditional attacking midfielder or center forward, but the German has found a sort of second home manning Indy’s right forward position at times, swinging in crosses or dribbling through the defense. The Boys in Blue also rely on these wide players to be disruptive in defense and force opposing offenses inside where they let the likes of Indy’s center backs and holding midfielders knock balls away.

The Boys in Blue have looked their best when they use the creativity of the wide players to draw out defenses, allowing for central attacking players to become unmarked and deliver balls into the box. Moon was an immediate disruptor upon entering Wednesday night’s match at the half, and the attention he demanded resulted in space for others like was seen on the Hamilton goal.  Movements and chances like that are going to be what boost Indy’s goal conversion rate and garner the team increased attacking success. Indy’s offense has looked far more creative in recent weeks, now familiarity and consistency are the keys to putting it all together, and the boys on the wings will have a lot to do with that success.

Someone who will not be featuring for the Boys in Blue for some time is Indy’s favorite Trinidad and Tobago international, Neveal Hackshaw. The Soca Warriors defeated French Guinea in thrilling fashion, defeating them in penalties 8-7 (following a 1-1 draw), with Hackshaw converting the second penalty for the island nation. This means the Eleven will be without Hackshaw for at least the next two matches – Saturday at OKC and July 17 vs. Memphis 901 FC – and potentially longer should T&T pull an upset and advance from Group A in CONCACAF Gold Cup play.

His absence makes it even more of a challenge to incorporate fresh legs in defense on Saturday, but there are still options. With Jared Timmer, A. J. Cochran and Rece Buckmaster all starting both Saturday and Wednesday, look for some more possible rotation to keep things fresh and funky against the Energy, with Ayoze, Karl Ouimette and Nedeljko Malic being the freshest options, and Moon and Patrick Seagrist also working on less than the full 180 minutes across the last two outings.

OKC Energy FC are coming into this match with the energy of a toddler who just woke up from a nap. The Greens are on a four-match unbeaten streak, winning three of those, in a run of play that has birthed new life into their season. The Energy’s former manager, John Pascarella and OKC parted ways just two days after OKC’s 1-1 draw with Indy on June 2, and since then interim manager Leigh Veidman has his side feeling inspired, defeating Memphis 901 FC, Sporting Kansas City II, and ATL 2, all before a scoreless draw with FC Tulsa last Friday.

OKC has been getting it done defensively, only allowing two goals over this stretch and keeping two clean sheets. The Energy’s backline is being led by Connor Donavon and former Eleven center back Mitch Osmond, with that pair combining for an audacious 82 clearances, 29 blocks and 55 interceptions so far this season. The Greens haven’t been incredibly active offensively, only finding the back of the net ten times, but with a defense playing as well as OKC’s it may only take one goal for the Energy to find themselves in a spot to take points from any matchup.

 

SERIES HISTORY:

Overall: 0W-0L-1D (1 GF/1 GA)

Away: FIRST MEETING
 

June 2 | IND 1:1 OKC

IND: Moon 42’

OKC: Lopez 69’

Saturday at OKC (8:30 p.m. ET)

Sat., Aug. 14 vs. OKC (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sun., Sept. 26 at OKC (6:00 p.m. ET)

Indy Eleven is no stranger to away days to the Sooner State, but it’s been five years since the team’s last trip to Oklahoma as it plans for its first USL Championship-era stop at Taft Stadium. The last time Indy made its way to the Electric City (no, not Scranton, Pa.) was to battle the now defunct Rayo OKC in the 2016 NASL Fall Season, in which Indy fell 2-1.

When the OKC Energy came to visit on June 2, the points were shared. Moon was able to open the scoring in the 42nd minute, but three points weren’t in the cards for the Boys in Blue as Frank López equalized for the Greens a little past the hour mark. Both Indy and OKC will look to tilt the nascent series in their favor as the schedule creeps towards the halfway point of the season.

 

IND Player to Watch: MF Nick Moon

Moon’s versatility has been on full display through the 2021 campaign, the second-year attacker having featured in several different roles for the Boys in Blue, mostly on the right side. Last year, Moon mostly played in a forward position for Indy, often playing second fiddle to former Eleven target man Tyler Pasher. Moon has experienced playing in both offensive and defensive positions through his colligate career and into his rookie season with former USL League One side Lansing Ignite, where he earned a spot on the inaugural All-League Second Team for his efforts. Though he’s spent a considerable amount of minutes in the attacking third during his time in Indy, Moon has since dropped back along the right flank while teammate Carl Haworth continues to rehab from a preseason injury. That hasn’t stopped his offensive production, as the 25-year-old is currently second on the team with two assists on nine chances created, also netting once in the previous meeting against OKC.

The Moon man has done well for himself defensively on the wing too, having won 66 duels so far this season (only trailing Manuel Arteaga’s 80) as well as adding 15 clearances and nine interceptions. Obviously, Moon is a strong contributor up and down the flank for the Eleven, and they’ll need him Saturday as the team concludes another grueling three-game week.

 

OKC Player to Watch: FW Villyan Bijev

With his induction to Energy FC’s roster during the offseason, Bijev could very well be the missing attacking piece OKC having been searching for.. The Liverpool FC academy product is well traveled at the age of 28, having made stops in England, Germany, and his native Bulgaria before coming stateside in 2016 with Portland Timbers 2. Following a standout year with Timbers 2 that saw the striker named to the All-League First Team, Bijev was picked up by Western Conference giants Sacramento Republic FC and became one of the most recognizable names across the league during his tenure in the Golden State (2017-2020).

The Bulgarian has slammed home three goals in the past five games for the Greens, helping them find points in four out of those five. Bijev has slotted home four of OKC’s ten goals so far this season while also accumulating two assists over his 11 appearances. He’s creating chances at a high rate as well with 12 so far, which is good for third best on OKC. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find an offensive statistical category for the Energy where Bijev isn’t near the top or at the top, showing just how integral he is to OKC’s offense. The Greens leading scorer stands at six feet tall and is good in the air and his physicality makes him a target man, something the Boys in Blue will have to keep a continual eye on throughout Saturday’s match.

#OKCvIND Gameday Preview  

Indy Eleven at Oklahoma Energy FC

Saturday, July 10, 2021 – 8:30 P.M. ET  

Taft Stadium | Oklahoma City, Okla.

FOLLOW LIVE  

Local/National TV: N/A

Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  

Radio (Spanish): N/A

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   

Live stats: #OKCvIND MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
Official Indy Eleven Watch Party Locations: Ellison Brewing Co. | Union Jack Pub

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven 4W-5L-3D, 15 pts. (-2 GD); 4th in Central Division

OKC Energy FC 3W-4L-5D, 14 pts. (-2GD); 6th in Central Division

 

The Boys in Blue continue this week’s road show Saturday at OKC Energy FC on short rest after their 1-1 draw at Atlanta United 2 three days prior. The Eleven snatched the lead when Jordan Hamilton netted his team-leading fourth goal in the 64th minute after a wonderful ball in from Nick Moon. Ultimately, Atlanta would level the game late when Manchester United loanee Connor Stanley made a swift turn inside the box to fire home a well-placed goal in the 73rd minute. This leaves Indy undefeated in their last three road contests (1W-0L-2D), but also winless their last three times out overall (0W-1L-2D), leaving the squad eager to take three points away from an OKC team that has been energized as of late.

Through the highs and lows of Indy’s play throughout the season a consistent bright spot has been the performances of their wide players. Six of the Eleven’s ten assists have come from players who were gracing the wings, with five of those coming from the combination of Moon and forward Gordon Wild. It’s perhaps unfair to classify Wild as a “wide player” as he is naturally more of a traditional attacking midfielder or center forward, but the German has found a sort of second home manning Indy’s right forward position at times, swinging in crosses or dribbling through the defense. The Boys in Blue also rely on these wide players to be disruptive in defense and force opposing offenses inside where they let the likes of Indy’s center backs and holding midfielders knock balls away.

The Boys in Blue have looked their best when they use the creativity of the wide players to draw out defenses, allowing for central attacking players to become unmarked and deliver balls into the box. Moon was an immediate disruptor upon entering Wednesday night’s match at the half, and the attention he demanded resulted in space for others like was seen on the Hamilton goal.  Movements and chances like that are going to be what boost Indy’s goal conversion rate and garner the team increased attacking success. Indy’s offense has looked far more creative in recent weeks, now familiarity and consistency are the keys to putting it all together, and the boys on the wings will have a lot to do with that success.

Someone who will not be featuring for the Boys in Blue for some time is Indy’s favorite Trinidad and Tobago international, Neveal Hackshaw. The Soca Warriors defeated French Guinea in thrilling fashion, defeating them in penalties 8-7 (following a 1-1 draw), with Hackshaw converting the second penalty for the island nation. This means the Eleven will be without Hackshaw for at least the next two matches – Saturday at OKC and July 17 vs. Memphis 901 FC – and potentially longer should T&T pull an upset and advance from Group A in CONCACAF Gold Cup play.

His absence makes it even more of a challenge to incorporate fresh legs in defense on Saturday, but there are still options. With Jared Timmer, A. J. Cochran and Rece Buckmaster all starting both Saturday and Wednesday, look for some more possible rotation to keep things fresh and funky against the Energy, with Ayoze, Karl Ouimette and Nedeljko Malic being the freshest options, and Moon and Patrick Seagrist also working on less than the full 180 minutes across the last two outings.

OKC Energy FC are coming into this match with the energy of a toddler who just woke up from a nap. The Greens are on a four-match unbeaten streak, winning three of those, in a run of play that has birthed new life into their season. The Energy’s former manager, John Pascarella and OKC parted ways just two days after OKC’s 1-1 draw with Indy on June 2, and since then interim manager Leigh Veidman has his side feeling inspired, defeating Memphis 901 FC, Sporting Kansas City II, and ATL 2, all before a scoreless draw with FC Tulsa last Friday.

OKC has been getting it done defensively, only allowing two goals over this stretch and keeping two clean sheets. The Energy’s backline is being led by Connor Donavon and former Eleven center back Mitch Osmond, with that pair combining for an audacious 82 clearances, 29 blocks and 55 interceptions so far this season. The Greens haven’t been incredibly active offensively, only finding the back of the net ten times, but with a defense playing as well as OKC’s it may only take one goal for the Energy to find themselves in a spot to take points from any matchup.

 

SERIES HISTORY:

Overall: 0W-0L-1D (1 GF/1 GA)

Away: FIRST MEETING
 

June 2 | IND 1:1 OKC

IND: Moon 42’

OKC: Lopez 69’

Saturday at OKC (8:30 p.m. ET)

Sat., Aug. 14 vs. OKC (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sun., Sept. 26 at OKC (6:00 p.m. ET)

Indy Eleven is no stranger to away days to the Sooner State, but it’s been five years since the team’s last trip to Oklahoma as it plans for its first USL Championship-era stop at Taft Stadium. The last time Indy made its way to the Electric City (no, not Scranton, Pa.) was to battle the now defunct Rayo OKC in the 2016 NASL Fall Season, in which Indy fell 2-1.

When the OKC Energy came to visit on June 2, the points were shared. Moon was able to open the scoring in the 42nd minute, but three points weren’t in the cards for the Boys in Blue as Frank López equalized for the Greens a little past the hour mark. Both Indy and OKC will look to tilt the nascent series in their favor as the schedule creeps towards the halfway point of the season.

 

IND Player to Watch: MF Nick Moon

Moon’s versatility has been on full display through the 2021 campaign, the second-year attacker having featured in several different roles for the Boys in Blue, mostly on the right side. Last year, Moon mostly played in a forward position for Indy, often playing second fiddle to former Eleven target man Tyler Pasher. Moon has experienced playing in both offensive and defensive positions through his colligate career and into his rookie season with former USL League One side Lansing Ignite, where he earned a spot on the inaugural All-League Second Team for his efforts. Though he’s spent a considerable amount of minutes in the attacking third during his time in Indy, Moon has since dropped back along the right flank while teammate Carl Haworth continues to rehab from a preseason injury. That hasn’t stopped his offensive production, as the 25-year-old is currently second on the team with two assists on nine chances created, also netting once in the previous meeting against OKC.

The Moon man has done well for himself defensively on the wing too, having won 66 duels so far this season (only trailing Manuel Arteaga’s 80) as well as adding 15 clearances and nine interceptions. Obviously, Moon is a strong contributor up and down the flank for the Eleven, and they’ll need him Saturday as the team concludes another grueling three-game week.

 

OKC Player to Watch: FW Villyan Bijev

With his induction to Energy FC’s roster during the offseason, Bijev could very well be the missing attacking piece OKC having been searching for.. The Liverpool FC academy product is well traveled at the age of 28, having made stops in England, Germany, and his native Bulgaria before coming stateside in 2016 with Portland Timbers 2. Following a standout year with Timbers 2 that saw the striker named to the All-League First Team, Bijev was picked up by Western Conference giants Sacramento Republic FC and became one of the most recognizable names across the league during his tenure in the Golden State (2017-2020).

The Bulgarian has slammed home three goals in the past five games for the Greens, helping them find points in four out of those five. Bijev has slotted home four of OKC’s ten goals so far this season while also accumulating two assists over his 11 appearances. He’s creating chances at a high rate as well with 12 so far, which is good for third best on OKC. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find an offensive statistical category for the Energy where Bijev isn’t near the top or at the top, showing just how integral he is to OKC’s offense. The Greens leading scorer stands at six feet tall and is good in the air and his physicality makes him a target man, something the Boys in Blue will have to keep a continual eye on throughout Saturday’s match.

KENNESAW, Georgia – Indy Eleven continued its trend of grinding out results on the road, using Jordan Hamilton’s fourth goal of the season and seven big saves by goalkeeper Eric Dick in his Eleven debut to notch a 1-1 draw against fellow Central Division foe Atlanta United 2.

Tonight’s draw kept Indy Eleven (4W-5L-3D, 15 pts.) one point in front of ATL UTD 2 (3W-4L-5D, 14 pts.) in the middle of the Central standings. The result also kept Indiana’s Team undefeated in its last three road outings and pushed its road record on the season to an impressive 3W-1L-2D mark.

"Atlanta are a team who are well-organized, and they have some good talented players,” said Indy Eleven Interim Head Coach Max Rogers. “This was the first time we’ve played against them this season, so there were a few unknowns, but it was just about reenforcing the messages that we spoke about before the game in terms of how we wanted to press and the little details behind it, and also having the confidence of going to play.”

Facing the middle match of a three-game week, Coach Rogers made six changes to his starting XI from Saturday’s home contest against Birmingham Legion FC, including giving Dick, the Carmel native and Columbus Crew SC loanee, his first start between the posts since arriving in mid-June.

“It was always the plan to play Eric. He trains really hard, he’s great in the locker room, and he’s a great person – which is so important,” commented Rogers. “You can see the saves that he made tonight were really good. As I always say, goalkeepers are allowed to make saves – that’s what they’re there to do. Eric did well and I’m sure he’s relieved in a sense to get match minutes and can go forward from there.”

While the open of the game was end to end, choppy field conditions made the play ragged and chances hard to come by. The first shot on goal came from Indy Eleven midfielder Gordon Wild, whose curling shot for the far-left post was collected on the fly by ATL UTD 2 goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.

Atlanta outside back Aiden McFadden pressed up into the right side of the area twice to press the issue in the middle of the half, but Dick would do well to cut off the angle both times, first darting hard off his line before guarding his near post with a kick save.

While Indy Eleven would find some space via quick build-ups on the counter as the half continued, none resulted in much danger until the 44th minute when it was Wild again firing from near the top of the area, this time sending his shot whistling past the upper right 90. ATL UTD 2 closed the half with forward Darwin Matheus’ hard shot being blocked by Eleven midfielder Jeremiah Gutjahr, the resulting corner being cleared to end the first 45 minutes scoreless.

Indy Eleven was the aggressor coming out of the second half, the fresh legs of Nick Moon providing some added energy from the right flank. While Indiana’s Team had plenty of movement in the final third in the first 10 minutes of the stanza, it was a set piece that midfielder Peter-Lee Vassell sent just high from 30 yards out in the 54th minute that provided the most danger.

Just after the hour mark it was Atlanta United 2 midfielder Chris Allan turning a half chance into a threat from 25 yards, but Dick did well to dive right and gather the skipping shot at his right post. A minute later, Atlanta sub Ajani Fortune tried his luck from 30 yards with a cheeky chip that floated harmlessly over the Eleven goal.

It was the Boys in Blue who finally broke through in the 64th minute, and it was the substitute Moon setting things up by picking off a pass at the edge of the final third and carrying into the right side of the area before cutting the ball back to the six. Hamilton hustled to get inside his mark and slid in to hook a shot around Rios Novo that gave Indy the lead, and Hamilton sole possession of the team lead in goals with four on the campaign.

Fortune tried to even up quickly with a flick from the corner of the six-yard box in the 69th minute, but Dick was quick off his line again to cut the angle and parry away for a corner. It was Fortune again being bold two minutes later, the forward ending his run from midfield with a 22-yard strike that clanged off the base of the left post and away from goal. The Five Stripes would indeed find their equalizer in the 72nd minute, when midfielder Connor Stanley accepted a ball 15 yards from goal with a one-touch turn away from traffic before firing into the far-right side, leveling the match at 1-1 heading into the final quarter hour.

Indy substitute forward Manuel Arteaga looked to put Indiana’s Team back up quickly, but his finish was negated after his splitting of the center backs was deemed to start from an offside position. Another man off the Eleven bench, midfielder Cammy Smith, tried to catch Rios Novo sleeping with a side-winding effort from 40 yards a minute later, the chance bouncing just wide left.  In the 82nd minute it was Moon setting up Arteaga with a through ball into the area, but the Venezuelan blasted his shot just past the upper right corner with only the ‘keeper to beat.

On the other end it was Dick making yet another huge stop in the 84th minute, this time batting away Alexander Garuba’s open header from 10 yards out. Three minutes later it was Rios Novo’s time to shine again, making a low save on Eleven midfielder Nicky Law’s placed shot towards the lower right corner and then pouncing on the rebound before Arteaga could tap in on the doorstep. After Arteaga pushed a shot from the top of the box just wide a minute later, Eleven substitute midfielder Aboubacar Sissoko once again pressed Rios Novo into action with a save of his hard blast from 20 yards, that chance in the final minute of regulation marking the final one of note to a frantic finish at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

A busy week on the road for Indiana’s Team continues this Saturday, July 10, when the Boys in Blue head west to the Sooner State to take on OKC Energy FC (8:30 p.m., live on ESPN+). Indy Eleven will return home next Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

 

2021 USL Championship Regular Season

Atlanta United 2  1 : 1  Indy Eleven

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 – 7:30 p.m. ET

Fifth Third Bank Stadium – Kennesaw, Ga.

Attendance: 638

 

USL Championship Records

Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-3D, 15 pts. (4th in Central Division)

Atlanta United 2: 3W-4L-5D, 14 pts. (5th in Central Division)

 

Scoring Summary:

IND – Jordan Hamilton (Nick Moon) 64’

ATL – Connor Stanley (unassisted) 73’

Disciplinary Summary:

No cards issued

Indy Eleven lineup (4-5-1, L–>R): Eric Dick; Patrick Seagrist, A.J. Cochran, Jared Timmer, Rece Buckmaster; Peter-Lee Vassell (Cammy Smith 65’), Nicky Law, Jeremiah Gutjahr (Aboubacar Sissoko 73’), Gershon Koffie, Gordon Wild (Nick Moon 45’); Jordan Hamilton (Manuel Arteaga 65’)

IND substitutes: Bobby Edwards (GK), Nedeljko Malić, Karl Ouimette

Atlanta United 2 line-up (4-4-2, L–>R): Rocco Rios Novo; Caleb Wiley, Bradley Kamdem Fewo, Bryce Washington, Aiden McFadden; Conner Stanley, William Reilly, Chris Allan, Robbie Mertz; Danial Sebhatu (Alexander Garuba 76’), Darwin Matheus (Ajani Fortune 55’)

ATL substitutes: Vicente Reyes, Abdoulaye Diop, Phillip Goodrum

KENNESAW, Georgia – Indy Eleven continued its trend of grinding out results on the road, using Jordan Hamilton’s fourth goal of the season and seven big saves by goalkeeper Eric Dick in his Eleven debut to notch a 1-1 draw against fellow Central Division foe Atlanta United 2.

Tonight’s draw kept Indy Eleven (4W-5L-3D, 15 pts.) one point in front of ATL UTD 2 (3W-4L-5D, 14 pts.) in the middle of the Central standings. The result also kept Indiana’s Team undefeated in its last three road outings and pushed its road record on the season to an impressive 3W-1L-2D mark.

“Atlanta are a team who are well-organized, and they have some good talented players,” said Indy Eleven Interim Head Coach Max Rogers. “This was the first time we’ve played against them this season, so there were a few unknowns, but it was just about reenforcing the messages that we spoke about before the game in terms of how we wanted to press and the little details behind it, and also having the confidence of going to play.”

Facing the middle match of a three-game week, Coach Rogers made six changes to his starting XI from Saturday’s home contest against Birmingham Legion FC, including giving Dick, the Carmel native and Columbus Crew SC loanee, his first start between the posts since arriving in mid-June.

“It was always the plan to play Eric. He trains really hard, he’s great in the locker room, and he’s a great person – which is so important,” commented Rogers. “You can see the saves that he made tonight were really good. As I always say, goalkeepers are allowed to make saves – that’s what they’re there to do. Eric did well and I’m sure he’s relieved in a sense to get match minutes and can go forward from there.”

While the open of the game was end to end, choppy field conditions made the play ragged and chances hard to come by. The first shot on goal came from Indy Eleven midfielder Gordon Wild, whose curling shot for the far-left post was collected on the fly by ATL UTD 2 goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.

Atlanta outside back Aiden McFadden pressed up into the right side of the area twice to press the issue in the middle of the half, but Dick would do well to cut off the angle both times, first darting hard off his line before guarding his near post with a kick save.

While Indy Eleven would find some space via quick build-ups on the counter as the half continued, none resulted in much danger until the 44th minute when it was Wild again firing from near the top of the area, this time sending his shot whistling past the upper right 90. ATL UTD 2 closed the half with forward Darwin Matheus’ hard shot being blocked by Eleven midfielder Jeremiah Gutjahr, the resulting corner being cleared to end the first 45 minutes scoreless.

Indy Eleven was the aggressor coming out of the second half, the fresh legs of Nick Moon providing some added energy from the right flank. While Indiana’s Team had plenty of movement in the final third in the first 10 minutes of the stanza, it was a set piece that midfielder Peter-Lee Vassell sent just high from 30 yards out in the 54th minute that provided the most danger.

Just after the hour mark it was Atlanta United 2 midfielder Chris Allan turning a half chance into a threat from 25 yards, but Dick did well to dive right and gather the skipping shot at his right post. A minute later, Atlanta sub Ajani Fortune tried his luck from 30 yards with a cheeky chip that floated harmlessly over the Eleven goal.

It was the Boys in Blue who finally broke through in the 64th minute, and it was the substitute Moon setting things up by picking off a pass at the edge of the final third and carrying into the right side of the area before cutting the ball back to the six. Hamilton hustled to get inside his mark and slid in to hook a shot around Rios Novo that gave Indy the lead, and Hamilton sole possession of the team lead in goals with four on the campaign.

Fortune tried to even up quickly with a flick from the corner of the six-yard box in the 69th minute, but Dick was quick off his line again to cut the angle and parry away for a corner. It was Fortune again being bold two minutes later, the forward ending his run from midfield with a 22-yard strike that clanged off the base of the left post and away from goal. The Five Stripes would indeed find their equalizer in the 72nd minute, when midfielder Connor Stanley accepted a ball 15 yards from goal with a one-touch turn away from traffic before firing into the far-right side, leveling the match at 1-1 heading into the final quarter hour.

Indy substitute forward Manuel Arteaga looked to put Indiana’s Team back up quickly, but his finish was negated after his splitting of the center backs was deemed to start from an offside position. Another man off the Eleven bench, midfielder Cammy Smith, tried to catch Rios Novo sleeping with a side-winding effort from 40 yards a minute later, the chance bouncing just wide left.  In the 82nd minute it was Moon setting up Arteaga with a through ball into the area, but the Venezuelan blasted his shot just past the upper right corner with only the ‘keeper to beat.

On the other end it was Dick making yet another huge stop in the 84th minute, this time batting away Alexander Garuba’s open header from 10 yards out. Three minutes later it was Rios Novo’s time to shine again, making a low save on Eleven midfielder Nicky Law’s placed shot towards the lower right corner and then pouncing on the rebound before Arteaga could tap in on the doorstep. After Arteaga pushed a shot from the top of the box just wide a minute later, Eleven substitute midfielder Aboubacar Sissoko once again pressed Rios Novo into action with a save of his hard blast from 20 yards, that chance in the final minute of regulation marking the final one of note to a frantic finish at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

A busy week on the road for Indiana’s Team continues this Saturday, July 10, when the Boys in Blue head west to the Sooner State to take on OKC Energy FC (8:30 p.m., live on ESPN+). Indy Eleven will return home next Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

 

2021 USL Championship Regular Season

Atlanta United 2  1 : 1  Indy Eleven

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 – 7:30 p.m. ET

Fifth Third Bank Stadium – Kennesaw, Ga.

Attendance: 638

 

USL Championship Records

Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-3D, 15 pts. (4th in Central Division)

Atlanta United 2: 3W-4L-5D, 14 pts. (5th in Central Division)

 

Scoring Summary:

IND – Jordan Hamilton (Nick Moon) 64’

ATL – Connor Stanley (unassisted) 73’

Disciplinary Summary:

No cards issued

Indy Eleven lineup (4-5-1, L–>R): Eric Dick; Patrick Seagrist, A.J. Cochran, Jared Timmer, Rece Buckmaster; Peter-Lee Vassell (Cammy Smith 65’), Nicky Law, Jeremiah Gutjahr (Aboubacar Sissoko 73’), Gershon Koffie, Gordon Wild (Nick Moon 45’); Jordan Hamilton (Manuel Arteaga 65’)

IND substitutes: Bobby Edwards (GK), Nedeljko Malić, Karl Ouimette

Atlanta United 2 line-up (4-4-2, L–>R): Rocco Rios Novo; Caleb Wiley, Bradley Kamdem Fewo, Bryce Washington, Aiden McFadden; Conner Stanley, William Reilly, Chris Allan, Robbie Mertz; Danial Sebhatu (Alexander Garuba 76’), Darwin Matheus (Ajani Fortune 55’)

ATL substitutes: Vicente Reyes, Abdoulaye Diop, Phillip Goodrum

#ATLvIND Gameday Preview  
Indy Eleven at Atlanta United 2
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 – 7:30 P.M. ET  
Fifth Third Bank Stadium | Kennesaw, Ga.

FOLLOW LIVE  

Local/National TV: N/A
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  
Radio (Spanish): N/A
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   
Live stats: #ATLvIND MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
Official Indy Eleven Watch Party Locations: Ellison Brewing Co. | Union Jack Pub

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven 4W-5L-1D(-2 GD); 4th in Central Division
Atlanta United 2 3W-4L-4D (+2 GD); 6th in Central Division

 

The Boys in Blue will look to bounce back in quick fashion on the road this Wednesday in their first meeting of the season with Atlanta United 2. Indy’s woes at home continued this past Saturday, falling to Birmingham at home 1-0 when Neco Brett notched the game-winning goal after a suspect penalty shout in the 8th minute of play, bringing the Eleven’s home record to 1W-4L-1D on the season. The Eleven have had much different luck on the road, accumulating 10 points (3W-1L-1D) away from home while taking down the likes of Birmingham, Louisville City FC and Sporting Kansas City II in opposition territory. Indy will be looking to do the same in Atlanta’s Fifth Third Bank Stadium Wednesday night.

Indy continues to create chances but can’t quite get on the end of them. In fact, the Boys in Blue registered 66% of the possession and 15 shots against Birmingham, but finished the game without finding a way to put one in the back of the net. While Indiana’s Team looked lively, they were unable to convert chances to salvage at least a point.

Though the winger missed a few matches with injury, Ayoze has since returned to his normal self and provided a spark along the left flank that caused issues for opposing defenses. Mix in a little flair with Nicky Law and Gordon Wild in the attacking third, and you’ve got an offensive triangle that can find space to play a ball. Moving the ball hasn’t been an issue for Indiana’s Team this season, with the team completing nearly 81% of its passes, but with the team’s goal total (12) sitting in the lower half of the full league standings, the flashes of brilliance fans have seen over the last three games will need to start finding the back of the net in order to secure a spot in the upper rungs of the Central Division ladder.

The Eleven have been experimenting with different formations since Interim Head Coach Max Rogers has taken over. The Boys in Blue still boast three at the back with two wing backs in tow, as they did to start the Birmingham game, but at times they have switched over to four at the back, which they switched to in the second half of the Birmingham game. The Boys in Blue manned a back four at times against Sporting Kansas City II, as well, but before these matches, it had been quite some time since Indy had played a true back four. When Indy switched to a back four in the second half, that was when they were really able to grab hold of the game and dominate possession against Birmingham, even if they couldn’t find a goal in the end. The team created chances and found themselves setting up shop in Birmingham’s final third, exactly where the Boys in Blue would like to conduct business. With Neveal Hackshaw away at international duty for an unspecified period of time at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, we could see Indy shift to two center backs instead of three, with one of their defensive stalwarts missing.

Atlanta United 2 will enter Wednesday night looking to move into third place in the Central Division, so long as they can walk away with a win. Atlanta snatched a 2-2 draw from Memphis 901 FC in the 94th minute on a penalty last Saturday, both teams finishing the game with ten men after a pair of red cards in the first half stoppage time, meaning that the Five Stripes will be without forward Matías Benítez for their midweek tilt with Indy. Atlanta’s squad has had a bit of a discipline issue having registered three red cards so far this season, which is tied for the league lead with Memphis and San Antonio FC. A bright spot for ATL is that Danial Sebhatu made his official debut and scored his first team goal at only 16-years-old against Memphis.

Also contributing to Atlanta’s offense is Darwin Mattheus, who like Indy’s own Manuel Arteaga made the move from Venezuelan side Zamora to the USL Championship last season. Mattheus is the team’s co-leader in chances created (10), and a big part of Atlanta’s offense surrounds his efficiency in slotting home chances. Atlanta has the fifth best conversion rate in the league (19%), further proving that United 2’s strike force is not one to be taken lightly.

 

SERIES HISTORY VS. ATLANTA UNITED 2

Overall Record (all USLC Regular Season): 2W-1L-1D (5 GF/3 GA)
Away : 0W-1L-1D (2 GF/3 GA)

 

SEASON OVERVIEW:

Wednesday at ATL (7:30 p.m. ET)
Sun., Aug. 8 at ATL (7:30 p.m. ET)
Sat., Sep. 4 vs. ATL (7:00 p.m. ET)
Sat., Oct. 2 vs. ATL (7:00 p.m. ET)

This is the first time this season that these two teams will meet – and this is the last of its seven fellow Central Division opponents Indy will meet for the first time this season. The last time these teams squared off in league play was on September 25, 2019, Atlanta claiming a 2-1 home victory. Lots has changed since that meeting, as both teams will enter Wednesday evening with large roster turnovers in their first competition following a 2020 season that saw these teams separated into different divisions due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. .

As shown above, Indy has never notched a victory at Atlanta United 2, but will look for their luck to change this Wednesday. Indy has garnered two home victories against Atlanta in the past, but it has been a topsy-turvy 2021 that has seen Indy achieve much better results on the road than at home. Look for the Boys in Blue to come out with a tinge of confidence due to their success on the road so far this season.

 

IND Player to Watch: FW Manuel Arteaga

Manuel Arteaga feels so close to breaking out. Since joining Indiana’s Team over the elongated offseason from Venezuelan side Zamora, the striker has netted three goals and assisted once in his first 11 appearances. Two of those goals came in Indy’s first three games of the season, before Arteaga got back on the score sheet in in the team’s 3-3 draw at Louisville on June 26. The former Primera División man has found success in his central attacking role due to his size and his strength, often bossing around defenders through a storm of physical play without once having been booked for it. This style allows the 27-year-old to find space and allows him to play the ball to his teammates or run at the goal himself.

The Venezuelan is getting in the right places, that much is evident from his five shots and four chances created in Saturday's match against Birmingham. Arteaga is third on the team with 11 chances created, trailing only the duo of Nicky Law (21) and Gordon Wild (19), but the forward has got to stay on target when it comes to his shooting boots. Of his team-leading 31 registered shots this season, only eight of them have been on target and only three of those have gone in for goals. Many of Arteaga’s shots require Indy’s faithful to hold their breath, with some going just wide of the post or just over the bar. With Arteaga often being so close to finishing his chances, it’s hard to believe he hasn’t grabbed more goals this season. In a game of inches, Arteaga is so close to kicking into high gear and becoming a scoring machine for Indy Eleven and there would be no better time to slam on the gas than after last weekend’s shutout.

 

ATL Player to Watch: MF Aiden McFadden

Much of Atlanta United 2’s success has come from its ability to not rely on one person too much, but Aiden McFadden has been showing up in big ways for the Five Stripes. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish product is off to a hot start to his first professional season. The 22-year-old signed with Atlanta United 2 shortly after being selected 59th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta’s first team and has featured as a kind of right back/winger combo throughout his rookie campaign. McFadden is currently one of fourteen USL Championship players to fire home five goals this season, registering braces against FC Tulsa and Memphis 901 FC.

However, much like the Arteaga, a majority of McFadden’s goals came at the beginning of the season, with the young gun only finding the back of the net once in June, albeit a big one that propelled ATL UTD 2 to a big 1-0 win in Louisville. The winger does like to create, having totaled five key passes in nine appearances up until this point, and swung in the cross that eventually led to Sebahtu’s first career goal.

#ATLvIND Gameday Preview  
Indy Eleven at Atlanta United 2
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 – 7:30 P.M. ET  
Fifth Third Bank Stadium | Kennesaw, Ga.

FOLLOW LIVE  

Local/National TV: N/A
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  
Radio (Spanish): N/A
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   
Live stats: #ATLvIND MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
Official Indy Eleven Watch Party Locations: Ellison Brewing Co. | Union Jack Pub

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven 4W-5L-1D(-2 GD); 4th in Central Division
Atlanta United 2 3W-4L-4D (+2 GD); 6th in Central Division

 

The Boys in Blue will look to bounce back in quick fashion on the road this Wednesday in their first meeting of the season with Atlanta United 2. Indy’s woes at home continued this past Saturday, falling to Birmingham at home 1-0 when Neco Brett notched the game-winning goal after a suspect penalty shout in the 8th minute of play, bringing the Eleven’s home record to 1W-4L-1D on the season. The Eleven have had much different luck on the road, accumulating 10 points (3W-1L-1D) away from home while taking down the likes of Birmingham, Louisville City FC and Sporting Kansas City II in opposition territory. Indy will be looking to do the same in Atlanta’s Fifth Third Bank Stadium Wednesday night.

Indy continues to create chances but can’t quite get on the end of them. In fact, the Boys in Blue registered 66% of the possession and 15 shots against Birmingham, but finished the game without finding a way to put one in the back of the net. While Indiana’s Team looked lively, they were unable to convert chances to salvage at least a point.

Though the winger missed a few matches with injury, Ayoze has since returned to his normal self and provided a spark along the left flank that caused issues for opposing defenses. Mix in a little flair with Nicky Law and Gordon Wild in the attacking third, and you’ve got an offensive triangle that can find space to play a ball. Moving the ball hasn’t been an issue for Indiana’s Team this season, with the team completing nearly 81% of its passes, but with the team’s goal total (12) sitting in the lower half of the full league standings, the flashes of brilliance fans have seen over the last three games will need to start finding the back of the net in order to secure a spot in the upper rungs of the Central Division ladder.

The Eleven have been experimenting with different formations since Interim Head Coach Max Rogers has taken over. The Boys in Blue still boast three at the back with two wing backs in tow, as they did to start the Birmingham game, but at times they have switched over to four at the back, which they switched to in the second half of the Birmingham game. The Boys in Blue manned a back four at times against Sporting Kansas City II, as well, but before these matches, it had been quite some time since Indy had played a true back four. When Indy switched to a back four in the second half, that was when they were really able to grab hold of the game and dominate possession against Birmingham, even if they couldn’t find a goal in the end. The team created chances and found themselves setting up shop in Birmingham’s final third, exactly where the Boys in Blue would like to conduct business. With Neveal Hackshaw away at international duty for an unspecified period of time at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, we could see Indy shift to two center backs instead of three, with one of their defensive stalwarts missing.

Atlanta United 2 will enter Wednesday night looking to move into third place in the Central Division, so long as they can walk away with a win. Atlanta snatched a 2-2 draw from Memphis 901 FC in the 94th minute on a penalty last Saturday, both teams finishing the game with ten men after a pair of red cards in the first half stoppage time, meaning that the Five Stripes will be without forward Matías Benítez for their midweek tilt with Indy. Atlanta’s squad has had a bit of a discipline issue having registered three red cards so far this season, which is tied for the league lead with Memphis and San Antonio FC. A bright spot for ATL is that Danial Sebhatu made his official debut and scored his first team goal at only 16-years-old against Memphis.

Also contributing to Atlanta’s offense is Darwin Mattheus, who like Indy’s own Manuel Arteaga made the move from Venezuelan side Zamora to the USL Championship last season. Mattheus is the team’s co-leader in chances created (10), and a big part of Atlanta’s offense surrounds his efficiency in slotting home chances. Atlanta has the fifth best conversion rate in the league (19%), further proving that United 2’s strike force is not one to be taken lightly.

 

SERIES HISTORY VS. ATLANTA UNITED 2

Overall Record (all USLC Regular Season): 2W-1L-1D (5 GF/3 GA)
Away : 0W-1L-1D (2 GF/3 GA)

 

SEASON OVERVIEW:

Wednesday at ATL (7:30 p.m. ET)
Sun., Aug. 8 at ATL (7:30 p.m. ET)
Sat., Sep. 4 vs. ATL (7:00 p.m. ET)
Sat., Oct. 2 vs. ATL (7:00 p.m. ET)

This is the first time this season that these two teams will meet – and this is the last of its seven fellow Central Division opponents Indy will meet for the first time this season. The last time these teams squared off in league play was on September 25, 2019, Atlanta claiming a 2-1 home victory. Lots has changed since that meeting, as both teams will enter Wednesday evening with large roster turnovers in their first competition following a 2020 season that saw these teams separated into different divisions due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. .

As shown above, Indy has never notched a victory at Atlanta United 2, but will look for their luck to change this Wednesday. Indy has garnered two home victories against Atlanta in the past, but it has been a topsy-turvy 2021 that has seen Indy achieve much better results on the road than at home. Look for the Boys in Blue to come out with a tinge of confidence due to their success on the road so far this season.

 

IND Player to Watch: FW Manuel Arteaga

Manuel Arteaga feels so close to breaking out. Since joining Indiana’s Team over the elongated offseason from Venezuelan side Zamora, the striker has netted three goals and assisted once in his first 11 appearances. Two of those goals came in Indy’s first three games of the season, before Arteaga got back on the score sheet in in the team’s 3-3 draw at Louisville on June 26. The former Primera División man has found success in his central attacking role due to his size and his strength, often bossing around defenders through a storm of physical play without once having been booked for it. This style allows the 27-year-old to find space and allows him to play the ball to his teammates or run at the goal himself.

The Venezuelan is getting in the right places, that much is evident from his five shots and four chances created in Saturday’s match against Birmingham. Arteaga is third on the team with 11 chances created, trailing only the duo of Nicky Law (21) and Gordon Wild (19), but the forward has got to stay on target when it comes to his shooting boots. Of his team-leading 31 registered shots this season, only eight of them have been on target and only three of those have gone in for goals. Many of Arteaga’s shots require Indy’s faithful to hold their breath, with some going just wide of the post or just over the bar. With Arteaga often being so close to finishing his chances, it’s hard to believe he hasn’t grabbed more goals this season. In a game of inches, Arteaga is so close to kicking into high gear and becoming a scoring machine for Indy Eleven and there would be no better time to slam on the gas than after last weekend’s shutout.

 

ATL Player to Watch: MF Aiden McFadden

Much of Atlanta United 2’s success has come from its ability to not rely on one person too much, but Aiden McFadden has been showing up in big ways for the Five Stripes. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish product is off to a hot start to his first professional season. The 22-year-old signed with Atlanta United 2 shortly after being selected 59th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta’s first team and has featured as a kind of right back/winger combo throughout his rookie campaign. McFadden is currently one of fourteen USL Championship players to fire home five goals this season, registering braces against FC Tulsa and Memphis 901 FC.

However, much like the Arteaga, a majority of McFadden’s goals came at the beginning of the season, with the young gun only finding the back of the net once in June, albeit a big one that propelled ATL UTD 2 to a big 1-0 win in Louisville. The winger does like to create, having totaled five key passes in nine appearances up until this point, and swung in the cross that eventually led to Sebahtu’s first career goal.

INDIANAPOLIS  – While Indy Eleven goalkeeper Bobby Edwards recorded five saves, it was an early penalty kick conversion sent past him by Birmingham Legion FC striker Neco Brett that made the difference in a 1-0 defeat for the Eleven Saturday evening at IUPUI Michael A. Carrol Stadium.

“The first half was obviously a slow start. They got a penalty, which I think was a harsh call, but it is what it is. They got that inside of ten minutes so it didn’t take a specialist to see we started the game slowly,” said Indy Eleven Interim Head Coach Max Rogers. “But we grew into the first half and obviously had some good balls into the box, but we missed that final touch.”

The loss kept Indy Eleven (4W-5L-2D, 14 pts.) in fourth place in the Central Division standings, while Legion FC (7W-3L-1D, 22 pts.) used the three points to go back atop the Central table. Indiana’s Team continues to see struggles on its home pitch, having now gone winless in its last four times out at “The Mike.”

It was Birmingham taking the lead through somewhat suspect means in the eighth minute, when Legion FC talisman Neco Brett calmly converted from the penalty spot to register his eighth goal of the season. The PK was set up two minutes prior when J.J. Williams made the most of limited contact inside the penalty area under Karl Ouimette’s challenge.

Indy’s first chance to even up came in the 13th minute, when Nicky Law’s sliding attempt to get on the end of Manuel Arteaga’s near post cross came up just short. In the 15th minute Legion FC midfielder Mikey Lopez stepped up from his deep midfield position to drill a 25-yard shot that curled just past the upper corner, and Arteaga hit one much the same 10 minutes later that put Birmingham’s backline on notice. It was Arteaga on Gordon Wild’s cross in the 34th minute that forced longtime Eleven foe, Birmingham netminder Matt VanOekel, into his first save of the night, and Wild threatened goal himself a minute later with a bending shot that bounced just wide.

Birmingham grappled back the attacking momentum over the final five minutes of the half, nearly finding a second when Bruno Lapa got behind the Indy backline, but Eleven ‘keeper Edwards was on the spot – and off his line quickly – to punch away the loose ball. Brett chased glory in the 44th minute with a sidewinding shot from distance that sailed high, that chance marking the final threat of the half for either side.

After getting outshot 10-5 in the opening half, the Eleven made a determined effort to start on the front foot in the second 45. Just two minutes in midfielder Nick Moon’s shot from the top of the area nearly took a fortunate deflection past VanOekel, only to see the veteran netminder make a reflexive recovery. Arteaga got his first look of the half after gaining a half yard of space in the 54th minute, but his near-angle blast from eight yards was always going to be wide.

The Eleven nearly pulled off a spectacular equalized in the 64th minute when Arteaga headed back a laid off ball for a charging Wild, who sliced his shots from near the spot just wide. Arteaga nearly headed one home himself off a Moon cross three minutes later but pushed it wide as well. In between, Edwards provided cover for an Eleven giveaway in its defensive third by charging off his line and going low to stop Brett’s breakaway, and then drew a yellow when he pounced on the rebound and drew a late kick from Legion FC substitute Jaden Servania.

After another Wild shot from distance was pushed wide in the 75th minute, Legion FC was able to neutralize the proceedings down the stretch, drawing fouls and holding the possession deep into regular time. Lopez nearly tallied from distance in the 85th minute only to see his chance spin wide, while Eleven midfielder Nicky Law’s turning effort from 12 yards missed the far right post, but not by much. As the match entered four minutes of stoppage time, it was Wild drawing a foul 25 yards out to give the Eleven one more quality opportunity, but the German striker’s attempt was collected well by VanOekel on his line. In fact, it was Brett who’d have the last say on a counter, his blast from 20 yards sailing high but effectively ending the match and securing a smash-and-grab three points on the road.  

“I think we grew into the game and the second half was all us. The players were in good spirits to keep going, keep creating chances, but once again we just lacked that final ball, that final touch on a cross,” said Rogers. “As I said the spirit was really good and I think that's a real important for everyone to see.”

Indiana’s Team next faces a busy week on the road, with away affairs looming this Wednesday, July 7, at Atlanta United 2 (7:30 p.m. kickoff, live on ESPN+) and Saturday, July 10, at OKC Energy FC (8:30 p.m., live on ESPN+).

Indy Eleven will return home on Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

 

2021 USL Championship Regular Season

Indy Eleven  0 : 1  Birmingham Legion FC

Saturday, July 3, 2021 – 7:00 p.m. ET

IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.

Attendance: 6,999

 

USL Championship Records

Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-2D, 14 pts. (4th in Central Division)

Birmingham Legion FC: 7W-3L-1D, 22 pts. (1st in Central Division)

 

Scoring Summary:

BHM – Neco Brett (penalty kick) 8’

Disciplinary Summary:

IND – Karl Ouimette (yellow card) 7’

BHM – Bruno Lapa (yellow card) 29’

BHM – Jaden Servania (yellow card) 65’

IND – Ayoze (yellow card) 76’

Indy Eleven lineup (3-5-2, L–>R): Bobby Edwards; Rece Buckmaster, A.J. Cochran, Karl Ouimette (Gershon Koffie 45’); Ayoze (captain), Nicky Law, Cammy Smith (Jordan Hamilton 77’), Jared Timmer, Nick Moon (Patrick Seagrist 74’); Manuel Arteaga, Gordon Wild

IND substitutes: Eric Dick (GK), Nedeljko Malić, Jeremiah Gutjahr, Peter-Lee Vassell

 

Birmingham Legion FC line-up (3-4-3, L–>R): Matt VanOekel; Phanuel Kavita (captain), Mikey Lopez (Daigo Kobayashi 88’), Amex Crognale; Ryan James, Bruno Lapa (Jaden Servania 61’), Anderson Asiedu, Jonathan Dean; Benjamin Ofeimu (Eli Crognale 78’), Neco Brett, J.J Williams

BHM substitutes: Trevor Spangenburg (GK), Prosper Kasim, Jacob Rule, Marcos Ugarte

INDIANAPOLIS  – While Indy Eleven goalkeeper Bobby Edwards recorded five saves, it was an early penalty kick conversion sent past him by Birmingham Legion FC striker Neco Brett that made the difference in a 1-0 defeat for the Eleven Saturday evening at IUPUI Michael A. Carrol Stadium.

“The first half was obviously a slow start. They got a penalty, which I think was a harsh call, but it is what it is. They got that inside of ten minutes so it didn’t take a specialist to see we started the game slowly,” said Indy Eleven Interim Head Coach Max Rogers. “But we grew into the first half and obviously had some good balls into the box, but we missed that final touch.”

The loss kept Indy Eleven (4W-5L-2D, 14 pts.) in fourth place in the Central Division standings, while Legion FC (7W-3L-1D, 22 pts.) used the three points to go back atop the Central table. Indiana’s Team continues to see struggles on its home pitch, having now gone winless in its last four times out at “The Mike.”

It was Birmingham taking the lead through somewhat suspect means in the eighth minute, when Legion FC talisman Neco Brett calmly converted from the penalty spot to register his eighth goal of the season. The PK was set up two minutes prior when J.J. Williams made the most of limited contact inside the penalty area under Karl Ouimette’s challenge.

Indy’s first chance to even up came in the 13th minute, when Nicky Law’s sliding attempt to get on the end of Manuel Arteaga’s near post cross came up just short. In the 15th minute Legion FC midfielder Mikey Lopez stepped up from his deep midfield position to drill a 25-yard shot that curled just past the upper corner, and Arteaga hit one much the same 10 minutes later that put Birmingham’s backline on notice. It was Arteaga on Gordon Wild’s cross in the 34th minute that forced longtime Eleven foe, Birmingham netminder Matt VanOekel, into his first save of the night, and Wild threatened goal himself a minute later with a bending shot that bounced just wide.

Birmingham grappled back the attacking momentum over the final five minutes of the half, nearly finding a second when Bruno Lapa got behind the Indy backline, but Eleven ‘keeper Edwards was on the spot – and off his line quickly – to punch away the loose ball. Brett chased glory in the 44th minute with a sidewinding shot from distance that sailed high, that chance marking the final threat of the half for either side.

After getting outshot 10-5 in the opening half, the Eleven made a determined effort to start on the front foot in the second 45. Just two minutes in midfielder Nick Moon’s shot from the top of the area nearly took a fortunate deflection past VanOekel, only to see the veteran netminder make a reflexive recovery. Arteaga got his first look of the half after gaining a half yard of space in the 54th minute, but his near-angle blast from eight yards was always going to be wide.

The Eleven nearly pulled off a spectacular equalized in the 64th minute when Arteaga headed back a laid off ball for a charging Wild, who sliced his shots from near the spot just wide. Arteaga nearly headed one home himself off a Moon cross three minutes later but pushed it wide as well. In between, Edwards provided cover for an Eleven giveaway in its defensive third by charging off his line and going low to stop Brett’s breakaway, and then drew a yellow when he pounced on the rebound and drew a late kick from Legion FC substitute Jaden Servania.

After another Wild shot from distance was pushed wide in the 75th minute, Legion FC was able to neutralize the proceedings down the stretch, drawing fouls and holding the possession deep into regular time. Lopez nearly tallied from distance in the 85th minute only to see his chance spin wide, while Eleven midfielder Nicky Law’s turning effort from 12 yards missed the far right post, but not by much. As the match entered four minutes of stoppage time, it was Wild drawing a foul 25 yards out to give the Eleven one more quality opportunity, but the German striker’s attempt was collected well by VanOekel on his line. In fact, it was Brett who’d have the last say on a counter, his blast from 20 yards sailing high but effectively ending the match and securing a smash-and-grab three points on the road.  

“I think we grew into the game and the second half was all us. The players were in good spirits to keep going, keep creating chances, but once again we just lacked that final ball, that final touch on a cross,” said Rogers. “As I said the spirit was really good and I think that’s a real important for everyone to see.”

Indiana’s Team next faces a busy week on the road, with away affairs looming this Wednesday, July 7, at Atlanta United 2 (7:30 p.m. kickoff, live on ESPN+) and Saturday, July 10, at OKC Energy FC (8:30 p.m., live on ESPN+).

Indy Eleven will return home on Saturday, July 17, when it hosts Community Heroes Night, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, against Memphis 901 FC. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

 

2021 USL Championship Regular Season

Indy Eleven  0 : 1  Birmingham Legion FC

Saturday, July 3, 2021 – 7:00 p.m. ET

IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.

Attendance: 6,999

 

USL Championship Records

Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-2D, 14 pts. (4th in Central Division)

Birmingham Legion FC: 7W-3L-1D, 22 pts. (1st in Central Division)

 

Scoring Summary:

BHM – Neco Brett (penalty kick) 8’

Disciplinary Summary:

IND – Karl Ouimette (yellow card) 7’

BHM – Bruno Lapa (yellow card) 29’

BHM – Jaden Servania (yellow card) 65’

IND – Ayoze (yellow card) 76’

Indy Eleven lineup (3-5-2, L–>R): Bobby Edwards; Rece Buckmaster, A.J. Cochran, Karl Ouimette (Gershon Koffie 45’); Ayoze (captain), Nicky Law, Cammy Smith (Jordan Hamilton 77’), Jared Timmer, Nick Moon (Patrick Seagrist 74’); Manuel Arteaga, Gordon Wild

IND substitutes: Eric Dick (GK), Nedeljko Malić, Jeremiah Gutjahr, Peter-Lee Vassell

 

Birmingham Legion FC line-up (3-4-3, L–>R): Matt VanOekel; Phanuel Kavita (captain), Mikey Lopez (Daigo Kobayashi 88’), Amex Crognale; Ryan James, Bruno Lapa (Jaden Servania 61’), Anderson Asiedu, Jonathan Dean; Benjamin Ofeimu (Eli Crognale 78’), Neco Brett, J.J Williams

BHM substitutes: Trevor Spangenburg (GK), Prosper Kasim, Jacob Rule, Marcos Ugarte

INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven is proud to officially announce The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 481 as the newest member of the club’s family of Corporate Partners.

IBEW Local 481’s partnership includes three Presenting Partner nights during the current 2021 USL Championship Season, beginning with tomorrow’s “Indy-Pendence” Night at IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium, featuring $3 pricing on all food items, soft drinks and water, beers, wine, and select Eleven signature cocktails. To secure some of the limited tickets remaining starting at $15, visit https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or call 317-685-1100.

“Indy Eleven is excited to partner with IBEW Local 481, which for nearly 60 years has been a valuable contributor to communities throughout our area,” said Indy Eleven President & Chief Executive Officer, Greg Stremlaw. “We appreciate their support and look forward to making sure their members feel at home at Carroll Stadium throughout the season.”

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 481 represents more than 3,000 members in a wide variety of fields, including electrical construction, facilities maintenance, manufacturing, sign design and installation, and casino operations in 16 counties throughout Central Indiana. Since 1962, IBEW Local 481 members have proudly serviced and volunteered our community, with the most notable example being their work surrounding the Circle of Lights display on Monument Circle every holiday season. For more information, including information on apprenticeship programs and membership details, visit ibew481.org.  

“The IBEW 481 is proud to be a community partner of Indy Eleven,” said Jeff Wheeler, Business Manager, IBEW 481. “Our members enjoy the family-friendly nights celebrating soccer at Carroll Stadium.  The team is a great asset to our city!”

In conjunction with the partnership, IBEW Local 481 will host additional Presenting Partner nights featuring discounted food and beverage specials on Saturday, August 14 (vs. OKC Energy FC) and during Labor Day Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 4 (vs. Atlanta United 2). In addition, IBEW Local 481 will be featured via numerous Indy Eleven promotional avenues including, but not limited to on-field and in-stadium signage and placements on the team’s official website, https://www.indyeleven.com.

To see the growing roster of Indy Eleven Corporate Partners for the 2021 season, visit https://www.indyeleven.com/corporate-partners.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven is proud to officially announce The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 481 as the newest member of the club’s family of Corporate Partners.

IBEW Local 481’s partnership includes three Presenting Partner nights during the current 2021 USL Championship Season, beginning with tomorrow’s “Indy-Pendence” Night at IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium, featuring $3 pricing on all food items, soft drinks and water, beers, wine, and select Eleven signature cocktails. To secure some of the limited tickets remaining starting at $15, visit https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or call 317-685-1100.

“Indy Eleven is excited to partner with IBEW Local 481, which for nearly 60 years has been a valuable contributor to communities throughout our area,” said Indy Eleven President & Chief Executive Officer, Greg Stremlaw. “We appreciate their support and look forward to making sure their members feel at home at Carroll Stadium throughout the season.”

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 481 represents more than 3,000 members in a wide variety of fields, including electrical construction, facilities maintenance, manufacturing, sign design and installation, and casino operations in 16 counties throughout Central Indiana. Since 1962, IBEW Local 481 members have proudly serviced and volunteered our community, with the most notable example being their work surrounding the Circle of Lights display on Monument Circle every holiday season. For more information, including information on apprenticeship programs and membership details, visit ibew481.org.  

“The IBEW 481 is proud to be a community partner of Indy Eleven,” said Jeff Wheeler, Business Manager, IBEW 481. “Our members enjoy the family-friendly nights celebrating soccer at Carroll Stadium.  The team is a great asset to our city!”

In conjunction with the partnership, IBEW Local 481 will host additional Presenting Partner nights featuring discounted food and beverage specials on Saturday, August 14 (vs. OKC Energy FC) and during Labor Day Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 4 (vs. Atlanta United 2). In addition, IBEW Local 481 will be featured via numerous Indy Eleven promotional avenues including, but not limited to on-field and in-stadium signage and placements on the team’s official website, https://www.indyeleven.com.

To see the growing roster of Indy Eleven Corporate Partners for the 2021 season, visit https://www.indyeleven.com/corporate-partners.

#INDvBHM Gameday Preview  

Indy Eleven vs. Birmingham Legion FC

Saturday, July 3, 2021 – 7:00 P.M. ET  

IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

“Indy-Pendence” Night, presented by IBEW Local 481

Follow Live  

Local/National TV: WISH-TV 8

Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  

Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 94.3 FM / exitos943.com

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   

Live stats: #INDvBHM MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
 

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven 4W-4L-2D (-1 GD); 4th in Central Division

Birmingham Legion 6W-3L-1D (+2 GD); 1st in Central Division

The Boys in Blue enter Saturday's tilt with Central Division leader Birmingham Legion FC coming off an offensive explosion on the wrong other side of the river in Louisville last weekend. Indy was able to do enough damage in the first half at Lynn Family Stadium to walk away with a point from a 3-3 draw, twice coming back from a goal deficit before holding on to share the spoils. Interim Head Coach Max Rogers was able to remain unbeaten during his brief-but-growing tenure at the helm of the Boys in Blue, who will look to replicate their electric offensive performance at “The Mike” on Saturday.

The main storyline for the Boys in Blue remains their attack. Since scoring only twice in a four-game span to start June, the Eleven have now fired home five goals over the last two outings – and with five different players sharing the honors. Nicky Law and Gordon Wild were able to find their first goals for the Boys in Blue against Sporting Kansas City II, and Cammy Smith was able to do the same against Louisville.

Seasoned veteran and Grand Park Man of the Match recipient Neveal Hackshaw slotted home his first of the season as well against Lou City, with Manuel Arteaga grabbing the third goal of his first campaign with the team, which is good enough to tie him for the team lead with Jordan Hamilton. It’s been a committee effort for the Boys in Blue over the last couple of weeks – and that appears to be the way forward without a defined top goal scorer like years past. With Law and Wild combining to create 35 chances through the first ten weeks of the season, look for Indiana’s Team to start to pounce more on the opportunities in front of them.

Indy Eleven will also look to correct its less-than-ideal home record so far this season on “Indy-Pendence” Night, the Boys in Blue claiming only one win from five times out at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. It was not even a year ago that Indy Eleven still boasted a regular season home unbeaten streak of 28 games that spanned parts of three seasons – but that involved a nearly entirely different cast of characters playing at a different venue. This current iteration desperately wants to find its form at home, and with Rogers leading a different approach there might be no better way to prove “The Mike” is Indy’s fortress than by beating one of the strongest teams in the Central Division on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Birmingham, will just be hoping for sunny skies and a dry forecast this Saturday (spoiler alert: they’ll get both) after seeing their home match with Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday abandoned at halftime (at 1-1) due to abysmal weather conditions. In Birmingham’s last complete game on June 22, they managed to scratch out a 1-0 victory at The Miami FC, posting their fourth clean sheet in the process. In fact, the Legion FC defense has caused scoring droughts for the opposition so far this season, only allowing eight goals (a Central Division best to this point) in their 10 matches played, and multiple goals on only two occasions – both 2-1 defeats on the road at San Antonio FC and OKC Energy FC. A familiar face to Eleven fans is bringing thunder and lightning to the strong Three Sparks defense in Alex Crognale, who has made seven appearances so far this season.

Defensive successes aside, Birmingham is still waiting for the sun to come out in relation to their offense. The boys from Alabama have only scored 10 goals in as many outings, seven of which have come from Neco Brett (more on him later) – who had netted an eighth before Wednesday’s match was abandoned. Relying on only one goal scorer can create cloudy conditions when it comes to offensive efficiency, and a key to the game for Indy will be to keep the Three Sparks offense off the board.

 

SERIES HISTORY VS. BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC

Overall record (all USLC regular season): 2W-1L-0D (4 GF/1 GA)

Home: 1W-0L-0D (3 GF/ 0 GA)

2021 SERIES

May 1  |  BHM  0:1  IND

IND: Arteaga 28’

Saturday vs. BHM (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sat., July 24 vs. BHM (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sun., Oct. 10 at BHM (5:00 p.m. ET)

The Eleven and Legion FC met for the third time for each team’s 2021 USL Championship season opener, with Indy’s Manuel Arteaga making the difference in a 1-0 victory for the Boys in Blue. The Three Sparks ended that match with ten men after forward J.J. Williams was sent off in the 87’ minute, limiting the home side’s comeback effort. Arteaga’s goal was also his first as a member of the Boys in Blue and got Indy off on the right track in a season that has had its ups and downs since that May 1 meeting.

Indy’s victory in the season opener tipped the all-time series in the Eleven’s favor. These two squads didn’t meet in the condensed 2020 campaign due to COVID-19, but with the new divisional alignment in the Eastern Conference, this will be Birmingham and Indy’s second meeting of four during the 2021 USL Championship regular season.

The two meetings in BHM’s inaugural 2019 campaign fell along home advantage lines, starting on June 26 when Indy posted a 3-0 triumph at Lucas Oil Stadium courtesy of goals by Tyler Pasher and Thomas Enevoldsen as well as an Mathieu Laurent own goal. The return fixture in Alabama on Sept. 20 saw Brian Wright’s first half goal stand tall in a 1-0 Legion FC victory.

 

IND PLAYER TO WATCH: DF A.J. COCHRAN

Cochran is quietly having a strong start to his first season in Indy. The 28-year-old signed for the Eleven this past offseason after a successful tenure with Phoenix Rising FC that saw the defender receive numerous honors, including a 2019 USL Championship All-League Second Team selection and the 2020 Western Conference title. The defender is also coming off an active game against Louisville City FC, in which the defender recorded ten clearances against a LCFC squad that swung in a bevy of crosses.

The Indy defender’s knack for distribution deserves praise, as the St. Louis native currently leads the Eleven in total passes with a whopping 480 (52.5 per 90 minutes) so far this season. With Indy’s recent offensive resurgence, having defenders that can pass the ball out from the back and start solid offensive movements can be incredibly valuable, and Cochran most definitely provides that service.

Not only will Cochran have to distribute effectively, but his defensive prowess and organization on the backline will be called into action even more to compensate for the absence of Neveal Hackshaw while he’s away on international duty. Then there’s having to deal with the lethal, in-form Brett, and regardless of whether Cochran slots into a central role in a back three or a left center back role in a back four, he’ll be partly responsible for keeping tabs on Birmingham’s star man. The Generation Adidas product will look to add to his team leading total in blocks (9) and clearances (45) to slow down Brett and the rest of Birmingham Legion FC’s attack to help secure all three points for the Boys in Blue at The Mike.

 

BHM PLAYER TO WATCH: FW NECO BRETT

There’s no need to sugarcoat it – Brett is a problem for defenses. The 29-year-old has seven goals so far this season, good enough to tie him with the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Sebastián Guenzatti and LA Galaxy II’s Preston Judd for second most in the USL Championship. Brett would have stood alone in second and had an eighth goal on the season had Wednesday’s match with Atlanta United 2 not been abandoned. The Jamaican has managed to come up with a goal more times than not throughout 2021, having added to the score column in six of Legion FC’s ten games so far this season. The Three Sparks No. 11 is also no stranger to Indy Eleven, having scored twice for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds against Indy in 2019, the last time Brett squared off against Indiana’s Team.

Brett brings a dynamic skillset to the table that can create nightmares for teams defensively. The Robert Morris alum has been the engine for this Birmingham offense due to his goal scoring capabilities, but he can set others up just as well; while he has yet to register an assist, Brett has collected 11 key passes so far this season. The rest of Legion FC has only found the back of the net a total of three times, but you can still look for Brett to think about providing for his teammates, as an over-focus on Birmingham’s leading goal scorer could create openings for others.

#INDvBHM Gameday Preview  

Indy Eleven vs. Birmingham Legion FC

Saturday, July 3, 2021 – 7:00 P.M. ET  

IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

“Indy-Pendence” Night, presented by IBEW Local 481

Follow Live  

Local/National TV: WISH-TV 8

Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)  

Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 94.3 FM / exitos943.com

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers   

Live stats: #INDvBHM MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
 

2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS

Indy Eleven 4W-4L-2D (-1 GD); 4th in Central Division

Birmingham Legion 6W-3L-1D (+2 GD); 1st in Central Division

The Boys in Blue enter Saturday’s tilt with Central Division leader Birmingham Legion FC coming off an offensive explosion on the wrong other side of the river in Louisville last weekend. Indy was able to do enough damage in the first half at Lynn Family Stadium to walk away with a point from a 3-3 draw, twice coming back from a goal deficit before holding on to share the spoils. Interim Head Coach Max Rogers was able to remain unbeaten during his brief-but-growing tenure at the helm of the Boys in Blue, who will look to replicate their electric offensive performance at “The Mike” on Saturday.

The main storyline for the Boys in Blue remains their attack. Since scoring only twice in a four-game span to start June, the Eleven have now fired home five goals over the last two outings – and with five different players sharing the honors. Nicky Law and Gordon Wild were able to find their first goals for the Boys in Blue against Sporting Kansas City II, and Cammy Smith was able to do the same against Louisville.

Seasoned veteran and Grand Park Man of the Match recipient Neveal Hackshaw slotted home his first of the season as well against Lou City, with Manuel Arteaga grabbing the third goal of his first campaign with the team, which is good enough to tie him for the team lead with Jordan Hamilton. It’s been a committee effort for the Boys in Blue over the last couple of weeks – and that appears to be the way forward without a defined top goal scorer like years past. With Law and Wild combining to create 35 chances through the first ten weeks of the season, look for Indiana’s Team to start to pounce more on the opportunities in front of them.

Indy Eleven will also look to correct its less-than-ideal home record so far this season on “Indy-Pendence” Night, the Boys in Blue claiming only one win from five times out at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. It was not even a year ago that Indy Eleven still boasted a regular season home unbeaten streak of 28 games that spanned parts of three seasons – but that involved a nearly entirely different cast of characters playing at a different venue. This current iteration desperately wants to find its form at home, and with Rogers leading a different approach there might be no better way to prove “The Mike” is Indy’s fortress than by beating one of the strongest teams in the Central Division on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Birmingham, will just be hoping for sunny skies and a dry forecast this Saturday (spoiler alert: they’ll get both) after seeing their home match with Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday abandoned at halftime (at 1-1) due to abysmal weather conditions. In Birmingham’s last complete game on June 22, they managed to scratch out a 1-0 victory at The Miami FC, posting their fourth clean sheet in the process. In fact, the Legion FC defense has caused scoring droughts for the opposition so far this season, only allowing eight goals (a Central Division best to this point) in their 10 matches played, and multiple goals on only two occasions – both 2-1 defeats on the road at San Antonio FC and OKC Energy FC. A familiar face to Eleven fans is bringing thunder and lightning to the strong Three Sparks defense in Alex Crognale, who has made seven appearances so far this season.

Defensive successes aside, Birmingham is still waiting for the sun to come out in relation to their offense. The boys from Alabama have only scored 10 goals in as many outings, seven of which have come from Neco Brett (more on him later) – who had netted an eighth before Wednesday’s match was abandoned. Relying on only one goal scorer can create cloudy conditions when it comes to offensive efficiency, and a key to the game for Indy will be to keep the Three Sparks offense off the board.

 

SERIES HISTORY VS. BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC

Overall record (all USLC regular season): 2W-1L-0D (4 GF/1 GA)

Home: 1W-0L-0D (3 GF/ 0 GA)

2021 SERIES

May 1  |  BHM  0:1  IND

IND: Arteaga 28’

Saturday vs. BHM (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sat., July 24 vs. BHM (7:00 p.m. ET)

Sun., Oct. 10 at BHM (5:00 p.m. ET)

The Eleven and Legion FC met for the third time for each team’s 2021 USL Championship season opener, with Indy’s Manuel Arteaga making the difference in a 1-0 victory for the Boys in Blue. The Three Sparks ended that match with ten men after forward J.J. Williams was sent off in the 87’ minute, limiting the home side’s comeback effort. Arteaga’s goal was also his first as a member of the Boys in Blue and got Indy off on the right track in a season that has had its ups and downs since that May 1 meeting.

Indy’s victory in the season opener tipped the all-time series in the Eleven’s favor. These two squads didn’t meet in the condensed 2020 campaign due to COVID-19, but with the new divisional alignment in the Eastern Conference, this will be Birmingham and Indy’s second meeting of four during the 2021 USL Championship regular season.

The two meetings in BHM’s inaugural 2019 campaign fell along home advantage lines, starting on June 26 when Indy posted a 3-0 triumph at Lucas Oil Stadium courtesy of goals by Tyler Pasher and Thomas Enevoldsen as well as an Mathieu Laurent own goal. The return fixture in Alabama on Sept. 20 saw Brian Wright’s first half goal stand tall in a 1-0 Legion FC victory.

 

IND PLAYER TO WATCH: DF A.J. COCHRAN

Cochran is quietly having a strong start to his first season in Indy. The 28-year-old signed for the Eleven this past offseason after a successful tenure with Phoenix Rising FC that saw the defender receive numerous honors, including a 2019 USL Championship All-League Second Team selection and the 2020 Western Conference title. The defender is also coming off an active game against Louisville City FC, in which the defender recorded ten clearances against a LCFC squad that swung in a bevy of crosses.

The Indy defender’s knack for distribution deserves praise, as the St. Louis native currently leads the Eleven in total passes with a whopping 480 (52.5 per 90 minutes) so far this season. With Indy’s recent offensive resurgence, having defenders that can pass the ball out from the back and start solid offensive movements can be incredibly valuable, and Cochran most definitely provides that service.

Not only will Cochran have to distribute effectively, but his defensive prowess and organization on the backline will be called into action even more to compensate for the absence of Neveal Hackshaw while he’s away on international duty. Then there’s having to deal with the lethal, in-form Brett, and regardless of whether Cochran slots into a central role in a back three or a left center back role in a back four, he’ll be partly responsible for keeping tabs on Birmingham’s star man. The Generation Adidas product will look to add to his team leading total in blocks (9) and clearances (45) to slow down Brett and the rest of Birmingham Legion FC’s attack to help secure all three points for the Boys in Blue at The Mike.

 

BHM PLAYER TO WATCH: FW NECO BRETT

There’s no need to sugarcoat it – Brett is a problem for defenses. The 29-year-old has seven goals so far this season, good enough to tie him with the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Sebastián Guenzatti and LA Galaxy II’s Preston Judd for second most in the USL Championship. Brett would have stood alone in second and had an eighth goal on the season had Wednesday’s match with Atlanta United 2 not been abandoned. The Jamaican has managed to come up with a goal more times than not throughout 2021, having added to the score column in six of Legion FC’s ten games so far this season. The Three Sparks No. 11 is also no stranger to Indy Eleven, having scored twice for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds against Indy in 2019, the last time Brett squared off against Indiana’s Team.

Brett brings a dynamic skillset to the table that can create nightmares for teams defensively. The Robert Morris alum has been the engine for this Birmingham offense due to his goal scoring capabilities, but he can set others up just as well; while he has yet to register an assist, Brett has collected 11 key passes so far this season. The rest of Legion FC has only found the back of the net a total of three times, but you can still look for Brett to think about providing for his teammates, as an over-focus on Birmingham’s leading goal scorer could create openings for others.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven defender Neveal Hackshaw has been called up to the Trinidad & Tobago Men’s National Team ahead of their CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification tournament match with Montserrat tomorrow, Friday, July 2. Kickoff for the first of potentially two matches for the Soca Warriors in the Gold Cup’s preliminary rounds at DRV PDK Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is set for 9:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on FOX Sports 2 and foxsports.com.

If Trinidad & Tobago are victorious against Montserrat, they will face the winner of Cuba and French Guinea next Tuesday, July 6, for a place in Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals alongside Mexico, El Salvador and Curaçao.

As a result of the call-up, Hackshaw will be unavailable for selection by Indy Eleven for at least this Saturday’s USL Championship regular season game against Birmingham Legion FC. Hackshaw could ultimately miss multiple regular season matches based on how far Trinidad & Tobago makes it in the CONCACAF Gold Cup; the tournament’s Group Stage will be held from July 10-20, followed by the knockout rounds from July 24-August 1.

The 25-year-old defender was named to the Soca Warriors’ 23-man tournament roster by interim head coach Angus Eve. Hackshaw made his most recent international appearances in the starting lineup for two FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against The Bahamas (0-0 D) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (2-0 W) on June 5 and 8, respectively, playing the full 90 minutes in both fixtures. While Trinidad & Tobago ultimately finished undefeated in qualifying, those two matches marked the end of their campaign to make the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Since making his debut at the senior level in 2015, Hackshaw has compiled 17 “caps” for Trinidad & Tobago, including appearances in six World Cup Qualifiers, the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa America Centenario play-in tournament in 2016. 

Hackshaw has played a key role in Indy Eleven’s back line throughout his first eight appearances of the 2021 USL Championship campaign, starting in every available match for Indiana’s Team. “Hack” left the squad over the weekend on a high note, being named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for the first time in 2021 for his Week 10 performance at Louisville City FC last Saturday, when his first goal and assist of the campaign as well as four interceptions and six clearances helped secure a point for Indy Eleven from a 3-3 draw. Hacksaw currently leads the team in interceptions (21), is second in clearances (36), and is also one of five members of the Boys in Blue to register both a goal and assist this season.

Indiana’s Team will return home this Saturday, July 3, to take on Birmingham Legion FC on “Indy-Pendence Night” presented by IBEW Local 481, featuring $3 concessions all evening at Carroll Stadium. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.  Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on WISH-TV 8, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven defender Neveal Hackshaw has been called up to the Trinidad & Tobago Men’s National Team ahead of their CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification tournament match with Montserrat tomorrow, Friday, July 2. Kickoff for the first of potentially two matches for the Soca Warriors in the Gold Cup’s preliminary rounds at DRV PDK Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is set for 9:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on FOX Sports 2 and foxsports.com.

If Trinidad & Tobago are victorious against Montserrat, they will face the winner of Cuba and French Guinea next Tuesday, July 6, for a place in Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals alongside Mexico, El Salvador and Curaçao.

As a result of the call-up, Hackshaw will be unavailable for selection by Indy Eleven for at least this Saturday’s USL Championship regular season game against Birmingham Legion FC. Hackshaw could ultimately miss multiple regular season matches based on how far Trinidad & Tobago makes it in the CONCACAF Gold Cup; the tournament’s Group Stage will be held from July 10-20, followed by the knockout rounds from July 24-August 1.

The 25-year-old defender was named to the Soca Warriors’ 23-man tournament roster by interim head coach Angus Eve. Hackshaw made his most recent international appearances in the starting lineup for two FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against The Bahamas (0-0 D) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (2-0 W) on June 5 and 8, respectively, playing the full 90 minutes in both fixtures. While Trinidad & Tobago ultimately finished undefeated in qualifying, those two matches marked the end of their campaign to make the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Since making his debut at the senior level in 2015, Hackshaw has compiled 17 “caps” for Trinidad & Tobago, including appearances in six World Cup Qualifiers, the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa America Centenario play-in tournament in 2016. 

Hackshaw has played a key role in Indy Eleven’s back line throughout his first eight appearances of the 2021 USL Championship campaign, starting in every available match for Indiana’s Team. “Hack” left the squad over the weekend on a high note, being named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for the first time in 2021 for his Week 10 performance at Louisville City FC last Saturday, when his first goal and assist of the campaign as well as four interceptions and six clearances helped secure a point for Indy Eleven from a 3-3 draw. Hacksaw currently leads the team in interceptions (21), is second in clearances (36), and is also one of five members of the Boys in Blue to register both a goal and assist this season.

Indiana’s Team will return home this Saturday, July 3, to take on Birmingham Legion FC on “Indy-Pendence Night” presented by IBEW Local 481, featuring $3 concessions all evening at Carroll Stadium. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff are limited but still available and can be secured by visiting https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.  Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on WISH-TV 8, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.