Game Recaps

Indy Eleven’s 3-0 Win over Puerto Rico FC Caps Undefeated Home Regular Season Slate

First Half Goals by Braun, Zayed & Mares Send “Boys in Blue” to Third Straight Win

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, October 22, 2016) – Indy Eleven finished its 16-game home slate in regular season play undefeated thanks to a late first-half onslaught, goals by Justin Braun, Eamon Zayed and Dylan Mares lifting the “Boys in Blue”  to a 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico FC in front of 8,916 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvPRFC from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvPRFC via the NASL MatchCenter

Indy Eleven’s fourth shutout in its last six games – aided by a red card shown to Puerto Rico FC forward Oliver in the 37th minute – helped Indiana’s Team finish the regular season with a 13W-3D-0L home mark. That record bodes well for Indy Eleven’s prospects in its postseason debut two weeks from today on Saturday, Nov. 5, when it will host FC Edmonton in The Championship Semifinal.

“We were very impressed with the team’s effort tonight. To be able to play in front of that crowd with that energy was the best boost we could have asked for,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “I thought that we had a tough opening 20 minutes, but the goal helped to open the game up and when they went down to ten men, we knew we had to push.”

While the game would start with both teams able to get into the final third fairly easily, the first notable event of the match came in the 15th minute when Oliver earned his first yellow card for colliding hard into Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch on a 50-50 challenge in the air. Indy defender Nemanja Vukovic’s 28th minute free kick signaled Indy’s offensive intentions, but the 20-yard effort was batted by a diving Trevor Spangenberg, forcing the ball off the crossbar and out for a corner.

Indy Eleven would not be denied much longer however, as the home side broke through in the 36th minute through Braun, who first-timed Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s square ball off of Spangenberg and in for the opener.  A minute later Indy would find itself both a goal up and a man up after Oliver picked up his second yellow card for elbowing Indy captain Colin Falvey off the ball.

From there it was one-way traffic for Indy Eleven, which doubled its lead shortly after Don Smart was pulled down inside the area by Ramon Soria in the 44th minute, another play orchestrated by an Ubiparipovic dish. Zayed stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, and while Spangenberg saved the initial low effort, the rebound bounced right back to Zayed for his 15th goal of the campaign.

“The only element we need is that crowd,” said Zayed. “Playing in front of the Brickyard Battalion, and to go undefeated here the whole year – a lot of people were laughing at me when I said we could do it. But as a group we knew it was possible and we’re thrilled to have executed.”

Three minutes later Mares all but put the match away, accepting Braun’s pass at the top of the arc and cutting back inside to fire a right-footed shot that left Spangenberg flat-footed and frustrated, pushing the lead to 3-0 in front of an appreciative Carroll Stadium audience.  

Indy Eleven was content to control possession and take the air out of the ball in the second half, but that doesn’t mean chances weren’t for the taking. Wednesday’s hero Nicki Paterson nearly flicked on Marco Franco’s well-driven ball to the six in the 61stminute, only to see the chance flash just wide left, and in the 68th minute forced Spangenberg into a diving save to stop a blast from 30 yards. Braun was robbed of a second in the 73rd minute, his header of Smart’s splendid back post cross hitting off the left post.

The defensive effort was elementary for the Boys in Blue, who allowed only three shots – and none on goal to test Busch – en route to their 11th clean sheet on the season.

While its spot in The Championship has been wrapped up since June, Indy Eleven could very well have an impact on the last postseason spot when it closes out the regular season next Sunday, Oct. 30, at the current holder of the fourth and final spot in Rayo OKC (7:00 p.m. kickoff, live on ESPN3.com)

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  3 : 0  Puerto Rico FC
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 8,916

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 11W-4D-6L, 37 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 15W-10D-6L, 55 pts., 2nd place

Puerto Rico FC:
Fall Season: 4W-9D-8L, 21 pts., 11th place
Overall Season: 4W-9D-8L, 21 pts., 12th place

Scoring Summary:
IND – Justin Braun (Sinisa Ubiparipovic) 36’
IND – Eamon Zayed (unassisted) 45’
IND – Dylan Mares (Justin Braun) 48+’

Discipline Summary:
PRFC – Oliver (caution) 15’
PRFC – Oliver (second caution/ejection) 37’
 

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Greg Janicki, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer (Marco Franco 35’); Dylan Mares, Brad Ring, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Nicki Paterson 60’), Don Smart (Duke Lacroix 75’); Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Daniel Keller, Omar Gordon, Souleymane Youla

Puerto Rico FC (4-4-2): Trevor Spangenberg; Ramon Soria, Cristiano Dias (capt), Ramon Martin del Campo, Rudy Dawson; Kyle Culbertson, Michael Kafari (Chris Nurse 21’), Tyler Rudy, Paulo Mendes (Joseph Marrero 64’); Sydney Rivera (Brian Bement 81’), Oliver

Puerto Rico FC bench: David Meves (GK), Camilo Botero

Indy Eleven’s 3-0 Win over Puerto Rico FC Caps Undefeated Home Regular Season Slate

First Half Goals by Braun, Zayed & Mares Send “Boys in Blue” to Third Straight Win

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, October 22, 2016) – Indy Eleven finished its 16-game home slate in regular season play undefeated thanks to a late first-half onslaught, goals by Justin Braun, Eamon Zayed and Dylan Mares lifting the “Boys in Blue”  to a 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico FC in front of 8,916 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvPRFC from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvPRFC via the NASL MatchCenter

Indy Eleven’s fourth shutout in its last six games – aided by a red card shown to Puerto Rico FC forward Oliver in the 37th minute – helped Indiana’s Team finish the regular season with a 13W-3D-0L home mark. That record bodes well for Indy Eleven’s prospects in its postseason debut two weeks from today on Saturday, Nov. 5, when it will host FC Edmonton in The Championship Semifinal.

“We were very impressed with the team’s effort tonight. To be able to play in front of that crowd with that energy was the best boost we could have asked for,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “I thought that we had a tough opening 20 minutes, but the goal helped to open the game up and when they went down to ten men, we knew we had to push.”

While the game would start with both teams able to get into the final third fairly easily, the first notable event of the match came in the 15th minute when Oliver earned his first yellow card for colliding hard into Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch on a 50-50 challenge in the air. Indy defender Nemanja Vukovic’s 28th minute free kick signaled Indy’s offensive intentions, but the 20-yard effort was batted by a diving Trevor Spangenberg, forcing the ball off the crossbar and out for a corner.

Indy Eleven would not be denied much longer however, as the home side broke through in the 36th minute through Braun, who first-timed Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s square ball off of Spangenberg and in for the opener.  A minute later Indy would find itself both a goal up and a man up after Oliver picked up his second yellow card for elbowing Indy captain Colin Falvey off the ball.

From there it was one-way traffic for Indy Eleven, which doubled its lead shortly after Don Smart was pulled down inside the area by Ramon Soria in the 44th minute, another play orchestrated by an Ubiparipovic dish. Zayed stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, and while Spangenberg saved the initial low effort, the rebound bounced right back to Zayed for his 15th goal of the campaign.

“The only element we need is that crowd,” said Zayed. “Playing in front of the Brickyard Battalion, and to go undefeated here the whole year – a lot of people were laughing at me when I said we could do it. But as a group we knew it was possible and we’re thrilled to have executed.”

Three minutes later Mares all but put the match away, accepting Braun’s pass at the top of the arc and cutting back inside to fire a right-footed shot that left Spangenberg flat-footed and frustrated, pushing the lead to 3-0 in front of an appreciative Carroll Stadium audience.  

Indy Eleven was content to control possession and take the air out of the ball in the second half, but that doesn’t mean chances weren’t for the taking. Wednesday’s hero Nicki Paterson nearly flicked on Marco Franco’s well-driven ball to the six in the 61stminute, only to see the chance flash just wide left, and in the 68th minute forced Spangenberg into a diving save to stop a blast from 30 yards. Braun was robbed of a second in the 73rd minute, his header of Smart’s splendid back post cross hitting off the left post.

The defensive effort was elementary for the Boys in Blue, who allowed only three shots – and none on goal to test Busch – en route to their 11th clean sheet on the season.

While its spot in The Championship has been wrapped up since June, Indy Eleven could very well have an impact on the last postseason spot when it closes out the regular season next Sunday, Oct. 30, at the current holder of the fourth and final spot in Rayo OKC (7:00 p.m. kickoff, live on ESPN3.com)

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  3 : 0  Puerto Rico FC
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 8,916

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 11W-4D-6L, 37 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 15W-10D-6L, 55 pts., 2nd place

Puerto Rico FC:
Fall Season: 4W-9D-8L, 21 pts., 11th place
Overall Season: 4W-9D-8L, 21 pts., 12th place

Scoring Summary:
IND – Justin Braun (Sinisa Ubiparipovic) 36’
IND – Eamon Zayed (unassisted) 45’
IND – Dylan Mares (Justin Braun) 48+’

Discipline Summary:
PRFC – Oliver (caution) 15’
PRFC – Oliver (second caution/ejection) 37’
 

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Greg Janicki, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer (Marco Franco 35’); Dylan Mares, Brad Ring, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Nicki Paterson 60’), Don Smart (Duke Lacroix 75’); Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Daniel Keller, Omar Gordon, Souleymane Youla

Puerto Rico FC (4-4-2): Trevor Spangenberg; Ramon Soria, Cristiano Dias (capt), Ramon Martin del Campo, Rudy Dawson; Kyle Culbertson, Michael Kafari (Chris Nurse 21’), Tyler Rudy, Paulo Mendes (Joseph Marrero 64’); Sydney Rivera (Brian Bement 81’), Oliver

Puerto Rico FC bench: David Meves (GK), Camilo Botero

Indy Eleven Knocks Off Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-2 on Paterson's Late Winner
Indiana's Team earns their first road win of the Fall Season thanks to Nicki Paterson's 85th minute strike at Al Lang Stadium; First half goals from Duke Lacroix and Jair Reinoso help make the difference

 
ST. PETERSBURG (Wednesday, October 19, 2016) – One of the more thrilling games in recent weeks for Indy Eleven ended in a 3-2 win for the "Boys in Blue" as Nicki Paterson's rocket in the 85th minute off a Gerardo Torrado pass separates the two sides in St. Petersburg.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #TBRvIND from the NASL’s FTP site

The first half started slowly as the teams felt out the conditions with chances few and far between. As Tampa Bay looked to run at the Eleven defense, it was instead Indy who got the better of the hosts just before the quarter of an hour when Duke Lacroix blitzed through the Rowdies midfield and past another defender as he barreled towards the box. The midfielder then snapped a low, hard drive towards Rowdies 'keeper Matt Pickens' near post, and the effort was enough to open the scoring for Indiana's Team.

End-to-end stuff then ensued as Tampa Bay sought out a way back into the match, and just a few minutes later, Rowdies defender Ben Sweat saw a blocked effort cleared downfield for forward Eamon Zayed, and the Irishman struck sweetly on the half volley only to see Pickens produce a top drawer save to keep the deficit at one. However, things changed right at the 30 minute mark, when again Duke Lacroix was the difference maker, taking a defender one-on-one to the byline and dancing around a challenge to put the ball on a plate for Jair Reinoso. From that distance, all the Colombian forward had to do was tap home, which he did to give Indy a 2-0 lead.

Tampa Bay would produce a number of efforts on Indy 'netminder Keith Cardona's goal between then and halftime – most notably midfielder Martin Vingaard's rifled shot which bounced off the crossbar – but Indy would hold firm until the break and go in 2-0 up at the half.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best moments from #TBRvIND on Indy Eleven’s YouTube home

Both sides would make changes as forward Tom Heinemann was introduced for the home side, while Indy midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic was subbed off in favor of Brad Ring to begin the second half. With the Rowdies seeking a goal straight away, blocked efforts by Juan Guerra and Tom Heinemann saw Indy make a couple of solid clearances, but just minutes later Joe Cole would pull one back off a Georgi Hristov rebound that halved the deficit. Indy would defend staunchly for the subsequent fifteen minutes as Tampa Bay continued their push, but persistent fouling presented the Rowdies with one too many opportunities. In the 67th minute, it was Cole again who played in a free kick instantly headed back by Greg Janicki. But the Englishman produced a moment of magic and whirled in a dipping effort that beat 'keeper Keith Cardona on the far post to tie the match. 

Still Tampa Bay knocked on the door, but after conceding twice Indy was adamant it would not happen again and denied chances for all three of Cole, Heinemann and Neill Collins as the match wound down. When it looked as it might finish level, Indy Eleven midfielder Nicki Paterson turned the tide. In the 85th minute, after collecting a cross-field pass from Gerardo Torrado the Scotsman brought the ball down and was given too much space as he took a touch towards goal and beat the ball past Pickens to his right to separate the two sides for the final time.

This time Tampa Bay would not find a way back in the match, and Indy Eleven dealt a major postseason blow to the home side in sealing up a 3-2 road win in their final trip to the Sunshine State. The win moves Indy Eleven up to second in the Fall and Combined Season with just two matches left to play.


The “Boys in Blue” will now take to the Carroll Stadium pitch one final time in regular season play next Saturday, Oct. 22, when they welcome Puerto Rico FC to the “Circle City” for the first time. Kickoff on Fan Appreciation Night at “The Mike” is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on MyINDY-TV23), and tickets for the match remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.
 
 
NASL Fall Season
Tampa Bay Rowdies  2 : 3  Indy Eleven
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
 
Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 10W-4D-6L, 34 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 14W-10D-6L, 52 pts., 2nd place
 
Tampa Bay Rowdies:
Fall Season: 5W-7D-8L, 22 pts., 9th place
Overall Season: 9W-11D-10L, 38 pts., 6th place
 
Scoring Summary:
IND – Duke Lacroix (15')
IND – Jair Reinoso (31')
TBR – Joe Cole (53')
TBR – Joe Cole (68')
IND – Nicki Paterson (85')
 
Discipline Summary:
IND – Nicki Paterson (37')
IND – Greg Janicki (75')
IND – Brad Ring (89')
 
Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Keith Cardona; Neil Shaffer, Daniel Keller, Greg Janicki (c), Marco Franco (Lovel Palmer – 82'); Duke Lacroix, Nicki Paterson, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Brad Ring – 45'), Omar Gordon; Eamon Zayed, Jair Reinoso (Gerardo Torrado – 65')
 
Indy Eleven bench: Jon Busch (GK), Colin Falvey, Dylan Mares, Don Smart
 
Tampa Bay Rowdies (4-2-3-1): Matt Pickens; Ben Sweat (Kalif Alhassan – 87'), Neill Collins, Tamika Mkandawire (c), Darnell King; Keith Savage, Juan Gerra; Martin Vingaard (Tom Heinemann – 45'), Joe Cole, Eric Avila (Carlos Preciado – 65'); Georgi Hristov
 
Tampa Bay Rowdies bench: Diego Restrepo (GK), Michael Nanchoff, Justin Chavez, Frank Sanfilippo

Indy Eleven Knocks Off Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-2 on Paterson’s Late Winner
Indiana’s Team earns their first road win of the Fall Season thanks to Nicki Paterson’s 85th minute strike at Al Lang Stadium; First half goals from Duke Lacroix and Jair Reinoso help make the difference

 
ST. PETERSBURG (Wednesday, October 19, 2016) – One of the more thrilling games in recent weeks for Indy Eleven ended in a 3-2 win for the “Boys in Blue” as Nicki Paterson’s rocket in the 85th minute off a Gerardo Torrado pass separates the two sides in St. Petersburg.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #TBRvIND from the NASL’s FTP site

The first half started slowly as the teams felt out the conditions with chances few and far between. As Tampa Bay looked to run at the Eleven defense, it was instead Indy who got the better of the hosts just before the quarter of an hour when Duke Lacroix blitzed through the Rowdies midfield and past another defender as he barreled towards the box. The midfielder then snapped a low, hard drive towards Rowdies ‘keeper Matt Pickens’ near post, and the effort was enough to open the scoring for Indiana’s Team.

End-to-end stuff then ensued as Tampa Bay sought out a way back into the match, and just a few minutes later, Rowdies defender Ben Sweat saw a blocked effort cleared downfield for forward Eamon Zayed, and the Irishman struck sweetly on the half volley only to see Pickens produce a top drawer save to keep the deficit at one. However, things changed right at the 30 minute mark, when again Duke Lacroix was the difference maker, taking a defender one-on-one to the byline and dancing around a challenge to put the ball on a plate for Jair Reinoso. From that distance, all the Colombian forward had to do was tap home, which he did to give Indy a 2-0 lead.

Tampa Bay would produce a number of efforts on Indy ‘netminder Keith Cardona’s goal between then and halftime – most notably midfielder Martin Vingaard’s rifled shot which bounced off the crossbar – but Indy would hold firm until the break and go in 2-0 up at the half.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best moments from #TBRvIND on Indy Eleven’s YouTube home

Both sides would make changes as forward Tom Heinemann was introduced for the home side, while Indy midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic was subbed off in favor of Brad Ring to begin the second half. With the Rowdies seeking a goal straight away, blocked efforts by Juan Guerra and Tom Heinemann saw Indy make a couple of solid clearances, but just minutes later Joe Cole would pull one back off a Georgi Hristov rebound that halved the deficit. Indy would defend staunchly for the subsequent fifteen minutes as Tampa Bay continued their push, but persistent fouling presented the Rowdies with one too many opportunities. In the 67th minute, it was Cole again who played in a free kick instantly headed back by Greg Janicki. But the Englishman produced a moment of magic and whirled in a dipping effort that beat ‘keeper Keith Cardona on the far post to tie the match. 

Still Tampa Bay knocked on the door, but after conceding twice Indy was adamant it would not happen again and denied chances for all three of Cole, Heinemann and Neill Collins as the match wound down. When it looked as it might finish level, Indy Eleven midfielder Nicki Paterson turned the tide. In the 85th minute, after collecting a cross-field pass from Gerardo Torrado the Scotsman brought the ball down and was given too much space as he took a touch towards goal and beat the ball past Pickens to his right to separate the two sides for the final time.

This time Tampa Bay would not find a way back in the match, and Indy Eleven dealt a major postseason blow to the home side in sealing up a 3-2 road win in their final trip to the Sunshine State. The win moves Indy Eleven up to second in the Fall and Combined Season with just two matches left to play.


The “Boys in Blue” will now take to the Carroll Stadium pitch one final time in regular season play next Saturday, Oct. 22, when they welcome Puerto Rico FC to the “Circle City” for the first time. Kickoff on Fan Appreciation Night at “The Mike” is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on MyINDY-TV23), and tickets for the match remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.
 
 
NASL Fall Season
Tampa Bay Rowdies  2 : 3  Indy Eleven
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
 
Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 10W-4D-6L, 34 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 14W-10D-6L, 52 pts., 2nd place
 
Tampa Bay Rowdies:
Fall Season: 5W-7D-8L, 22 pts., 9th place
Overall Season: 9W-11D-10L, 38 pts., 6th place
 
Scoring Summary:
IND – Duke Lacroix (15′)
IND – Jair Reinoso (31′)
TBR – Joe Cole (53′)
TBR – Joe Cole (68′)
IND – Nicki Paterson (85′)
 
Discipline Summary:
IND – Nicki Paterson (37′)
IND – Greg Janicki (75′)
IND – Brad Ring (89′)
 
Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Keith Cardona; Neil Shaffer, Daniel Keller, Greg Janicki (c), Marco Franco (Lovel Palmer – 82′); Duke Lacroix, Nicki Paterson, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Brad Ring – 45′), Omar Gordon; Eamon Zayed, Jair Reinoso (Gerardo Torrado – 65′)
 
Indy Eleven bench: Jon Busch (GK), Colin Falvey, Dylan Mares, Don Smart
 
Tampa Bay Rowdies (4-2-3-1): Matt Pickens; Ben Sweat (Kalif Alhassan – 87′), Neill Collins, Tamika Mkandawire (c), Darnell King; Keith Savage, Juan Gerra; Martin Vingaard (Tom Heinemann – 45′), Joe Cole, Eric Avila (Carlos Preciado – 65′); Georgi Hristov
 
Tampa Bay Rowdies bench: Diego Restrepo (GK), Michael Nanchoff, Justin Chavez, Frank Sanfilippo

Indy Eleven Continues Dominance at Home in 3-0 Win over Carolina

Year-plus Undefeated Streak at Carroll Stadium Reaches 17 Games;

Braun, Paterson & Youla all Tally while Busch & Defense Notch Third Shutout in Four Games

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, October 15, 2016) – Indy Eleven entered the evening having gone a full year without a loss at home, and the streak will last at least one more week following a 2-0 win over the Carolina RailHawks in front of 8,649 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

Justin Braun’s seventh goal of the season in the dying moments of the first half would make the difference, while Nicki Paterson’s 77th minute free kick goal and Souleymane Youla’s 90th minute finish added some insurance in a win that pushed Indy Eleven’s home record in 2016 to 12W-3D-0L. The shutout was Indy Eleven’s second straight and third in its last four outings and gave goalkeeper Jon Busch his 10th clean sheet on the season, tied for the third most in the NASL this season. 

“We talked before the Jacksonville game [on Wednesday] that, come playoff time, being a team that believes they can shut out an opponent means that if you’re not attacking brilliantly, not getting your shots off, or certain crosses aren’t finding their mark, that as long as you aren’t giving up anything then it’s still yours to win,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “Sometimes it’s the opponent that makes the mistake and beats themselves, so the priority on the clean sheet doesn’t mean that you’re only defending. It’s obvious tonight that we got out and played, but having the confidence to keep teams out means we can go to Tampa and hopefully keep them out as well.”

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvCAR from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvCAR via the NASL MatchCenter

The game open at a strenuous pace, with the teams trading quality chances right off the bat. Dylan Mares was in prime position to put Indy Eleven up four minutes in, but his shot from 10 yards out was thwarted by a fine kick save by Carolina goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre. A minute later it was Matt Fondy attempting to volley home a cross to the left post, his solid effort hitting the outside netting.

Carolina forward Tiyi Shipalane worked himself into space to unleash a blast from 25 yards out in the 15th minute, but his shot rose just over the crossbar and looked to be covered by Busch regardless. A minute later Sylvestre was forced into a brilliant tip save over the bar, backtracking to catch Justin Braun’s looping header from the penalty spot creating by a fine service from Sinisa Ubiparipovic.

In the 35th minute it was Indy Eleven midfielder Don Smart’s early cross finding forward Eamon Zayed perfectly in stride, but Sylvestre came up big once again, making a point blank kick save and seeing the rebound pop right into his breadbasket while sprawled on the ground. Zayed would try from distance just three minutes later, but Sylvestre had considerably less work to do in stopping the NASL’s second leading scorer this time around.

The “Boys in Blue” would finally break through in the 45th minute when Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s perfect cross from the right side of the area found the head of Braun, whose header from six yards beat Sylvestre to the left post to move the scoreboard to 1-0 Indy Eleven heading into halftime.

Carolina would have the better of the chances at the start of the second half, Matt Watson’s well-struck low effort in the 48th minute flashing just wide of the right post to start a steady barrage for the visitors, who almost saw Nazmi Albadawi’s deflected effort spin over Busch for an equalizer in the 62nd minute, only to see it go a foot over the crossbar.

Substitute striker Brian Shriver nearly made a quick impact in the 69th minute with a redirect at the six that took a deflection just wide right. Two minutes later it was Steven Miller’s turn, his shot from the right side of the area forcing a strong, two-handed punch from Busch to keep it out.

Indy Eleven would absorb just enough pressure and force their will on counter attacks, and a dead piece opportunity created when Braun was hauled down on a 1-v-2 by Simon Mensing just outside the area in the 74th minute would finally help create some breathing room for the home side. It was substitute midfielder Nicki Paterson stepping up to the free kick, which he bent low around the right side of the wall and inside the right post in the 76th minute to double Indy’s advantage.

The goal injected life into the Indy attack, which kept its foot on the gas in counter attack, unlucky ot to go up three in the 83rd minute when both Braun and Smart saw shots blocked by defenders inside the six on back-to-back chances. But Smart would play provider on the Eleven’s eventual third, as his cross from the right was perfectly weighted to find Youla on the doorstep, his redirect marking the Guinean’s second of the Fall Season to put the finishing touches on a thorough win. However, Youla’s night would be marred in stoppage time when he shoved Albadawi above the shoulders, drawing a straight red a ruling him out of Wednesday’s midweek match at Tampa Bay.   

Indy Eleven will play its third of four games in a span of 11 days this Wednesday, Oct. 19, when it travels to the Sunshine State to take on said Tampa Bay Rowdies, another team desperately seeking the final berth in The Championship (7:30 p.m. ET, live on MyINDY-TV 23).

The “Boys in Blue” will then take to the Carroll Stadium pitch one final time in regular season play next Saturday, Oct. 22, when they welcome Puerto Rico FC to the “Circle City” for the first time. Kickoff on Fan Appreciation Night at “The Mike” is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on MyINDY-TV2 3), and tickets for the match remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  3 : 0  Carolina RailHawks
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 8,649

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 9W-4D-6L, 31 pts., 3rd place
Overall Season: 13W-10D-6L, 49 pts., 3rd place

Carolina RailHawks FC:
Fall Season: 6W-5D-9L, 23 pts., 7th place
Overall Season: 10W-7D-13L, 37 pts., 9th place

Scoring Summary:
IND – Justin Braun (Sinisa Ubiparipovic) 45’
IND – Nicki Paterson (unassisted) 77’
IND – Souleymane Youla (Don Smart) 90’

Discipline Summary:
CAR – Nazmi Albadawi (caution) 40’
CAR – Simon Mensing (caution) 74’
IND – Duke Lacroix (caution) 79’
IND – Jon Busch (caution) 93+’
IND – Souleymane Youla (ejection) 94+’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Lovel Palmer, Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares, Brad Ring, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Nicki Paterson 65’), Don Smart; Eamon Zayed (Duke Lacroix 76’), Justin Braun (Souleymane Youla 85’)

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Daniel Keller, Greg Janicki, Omar Gordon

Carolina RailHawks (3-5-2): Brian Sylvestre; Connor Tobin, Simon Mensing (Billy Schuler 80’), Michael Daly; Kareem Moses (Brian Shriver 65’), Austin Da Luz, Matt Watson, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller; Tiyi Shipalane, Matt Fondy

RailHawks FC bench: Akira Fitzgerald (GK), Drew Beckie, James Marcelin, Marvin Ceballos, Omar Bravo

Indy Eleven Continues Dominance at Home in 3-0 Win over Carolina

Year-plus Undefeated Streak at Carroll Stadium Reaches 17 Games;

Braun, Paterson & Youla all Tally while Busch & Defense Notch Third Shutout in Four Games

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, October 15, 2016) – Indy Eleven entered the evening having gone a full year without a loss at home, and the streak will last at least one more week following a 2-0 win over the Carolina RailHawks in front of 8,649 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

Justin Braun’s seventh goal of the season in the dying moments of the first half would make the difference, while Nicki Paterson’s 77th minute free kick goal and Souleymane Youla’s 90th minute finish added some insurance in a win that pushed Indy Eleven’s home record in 2016 to 12W-3D-0L. The shutout was Indy Eleven’s second straight and third in its last four outings and gave goalkeeper Jon Busch his 10th clean sheet on the season, tied for the third most in the NASL this season. 

“We talked before the Jacksonville game [on Wednesday] that, come playoff time, being a team that believes they can shut out an opponent means that if you’re not attacking brilliantly, not getting your shots off, or certain crosses aren’t finding their mark, that as long as you aren’t giving up anything then it’s still yours to win,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “Sometimes it’s the opponent that makes the mistake and beats themselves, so the priority on the clean sheet doesn’t mean that you’re only defending. It’s obvious tonight that we got out and played, but having the confidence to keep teams out means we can go to Tampa and hopefully keep them out as well.”

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvCAR from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvCAR via the NASL MatchCenter

The game open at a strenuous pace, with the teams trading quality chances right off the bat. Dylan Mares was in prime position to put Indy Eleven up four minutes in, but his shot from 10 yards out was thwarted by a fine kick save by Carolina goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre. A minute later it was Matt Fondy attempting to volley home a cross to the left post, his solid effort hitting the outside netting.

Carolina forward Tiyi Shipalane worked himself into space to unleash a blast from 25 yards out in the 15th minute, but his shot rose just over the crossbar and looked to be covered by Busch regardless. A minute later Sylvestre was forced into a brilliant tip save over the bar, backtracking to catch Justin Braun’s looping header from the penalty spot creating by a fine service from Sinisa Ubiparipovic.

In the 35th minute it was Indy Eleven midfielder Don Smart’s early cross finding forward Eamon Zayed perfectly in stride, but Sylvestre came up big once again, making a point blank kick save and seeing the rebound pop right into his breadbasket while sprawled on the ground. Zayed would try from distance just three minutes later, but Sylvestre had considerably less work to do in stopping the NASL’s second leading scorer this time around.

The “Boys in Blue” would finally break through in the 45th minute when Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s perfect cross from the right side of the area found the head of Braun, whose header from six yards beat Sylvestre to the left post to move the scoreboard to 1-0 Indy Eleven heading into halftime.

Carolina would have the better of the chances at the start of the second half, Matt Watson’s well-struck low effort in the 48th minute flashing just wide of the right post to start a steady barrage for the visitors, who almost saw Nazmi Albadawi’s deflected effort spin over Busch for an equalizer in the 62nd minute, only to see it go a foot over the crossbar.

Substitute striker Brian Shriver nearly made a quick impact in the 69th minute with a redirect at the six that took a deflection just wide right. Two minutes later it was Steven Miller’s turn, his shot from the right side of the area forcing a strong, two-handed punch from Busch to keep it out.

Indy Eleven would absorb just enough pressure and force their will on counter attacks, and a dead piece opportunity created when Braun was hauled down on a 1-v-2 by Simon Mensing just outside the area in the 74th minute would finally help create some breathing room for the home side. It was substitute midfielder Nicki Paterson stepping up to the free kick, which he bent low around the right side of the wall and inside the right post in the 76th minute to double Indy’s advantage.

The goal injected life into the Indy attack, which kept its foot on the gas in counter attack, unlucky ot to go up three in the 83rd minute when both Braun and Smart saw shots blocked by defenders inside the six on back-to-back chances. But Smart would play provider on the Eleven’s eventual third, as his cross from the right was perfectly weighted to find Youla on the doorstep, his redirect marking the Guinean’s second of the Fall Season to put the finishing touches on a thorough win. However, Youla’s night would be marred in stoppage time when he shoved Albadawi above the shoulders, drawing a straight red a ruling him out of Wednesday’s midweek match at Tampa Bay.   

Indy Eleven will play its third of four games in a span of 11 days this Wednesday, Oct. 19, when it travels to the Sunshine State to take on said Tampa Bay Rowdies, another team desperately seeking the final berth in The Championship (7:30 p.m. ET, live on MyINDY-TV 23).

The “Boys in Blue” will then take to the Carroll Stadium pitch one final time in regular season play next Saturday, Oct. 22, when they welcome Puerto Rico FC to the “Circle City” for the first time. Kickoff on Fan Appreciation Night at “The Mike” is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on MyINDY-TV2 3), and tickets for the match remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  3 : 0  Carolina RailHawks
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 8,649

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 9W-4D-6L, 31 pts., 3rd place
Overall Season: 13W-10D-6L, 49 pts., 3rd place

Carolina RailHawks FC:
Fall Season: 6W-5D-9L, 23 pts., 7th place
Overall Season: 10W-7D-13L, 37 pts., 9th place

Scoring Summary:
IND – Justin Braun (Sinisa Ubiparipovic) 45’
IND – Nicki Paterson (unassisted) 77’
IND – Souleymane Youla (Don Smart) 90’

Discipline Summary:
CAR – Nazmi Albadawi (caution) 40’
CAR – Simon Mensing (caution) 74’
IND – Duke Lacroix (caution) 79’
IND – Jon Busch (caution) 93+’
IND – Souleymane Youla (ejection) 94+’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Lovel Palmer, Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares, Brad Ring, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Nicki Paterson 65’), Don Smart; Eamon Zayed (Duke Lacroix 76’), Justin Braun (Souleymane Youla 85’)

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Daniel Keller, Greg Janicki, Omar Gordon

Carolina RailHawks (3-5-2): Brian Sylvestre; Connor Tobin, Simon Mensing (Billy Schuler 80’), Michael Daly; Kareem Moses (Brian Shriver 65’), Austin Da Luz, Matt Watson, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller; Tiyi Shipalane, Matt Fondy

RailHawks FC bench: Akira Fitzgerald (GK), Drew Beckie, James Marcelin, Marvin Ceballos, Omar Bravo

Indy Eleven Gains Point on the Road from 0-0 Draw at Jacksonville

Goalkeeper Jon Busch Makes Five Saves to Post Ninth Shutout of 2016 Season

JACKSONVILLE (Wednesday, October 12, 2016) – Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch stopped all five shots that came his way, helping Indy Eleven earn a point from a 0-0 draw against Jacksonville Armada FC at Community First Park. Tonight’s contest was rescheduled from last Saturday due to Hurricane Mathew sweeping Florida’s Atlantic Coast late last week.

The shutout was Busch’s – and Indy Eleven’s – ninth of the 2016 season. The scoreless draw marked the first such scoreline for Indy Eleven in 18 games, dating back to another duel in the Sunshine State against The Miami FC back on June 4.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #JAXvIND from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #JAXvIND via the NASL MatchCenter

The first half saw both sides trade chances largely on counter attack opportunities, but neither goalkeeper would be tested until the 24thminute. A failed touch by the Jacksonville backline fell near the penalty spot to Indy forward Justin Braun, who tried to poke a shot between the  legs of Miguel Gallardo, only to see the Armada FC netminder reach backwards to grab the shot.

It was Busch’s turn to step up in the final 15 minutes of the half, and he did just that, making a diving two-handed parry of Matt Bahner’s 30-yard rocket in the 31st minute, then making another strong stop in the 43rd minute on Alhassane Keita’s shot from the right side of the area.

The second half would start similarly as the energy was up but the scoring chances few and far between. Busch would be called upon again midway through the half, but he wouldn’t have much trouble on shots from distance by Keita and Mechack Jerome in the 65th and 67thminutes, respectively.

In the 81st minute Jerome would this time serve in a free kick rather than take a shot from it, and it looked to be a good decision as he found the head of Bryan Burke, but the substitute’s chance from the six would skip just wide of the left post.

 A frantic final few minutes of the match would see chances come not just off of corner kicks, but also from counter attacks following them. Jacksonville started the back and forth in the 88th minute, when an Indy Eleven corner kick quickly turned into a chance on the other end for Armada FC substitute forward Derek Gebhard. However, back-tracking Indy midfielder Duke Lacroix would barge in to shoulder the young Jacksonville striker off the ball, both players going to ground in the area but without drawing a whistle from the referee.

In the final minute of regulation it was Indy’s own substitute forward, Souleymane Youla, trying to finish off a counter of his own off of Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s distribution from midfield, but his final touch inside the area was knocked out for a corner. Nemanja Vukovic’s ensuing service would fall to the feel of Braun eight yards out, but his left-footed reaction effort was gobbled up by Gallardo, marking the last chance for either side during three minutes of stoppage time.

Indy Eleven will continue a span of four games in 11 days this Saturday, Oct. 15, when it plays host to the Carolina RailHawks. Kickoff on “College Night” at Carroll Stadium – where Indiana’s Team has not dropped a game in over a year during a 16-game undefeated streak in NASL play – is set for 7:30 p.m., and the match can be seen live on WISH-TV and beIN SPORTS en Español. Tickets for the match remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Jacksonville Armada FC  0 : 0  Indy Eleven
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Community First Park – Jacksonville, FL

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 8W-4D-6L, 28 pts., 4th place
Overall Season: 12W-10D-6L, 46 pts., 3rd place

Jacksonville Armada FC:
Fall Season: 3W-8D-7L, 17 pts., 12th place
Overall Season: 4W-12D-12L, 24 pts., 11th place

Scoring Summary:
None

Discipline Summary:
JAX – Charles Elondou (caution) 40’
IND – Colin Falvey (caution) 66’
ND – Sinisa Ubiparipovic (caution) 85’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Lovel Palmer (Greg Janicki 74’), Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares (Duke Lacroix 61’), Brad Ring, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Don Smart; Eamon Zayed (Souleymane Youla 79’), Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Daniel Keller, Nicki Paterson, Jair Reinoso

Jacksonville Armada FC (4-2-3-1): Miguel Gallardo; Anthony Wallace, Tyler Ruthven, Mechack Jerome, Matt Bahner (Bryan Burke 73’); Nicklas Maripuu, Lucas Scaglia (Derek Gebhard 86’); Charles Elondou, Pekka Lagerblom (capt) (Jemal Johnson 65’), Zach Steinberger; Alhassane Keita

Armada FC bench: Sean Lewis (GK), Beto Navarro, Nicolas Perea, Alex Dixon

Indy Eleven Gains Point on the Road from 0-0 Draw at Jacksonville

Goalkeeper Jon Busch Makes Five Saves to Post Ninth Shutout of 2016 Season

JACKSONVILLE (Wednesday, October 12, 2016) – Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch stopped all five shots that came his way, helping Indy Eleven earn a point from a 0-0 draw against Jacksonville Armada FC at Community First Park. Tonight’s contest was rescheduled from last Saturday due to Hurricane Mathew sweeping Florida’s Atlantic Coast late last week.

The shutout was Busch’s – and Indy Eleven’s – ninth of the 2016 season. The scoreless draw marked the first such scoreline for Indy Eleven in 18 games, dating back to another duel in the Sunshine State against The Miami FC back on June 4.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #JAXvIND from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #JAXvIND via the NASL MatchCenter

The first half saw both sides trade chances largely on counter attack opportunities, but neither goalkeeper would be tested until the 24thminute. A failed touch by the Jacksonville backline fell near the penalty spot to Indy forward Justin Braun, who tried to poke a shot between the  legs of Miguel Gallardo, only to see the Armada FC netminder reach backwards to grab the shot.

It was Busch’s turn to step up in the final 15 minutes of the half, and he did just that, making a diving two-handed parry of Matt Bahner’s 30-yard rocket in the 31st minute, then making another strong stop in the 43rd minute on Alhassane Keita’s shot from the right side of the area.

The second half would start similarly as the energy was up but the scoring chances few and far between. Busch would be called upon again midway through the half, but he wouldn’t have much trouble on shots from distance by Keita and Mechack Jerome in the 65th and 67thminutes, respectively.

In the 81st minute Jerome would this time serve in a free kick rather than take a shot from it, and it looked to be a good decision as he found the head of Bryan Burke, but the substitute’s chance from the six would skip just wide of the left post.

 A frantic final few minutes of the match would see chances come not just off of corner kicks, but also from counter attacks following them. Jacksonville started the back and forth in the 88th minute, when an Indy Eleven corner kick quickly turned into a chance on the other end for Armada FC substitute forward Derek Gebhard. However, back-tracking Indy midfielder Duke Lacroix would barge in to shoulder the young Jacksonville striker off the ball, both players going to ground in the area but without drawing a whistle from the referee.

In the final minute of regulation it was Indy’s own substitute forward, Souleymane Youla, trying to finish off a counter of his own off of Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s distribution from midfield, but his final touch inside the area was knocked out for a corner. Nemanja Vukovic’s ensuing service would fall to the feel of Braun eight yards out, but his left-footed reaction effort was gobbled up by Gallardo, marking the last chance for either side during three minutes of stoppage time.

Indy Eleven will continue a span of four games in 11 days this Saturday, Oct. 15, when it plays host to the Carolina RailHawks. Kickoff on “College Night” at Carroll Stadium – where Indiana’s Team has not dropped a game in over a year during a 16-game undefeated streak in NASL play – is set for 7:30 p.m., and the match can be seen live on WISH-TV and beIN SPORTS en Español. Tickets for the match remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Jacksonville Armada FC  0 : 0  Indy Eleven
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Community First Park – Jacksonville, FL

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 8W-4D-6L, 28 pts., 4th place
Overall Season: 12W-10D-6L, 46 pts., 3rd place

Jacksonville Armada FC:
Fall Season: 3W-8D-7L, 17 pts., 12th place
Overall Season: 4W-12D-12L, 24 pts., 11th place

Scoring Summary:
None

Discipline Summary:
JAX – Charles Elondou (caution) 40’
IND – Colin Falvey (caution) 66’
ND – Sinisa Ubiparipovic (caution) 85’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Lovel Palmer (Greg Janicki 74’), Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares (Duke Lacroix 61’), Brad Ring, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Don Smart; Eamon Zayed (Souleymane Youla 79’), Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Daniel Keller, Nicki Paterson, Jair Reinoso

Jacksonville Armada FC (4-2-3-1): Miguel Gallardo; Anthony Wallace, Tyler Ruthven, Mechack Jerome, Matt Bahner (Bryan Burke 73’); Nicklas Maripuu, Lucas Scaglia (Derek Gebhard 86’); Charles Elondou, Pekka Lagerblom (capt) (Jemal Johnson 65’), Zach Steinberger; Alhassane Keita

Armada FC bench: Sean Lewis (GK), Beto Navarro, Nicolas Perea, Alex Dixon

Indy Eleven Falls to Late FC Edmonton Goal in 2-1 Loss at Clarke Field
“Boys in Blue” Drop Sunday Contest as Eamon Zayed Tallies 14th League Goal of 2016.

 
EDMONTON (Sunday, October 2, 2016) – Indy Eleven saw its two-game winning streak snapped in a late 2-1 loss at FC Edmonton. Despite a solid outing from the "Boys in Blue," a 90+4' winner from substitute forward Ben Fisk sealed the win for the hosts.
 
The first half was an even, end-to-end contest between the two sides with a number of chances falling for both. In the opening five minutes, Eleven 'keeper Jon Busch made two great saves – one on Shamit Shome, one on Shawn Nicklaw – to keep things level, and just minutes later it was Indy's turn at the Eddies goal but defender Cory Miller struck a half-volley just wide of Edmonton 'netminder Matt VanOekel's post.

The hosts would test Indy once more in the opening half as Shawn Nicklaw was again at the center of the attack, this time finding midfielder Daryl Fordyce, but the Northern Irishman saw his effort collected well by the MLS veteran Busch. For the "Boys in Blue," the best first half chance came from midfielder Dylan Mares. Hot off an impressive showing against New York that included a goal and an assist, Mares took a pass and turned towards the Edmonton goal, rifling an effort at VanOekel that was tipped onto the crossbar but just couldn't find the back of the net. The pair would go scoreless into the halftime break.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #FCEvIND from the NASL’s FTP site
  
 
The second half began quickly for Indy as the visitors looked to pounce straight from the whistle, but it would take ten minutes for a quality chance to fall their way – though forward Eamon Zayed would make the most of it. An almost carbon copy of Zayed's goal against the Cosmos, midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic collected the ball at the edge of the area and found Dylan Mares out wide to start the move. As the South Bend native forced his way towards the endline, he sent in an early ball across the center of the box that Zayed got a solid foot to, sending it through the legs of VanOekel and in. The goal was Zayed's 14th of the 2016 campaign and placed him just one behind the league leader Christian Ramirez (15) in the chase for the Golden Boot. Heavy pressure would continue to be placed on the Edmonton goal by Indy, but a second chance for Zayed and one for Dylan Mares both went begging as they looked to double the lead.

In the 80th minute, the tide turned in favor of the Eddies as Pape Diakite found an equalizer, smashing home a bouncing ball in the box to make it one-all. The hosts then cranked up the pressure on Indy's goal, but both 'keeper Jon Busch and his back line were well prepared and helped to repel three more opportunities in front of the net. Despite their efforts, in the last minute of stoppage time FC Edmonton hit on the break as again Fordyce and Nicklaw combined, this time to find Ben Fisk at the back post on a counter attack, and the substitute slotted past Busch at the death to give the Eddies the victory.
 
Indy Eleven has one more away match next weekend, but following its Oct. 8 contest at Jacksonville Armada FC, Indy Eleven will return home on Saturday, Oct. 15, when it hosts Carolina RailHawks FC on “College Night” at Carroll Stadium (7:30 p.m., live on WISH-TV & beIN SPORTS en Español).
 
Tickets for that Oct. 15 game – featuring the matchup of former Mexican National Team legends Gerardo Torrado and Omar Bravo – remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.
 
NASL Fall Season
FC Edmonton  2 : 1  Indy Eleven
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Clarke Field – Edmonton, Alberta, CAN
 
Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 8W-3D-6L, 27 pts., 4th place
Overall Season: 12W-9D-6L, 45 pts., 3rd place
 
FC Edmonton:
Fall Season: 8W-6D-3L, 30 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 13W-8D-6L, 47 pts., 2nd place
 
Scoring Summary:
IND – Eamon Zayed 56' (Dylan Mares)
FCE – Pape Diakite 80'
FCE – Ben Fisk 90+4' (Shawn Nicklaw)
 
Discipline Summary:
IND – Lovel Palmer 53'
FCE – Pape Diakite 68'
 
Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller (Lovel Palmer 26'), Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares, Gerardo Torrado (Brad Ring 61'), Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Omar Gordon 75'), Don Smart; Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun
 
Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Nicki Paterson, Daniel Keller, Duke Lacroix
 
FC Edmonton (4-1-4-1): Matt VanOekel; Adam Eckersley, Pape Diakite, Albert Watson, Shawn Nicklaw; Nicolas Di Biase (Cristian Raudales 66'); Jake Keegan (Ben Fisk 59'), Daryl Fordyce, Shamit Shome, Dustin Corea (Pedro Galvao 76'); Tomi Ameobi
 
Eddies bench: Tyson Farago (GK), Allan Zebie, Gustavo, Karsten Smith

Indy Eleven Falls to Late FC Edmonton Goal in 2-1 Loss at Clarke Field
“Boys in Blue” Drop Sunday Contest as Eamon Zayed Tallies 14th League Goal of 2016.

 
EDMONTON (Sunday, October 2, 2016) – Indy Eleven saw its two-game winning streak snapped in a late 2-1 loss at FC Edmonton. Despite a solid outing from the “Boys in Blue,” a 90+4′ winner from substitute forward Ben Fisk sealed the win for the hosts.
 
The first half was an even, end-to-end contest between the two sides with a number of chances falling for both. In the opening five minutes, Eleven ‘keeper Jon Busch made two great saves – one on Shamit Shome, one on Shawn Nicklaw – to keep things level, and just minutes later it was Indy’s turn at the Eddies goal but defender Cory Miller struck a half-volley just wide of Edmonton ‘netminder Matt VanOekel’s post.

The hosts would test Indy once more in the opening half as Shawn Nicklaw was again at the center of the attack, this time finding midfielder Daryl Fordyce, but the Northern Irishman saw his effort collected well by the MLS veteran Busch. For the “Boys in Blue,” the best first half chance came from midfielder Dylan Mares. Hot off an impressive showing against New York that included a goal and an assist, Mares took a pass and turned towards the Edmonton goal, rifling an effort at VanOekel that was tipped onto the crossbar but just couldn’t find the back of the net. The pair would go scoreless into the halftime break.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #FCEvIND from the NASL’s FTP site
  
 
The second half began quickly for Indy as the visitors looked to pounce straight from the whistle, but it would take ten minutes for a quality chance to fall their way – though forward Eamon Zayed would make the most of it. An almost carbon copy of Zayed’s goal against the Cosmos, midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic collected the ball at the edge of the area and found Dylan Mares out wide to start the move. As the South Bend native forced his way towards the endline, he sent in an early ball across the center of the box that Zayed got a solid foot to, sending it through the legs of VanOekel and in. The goal was Zayed’s 14th of the 2016 campaign and placed him just one behind the league leader Christian Ramirez (15) in the chase for the Golden Boot. Heavy pressure would continue to be placed on the Edmonton goal by Indy, but a second chance for Zayed and one for Dylan Mares both went begging as they looked to double the lead.

In the 80th minute, the tide turned in favor of the Eddies as Pape Diakite found an equalizer, smashing home a bouncing ball in the box to make it one-all. The hosts then cranked up the pressure on Indy’s goal, but both ‘keeper Jon Busch and his back line were well prepared and helped to repel three more opportunities in front of the net. Despite their efforts, in the last minute of stoppage time FC Edmonton hit on the break as again Fordyce and Nicklaw combined, this time to find Ben Fisk at the back post on a counter attack, and the substitute slotted past Busch at the death to give the Eddies the victory.
 
Indy Eleven has one more away match next weekend, but following its Oct. 8 contest at Jacksonville Armada FC, Indy Eleven will return home on Saturday, Oct. 15, when it hosts Carolina RailHawks FC on “College Night” at Carroll Stadium (7:30 p.m., live on WISH-TV & beIN SPORTS en Español).
 
Tickets for that Oct. 15 game – featuring the matchup of former Mexican National Team legends Gerardo Torrado and Omar Bravo – remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.
 
NASL Fall Season
FC Edmonton  2 : 1  Indy Eleven
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Clarke Field – Edmonton, Alberta, CAN
 
Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 8W-3D-6L, 27 pts., 4th place
Overall Season: 12W-9D-6L, 45 pts., 3rd place
 
FC Edmonton:
Fall Season: 8W-6D-3L, 30 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 13W-8D-6L, 47 pts., 2nd place
 
Scoring Summary:
IND – Eamon Zayed 56′ (Dylan Mares)
FCE – Pape Diakite 80′
FCE – Ben Fisk 90+4′ (Shawn Nicklaw)
 
Discipline Summary:
IND – Lovel Palmer 53′
FCE – Pape Diakite 68′
 
Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller (Lovel Palmer 26′), Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares, Gerardo Torrado (Brad Ring 61′), Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Omar Gordon 75′), Don Smart; Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun
 
Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Nicki Paterson, Daniel Keller, Duke Lacroix
 
FC Edmonton (4-1-4-1): Matt VanOekel; Adam Eckersley, Pape Diakite, Albert Watson, Shawn Nicklaw; Nicolas Di Biase (Cristian Raudales 66′); Jake Keegan (Ben Fisk 59′), Daryl Fordyce, Shamit Shome, Dustin Corea (Pedro Galvao 76′); Tomi Ameobi
 
Eddies bench: Tyson Farago (GK), Allan Zebie, Gustavo, Karsten Smith

Indy Eleven Gets Revenge against First-place New York in 3-0 Win

“Boys in Blue” Stay Hot at Carroll Stadium, Pushing Home Unbeaten Streak to 16 Games;

Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun & Dylan Mares Each Notch Goal & Assist in Impressive Team Effort
 

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, September 24, 2016) – Indy Eleven got revenge for its worst loss of the season in impressive fashion, downing the New York Cosmos 3-0 in a dominant performance in front of 9,157 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium. Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun and Dylan Mares all notched a goal and assist in the victory for the “Boys in Blue,” which canceled out a loss via a similar scoreline at the Cosmos three-and-half weeks ago.

Indy Eleven reinserted itself in the Fall Season race with the win, getting to within four points of the front-running Cosmos with six games remaining for each squad and passing The Miami FC and FC Edmonton to claim second place. The victory also pushed Indy Eleven’s home unbeaten streak to 16 games dating back to last October, drawing even with the Cosmos for the longest such active streak in the NASL.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvNYC from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvNYC via the NASL MatchCenter

“New York is a great team, but tonight was a complete effort and shows that if we can have complete efforts on both sides of the game, we can beat the best in the league," said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “I think part of tonight involved us having a better understanding of how to defend them, and I thought we communicated well. I think we were a step faster than them in dealing with problems, whereas in New York [three weeks ago] we were still trying to figure (things) out and were always a step behind. Big credit to the guys for that.” 

The early energy from both squads was fitting for a game ripe with postseason implications, but it was Indy’s direct play and high pressure that would start to take over the proceedings shortly into the contest. Indiana’s Team had the first good chance just five minutes in, when a quick counter ended with Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s low effort bouncing just wide of the left post. Don Smart’s sidewinding effort was blocked out for a corner in the 9th minute, and the ensuing set piece saw Cory Miller get a strong header on goal, continuing the home side’s effort to strike for an early, game-changing goal.

Zayed – Indy’s hero in its first meeting at Carroll Stadium against New York back in April – nearly got the opener at the half hour mark, but his shot from 20 yards drifted just high. However, the Irishman contributed to the opening tally just two minutes later, nodding Smart’s cross from the right endline across the face of goal for Braun to finish up, giving the Eleven a hard-earned 1-0 lead.

That would be the last dangerous chance of a first half that saw Indy Eleven outshoot the Cosmos 7-1, but the home side’s efficiency would pick up – and put the game away – in the opening minutes of the second half.

Mares would first play provider in the 48th minute, sending a low ball through the six that Zayed pounded home from the doorstep to double the advantage and tally his 13th goal of the season. Just three minutes later Mares would get one of his own, accepting Braun’s square ball from the left on a counter before blasting a low shot just inside the right post from 20 yards out, all but putting things out of reach with 40 minutes to play.

Indy’s constant pressure resulted in very few chances of any note from the run of play for New York, but it also resulted in more fouls – and more set pieces. The first shot on goal for the Cosmos came in the 57th minute when Juan Arango’s well-driven free kick from 35 yards out snuck through traffic, but Indy netminder Jon Busch read it all the way and pounced on the ball for his first save of the evening.

With the “Boys in Blue” able to effectively kill the game from there on out Busch would only be tested once more on the evening, stepping off his line quickly to bat away substitute Jairo Arrieta’s header in the 87th minute. The shutout was the eighth this season for Busch and Indy Eleven, and the first in eight games dating back to a 1-0 win over Ottawa on Aug. 6.

Indy Eleven has away affairs each of the next two weekends, starting with its longest road trip of the season to FC Edmonton next Sunday, October 2, with a matinee kickoff set for 4:00 p.m. ET (live on ESPN3.com). Following its Oct. 8 contest at Jacksonville Armada FC, Indy Eleven will return home on Saturday, Oct. 15, when it hosts Carolina RailHawks FC on “College Night” at Carroll Stadium (7:30 p.m., live on WISH-TV & beIN SPORTS en Español).

Tickets for that Oct. 15 game – featuring the matchup of former Mexican National Team legends Gerardo Torrado and Omar Bravo – remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  3 : 0  New York Cosmos
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 9,157

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 8W-3D-5L, 27 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 12W-9D-5L, 42 pts., 2nd place

New York Cosmos:
Fall Season: 9W-4D-3L, 31 pts., 1st place
Overall Season: 15W-4D-7L, 49 pts., 1st place

Scoring Summary:
IND – Justin Braun (Eamon Zayed) 32’
IND – Eamon Zayed (Dylan Mares) 48’
IND – Dylan Mares (Justin Braun) 51’

Discipline Summary:
None

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller, Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares, Gerardo Torrado, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Brad Ring 61’), Don Smart (Nicki Paterson 81’); Eamon Zayed, (Duke Lacroix 85’) Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Lovel Palmer, Daniel Keller, Omar Gordon
 

New York Cosmos (4-1-4-1): Jimmy Maurer; Ayoze, Carlos Mendes (capt), David Ochieng, Jimmy Mulligan; Danny Szetela (Adam Moffat 54’); David Diosa, Ruben Bover, Juan Arango (Jairo Arrieta 72’), Sebastian Guenzatti (Andres Flores 65’); Lucky Mkosana

Cosmos bench: Brian Holt (GK); Ryan Richter, Yohandry Orozco, Jimmy Ockford

Indy Eleven Gets Revenge against First-place New York in 3-0 Win

“Boys in Blue” Stay Hot at Carroll Stadium, Pushing Home Unbeaten Streak to 16 Games;

Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun & Dylan Mares Each Notch Goal & Assist in Impressive Team Effort
 

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, September 24, 2016) – Indy Eleven got revenge for its worst loss of the season in impressive fashion, downing the New York Cosmos 3-0 in a dominant performance in front of 9,157 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium. Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun and Dylan Mares all notched a goal and assist in the victory for the “Boys in Blue,” which canceled out a loss via a similar scoreline at the Cosmos three-and-half weeks ago.

Indy Eleven reinserted itself in the Fall Season race with the win, getting to within four points of the front-running Cosmos with six games remaining for each squad and passing The Miami FC and FC Edmonton to claim second place. The victory also pushed Indy Eleven’s home unbeaten streak to 16 games dating back to last October, drawing even with the Cosmos for the longest such active streak in the NASL.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvNYC from the NASL’s FTP site

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvNYC via the NASL MatchCenter

“New York is a great team, but tonight was a complete effort and shows that if we can have complete efforts on both sides of the game, we can beat the best in the league,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “I think part of tonight involved us having a better understanding of how to defend them, and I thought we communicated well. I think we were a step faster than them in dealing with problems, whereas in New York [three weeks ago] we were still trying to figure (things) out and were always a step behind. Big credit to the guys for that.” 

The early energy from both squads was fitting for a game ripe with postseason implications, but it was Indy’s direct play and high pressure that would start to take over the proceedings shortly into the contest. Indiana’s Team had the first good chance just five minutes in, when a quick counter ended with Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s low effort bouncing just wide of the left post. Don Smart’s sidewinding effort was blocked out for a corner in the 9th minute, and the ensuing set piece saw Cory Miller get a strong header on goal, continuing the home side’s effort to strike for an early, game-changing goal.

Zayed – Indy’s hero in its first meeting at Carroll Stadium against New York back in April – nearly got the opener at the half hour mark, but his shot from 20 yards drifted just high. However, the Irishman contributed to the opening tally just two minutes later, nodding Smart’s cross from the right endline across the face of goal for Braun to finish up, giving the Eleven a hard-earned 1-0 lead.

That would be the last dangerous chance of a first half that saw Indy Eleven outshoot the Cosmos 7-1, but the home side’s efficiency would pick up – and put the game away – in the opening minutes of the second half.

Mares would first play provider in the 48th minute, sending a low ball through the six that Zayed pounded home from the doorstep to double the advantage and tally his 13th goal of the season. Just three minutes later Mares would get one of his own, accepting Braun’s square ball from the left on a counter before blasting a low shot just inside the right post from 20 yards out, all but putting things out of reach with 40 minutes to play.

Indy’s constant pressure resulted in very few chances of any note from the run of play for New York, but it also resulted in more fouls – and more set pieces. The first shot on goal for the Cosmos came in the 57th minute when Juan Arango’s well-driven free kick from 35 yards out snuck through traffic, but Indy netminder Jon Busch read it all the way and pounced on the ball for his first save of the evening.

With the “Boys in Blue” able to effectively kill the game from there on out Busch would only be tested once more on the evening, stepping off his line quickly to bat away substitute Jairo Arrieta’s header in the 87th minute. The shutout was the eighth this season for Busch and Indy Eleven, and the first in eight games dating back to a 1-0 win over Ottawa on Aug. 6.

Indy Eleven has away affairs each of the next two weekends, starting with its longest road trip of the season to FC Edmonton next Sunday, October 2, with a matinee kickoff set for 4:00 p.m. ET (live on ESPN3.com). Following its Oct. 8 contest at Jacksonville Armada FC, Indy Eleven will return home on Saturday, Oct. 15, when it hosts Carolina RailHawks FC on “College Night” at Carroll Stadium (7:30 p.m., live on WISH-TV & beIN SPORTS en Español).

Tickets for that Oct. 15 game – featuring the matchup of former Mexican National Team legends Gerardo Torrado and Omar Bravo – remain available and can be purchased online at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  3 : 0  New York Cosmos
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 9,157

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 8W-3D-5L, 27 pts., 2nd place
Overall Season: 12W-9D-5L, 42 pts., 2nd place

New York Cosmos:
Fall Season: 9W-4D-3L, 31 pts., 1st place
Overall Season: 15W-4D-7L, 49 pts., 1st place

Scoring Summary:
IND – Justin Braun (Eamon Zayed) 32’
IND – Eamon Zayed (Dylan Mares) 48’
IND – Dylan Mares (Justin Braun) 51’

Discipline Summary:
None

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller, Colin Falvey (capt), Marco Franco; Dylan Mares, Gerardo Torrado, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Brad Ring 61’), Don Smart (Nicki Paterson 81’); Eamon Zayed, (Duke Lacroix 85’) Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Lovel Palmer, Daniel Keller, Omar Gordon
 

New York Cosmos (4-1-4-1): Jimmy Maurer; Ayoze, Carlos Mendes (capt), David Ochieng, Jimmy Mulligan; Danny Szetela (Adam Moffat 54’); David Diosa, Ruben Bover, Juan Arango (Jairo Arrieta 72’), Sebastian Guenzatti (Andres Flores 65’); Lucky Mkosana

Cosmos bench: Brian Holt (GK); Ryan Richter, Yohandry Orozco, Jimmy Ockford

Indy Eleven Returns to Winning Ways at Home via 2-1 Result over The Miami FC

Dylan Mares and Don Smart Post Goals to Help Snap Indy’s Five-game Winless Streak

(Saturday, September 17, 2016) – Indy Eleven used goals from a pair of its “originals” – midfielders Dylan Mares and Don Smart – to post a two-goal lead inside the hour mark and held on from there, notching a 2-1 win over a red-hot The Miami FC side in front of 9,356 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

Tonight’s win ended a five-game unbeaten streak for Indy Eleven and snapped The Miami FC’s undefeated run at six games, reversing each team’s recent fortunes and returning them to neck-and-neck status in the Fall Season standings, the Eleven (24 points) once again nipping at the heels of Miami (25 points) for third place. The victory also pushed Indy Eleven’s home undefeated streak to 15 games dating back to last October (12W-3D-0L).

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvMIA from the NASL’s FTP site

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best moments from #INDvMIA on Indy Eleven’s YouTube home

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvMIA via the NASL MatchCenter

Despite a fast-paced start neither side would seriously test goal until the stroke of the 11th minute, when Nemanja Vukovic’s free kick might have beat The Miami FC ‘keeper Daniel Vega but definitely did not beat the crossbar, skipping off the top and over frame. Indy would get another good look in the 18th minute when midfielder Smart’s low cross was heeled on by forward Eamon Zayed from the top of the six, but his shot flashed just a foot wide of the near right post.

A Vega error would result in Indy Eleven’s opener in the 25th minute, as Justin Braun cut off the short distribution 35 yards out and into the path of Mares, who carried briefly before snapping off a shot that beat a recovering Vega low and just inside the left post to put the home side up 1-0.

Vukovic would have another chance on a free kick from 25 yards out in the 35th minute, this time putting it on frame, only to see Vega gather it cleanly. After The Miami FC saw repeated promising forays into the attacking third nullified for offsides – six in all in the first 45 minutes – the visitor’s most dangerous chance would at the stroke of regulation time when Vincenzo Rennella had space from 10 yards out in the left side of the area, only to send his shot into the outside netting.

Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch saw his first test of the night in the 54th minute, when he hustled to his right post and got low to knock away Jonny Steele’s low effort. Three minutes later it was Smart doubling the Eleven advantage, running onto a Vukovic cross that was nodded on by Zayed, his low-angle shot from the right side of the area taking a deflection and crossing up Vega to sneak inside the near post.

That goal would unlock the proceedings, with end-to-end chances ensuing in the final minutes, none more dangerous that Indy substitute midfielder Duke Lacroix’s open look from 10 yards out in the 62nd minute that he sent right to Vega, who did well not to spill a rebound. That allowed the visitors to gain one back on a set piece in the 67th minute, defender Rhett Bornstein nodding a corner kick towards goal that Rennella finished up inside the six to set up a frantic finish.

Rennella would again prove dangerous in the 79th minute, darting inside the right side of the area and beating a defender inside to unleash a rocketed left shot, only to have Busch make a strong two-handed save. Busch patrolled his area well down the stretch, the veteran coming off his line repeatedly to snare high crosses throughout the final 20-plus minutes, during which Miami would create some nervy moments but not manage to put any attempts on goal. Rennella’s last ditch effort in the 93rd minute could have tested Busch if not for a crucial block by Indy Eleven defender Cory Miller, the center back’s maneuver making sure to return Indy to the win column.

Indy Eleven will stay in the Circle City for a high profile match next Saturday, Sept. 24, a showdown with the first-place New York Cosmos. Kickoff at "The Mike" on Hispanic Heritage Night is set for 7:30 p.m., with the contest set to air live on WISH-TV and online via ESPN3.com. Tickets for that match are available at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  2 : 1  The Miami FC
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 9,356

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 7W-3D-5L, 24 pts.
Overall Season: 11W-9D-5L, 42 pts.

The Miami FC:
Fall Season: 7W-4D-2L, 25 pts.
Overall Season: 8W-8D-8L, 32 pts.

Scoring Summary:
IND – Dylan Mares (Justin Braun) 25’
IND – Don Smart (Eamon Zayed) 57’
MIA – Vincenzo Rennella (Rhett Bernstein) 67’

Discipline Summary:
IND – Dylan Mares (caution) 49’
MIA – Wilson Palacios (caution) 54’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Dylan Mares (Duke Lacroix 59’), Gerardo Torrado, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Brad Ring 66’), Don Smart; Eamon Zayed (Daniel Keller 84’), Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Marco Franco, Nicki Paterson, Omar Gordon

The Miami FC (4-3-2-1): Daniel Vega; Gabriel Farfan, Mason Trafford, Rhett Bernstein, Jonathan Borrajo; Jonny Steele (Blake Smith 67’), Wilson Palacios, Michael Lahoud; Ariel Martinez (Pablo Campos 51’), Kwadwo Poku (Jaime Chavez 73’); Vincenzo Rennella

Miami bench: Sebastian Evers (GK), Hunter Freeman, Hugo Leroux, Calvin Rezende

Indy Eleven Returns to Winning Ways at Home via 2-1 Result over The Miami FC

Dylan Mares and Don Smart Post Goals to Help Snap Indy’s Five-game Winless Streak

(Saturday, September 17, 2016) – Indy Eleven used goals from a pair of its “originals” – midfielders Dylan Mares and Don Smart – to post a two-goal lead inside the hour mark and held on from there, notching a 2-1 win over a red-hot The Miami FC side in front of 9,356 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

Tonight’s win ended a five-game unbeaten streak for Indy Eleven and snapped The Miami FC’s undefeated run at six games, reversing each team’s recent fortunes and returning them to neck-and-neck status in the Fall Season standings, the Eleven (24 points) once again nipping at the heels of Miami (25 points) for third place. The victory also pushed Indy Eleven’s home undefeated streak to 15 games dating back to last October (12W-3D-0L).

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #INDvMIA from the NASL’s FTP site

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best moments from #INDvMIA on Indy Eleven’s YouTube home

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #INDvMIA via the NASL MatchCenter

Despite a fast-paced start neither side would seriously test goal until the stroke of the 11th minute, when Nemanja Vukovic’s free kick might have beat The Miami FC ‘keeper Daniel Vega but definitely did not beat the crossbar, skipping off the top and over frame. Indy would get another good look in the 18th minute when midfielder Smart’s low cross was heeled on by forward Eamon Zayed from the top of the six, but his shot flashed just a foot wide of the near right post.

A Vega error would result in Indy Eleven’s opener in the 25th minute, as Justin Braun cut off the short distribution 35 yards out and into the path of Mares, who carried briefly before snapping off a shot that beat a recovering Vega low and just inside the left post to put the home side up 1-0.

Vukovic would have another chance on a free kick from 25 yards out in the 35th minute, this time putting it on frame, only to see Vega gather it cleanly. After The Miami FC saw repeated promising forays into the attacking third nullified for offsides – six in all in the first 45 minutes – the visitor’s most dangerous chance would at the stroke of regulation time when Vincenzo Rennella had space from 10 yards out in the left side of the area, only to send his shot into the outside netting.

Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch saw his first test of the night in the 54th minute, when he hustled to his right post and got low to knock away Jonny Steele’s low effort. Three minutes later it was Smart doubling the Eleven advantage, running onto a Vukovic cross that was nodded on by Zayed, his low-angle shot from the right side of the area taking a deflection and crossing up Vega to sneak inside the near post.

That goal would unlock the proceedings, with end-to-end chances ensuing in the final minutes, none more dangerous that Indy substitute midfielder Duke Lacroix’s open look from 10 yards out in the 62nd minute that he sent right to Vega, who did well not to spill a rebound. That allowed the visitors to gain one back on a set piece in the 67th minute, defender Rhett Bornstein nodding a corner kick towards goal that Rennella finished up inside the six to set up a frantic finish.

Rennella would again prove dangerous in the 79th minute, darting inside the right side of the area and beating a defender inside to unleash a rocketed left shot, only to have Busch make a strong two-handed save. Busch patrolled his area well down the stretch, the veteran coming off his line repeatedly to snare high crosses throughout the final 20-plus minutes, during which Miami would create some nervy moments but not manage to put any attempts on goal. Rennella’s last ditch effort in the 93rd minute could have tested Busch if not for a crucial block by Indy Eleven defender Cory Miller, the center back’s maneuver making sure to return Indy to the win column.

Indy Eleven will stay in the Circle City for a high profile match next Saturday, Sept. 24, a showdown with the first-place New York Cosmos. Kickoff at “The Mike” on Hispanic Heritage Night is set for 7:30 p.m., with the contest set to air live on WISH-TV and online via ESPN3.com. Tickets for that match are available at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  2 : 1  The Miami FC
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 9,356

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 7W-3D-5L, 24 pts.
Overall Season: 11W-9D-5L, 42 pts.

The Miami FC:
Fall Season: 7W-4D-2L, 25 pts.
Overall Season: 8W-8D-8L, 32 pts.

Scoring Summary:
IND – Dylan Mares (Justin Braun) 25’
IND – Don Smart (Eamon Zayed) 57’
MIA – Vincenzo Rennella (Rhett Bernstein) 67’

Discipline Summary:
IND – Dylan Mares (caution) 49’
MIA – Wilson Palacios (caution) 54’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Dylan Mares (Duke Lacroix 59’), Gerardo Torrado, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Brad Ring 66’), Don Smart; Eamon Zayed (Daniel Keller 84’), Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Marco Franco, Nicki Paterson, Omar Gordon

The Miami FC (4-3-2-1): Daniel Vega; Gabriel Farfan, Mason Trafford, Rhett Bernstein, Jonathan Borrajo; Jonny Steele (Blake Smith 67’), Wilson Palacios, Michael Lahoud; Ariel Martinez (Pablo Campos 51’), Kwadwo Poku (Jaime Chavez 73’); Vincenzo Rennella

Miami bench: Sebastian Evers (GK), Hunter Freeman, Hugo Leroux, Calvin Rezende

Indy Eleven’s Comeback Bid Falls Short in 1-2 Loss at Fort Lauderdale

Justin Braun’s Fifth Goal of the Season Not Enough to Help Indiana’s Team Earn Road Result

(Saturday, September 10, 2016) – Indy Eleven saw a late comeback bid fall short, as forward Justin Braun’s 88th minute tally could only bring things close in an eventual 1-2 defeat at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Central Broward Stadium. Fort Lauderdale used goals from Brazilian forwards Paulo Junior and Maicon Santos on either side of halftime to build a lead that proved insurmountable, keeping Indy Eleven winless on the road in seven Fall Season attempts.

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #FTLvIND via the NASL MatchCenter

Paulo Jr. would see the game’s first quality look just four minutes in when a ball found him with ample space in the right side of the area, but his rushed shot would miss just high and wide of goal. He would make up for that miss in the 19th minute, when he finished a lengthy run down the right flank with a shot that beat Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch low and inside the far left post to give the home side the early 1-0 advantage.

Despite several dangerous crosses and set pieces earned throughout the first half, Indy Eleven couldn’t scratch across a goal. Midfielder Gerardo Torrado’s volleyed attempt in the 14th minute marked the visitors’ best chance until the 37th minute, when midfielder Don Smart’s crafty chip was batted away by Strikers netminder Bruno at the near left post.

Paulo Jr. nearly had his second of the night in the 42nd minute when he danced past a defender and into the area to snap off a shot from 10 yards, but Busch did well to knock away the chance with two hands. A minute later Maicon Santos saw a header ring off the crossbar and bounce off the goalline, but the shot was nullified anyway when the offside flag went up on the dead ball opportunity. Indy Eleven looked to have scored a last gasp goal in first half stoppage time when Lovel Palmer got a head on Nemanja Vukovic’s set piece delivery, but it too was whistled dead for offside.

The second half would take some time to heat up, but quality chances would come from both sides around the hour mark, first from the Strikers when a cross found Ramon Nunez unmarked at the far post, but the Honduran would push his header from five yards out wide. A minute later Indy’s best chance from the run of play on the evening would end with substitute Duke Lacroix running onto Eamon Zayed’s low ball played across the area, only to sky the chance from the edge of the six.

That would leave the door open for the home side to double the advantage, and it would do just that through Maicon Santos in the 67thminute. With the Indy backline stretched, Santos was able to carry 20 yards into the left side of the Eleven area before cutting inside and firing a low shot inside the far right post, giving Busch no chance and extending the Fort Lauderdale lead to 2-0.

Braun had a great chance to cut the lead in half in the 72nd minute after running onto Lacroix’s cross five yards out, but the ball short-hopped the forward, forcing him to pop up the golden opportunity. However, Braun would indeed make things interesting in the late going thanks to his fifth goal of the season, ending well an industrious shift in what was his first start in more than a month since suffering a right MCL strain. Braun’s return to the scoresheet came in the 88th minute, when he nodded home Lovel Palmer’s cross from 10 yards out, cutting the Fort Lauderdale lead in half and setting up a contested finish. However, repeated forays into the final third would be repelled through four minutes of stoppage time, resulting in Indy Eleven’s recent winless streak moving to five games (0W-2D-3L).

Indy Eleven returns to IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 17, and will look to extend its 14-game home undefeated streak when it welcomes The Miami FC to “The Mike” for the first time. Kickoff that evening is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on WISH-TV and online via ESPN3.com), while the club’s second annual Oktoberfest event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for that match and the pre-game Oktoberfest celebration are available at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.
 

NASL Fall Season
Fort Lauderdale Strikers  2 : 1  Indy Eleven
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Central Broward Stadium – Lauderhill, FL
Attendance: 2,376

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 6W-3D-5L, 21 pts.
Overall Season: 10W-9D-5L, 39 pts.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers:
Fall Season: 4W-4D-5L, 16 pts.
Overall Season: 8W-7D-8L, 31 pts.

Scoring Summary:
FTL – Paulo Jr. (Ramon Nunez) 19’
FTL – Maicon Santos  (Paulo Junior) 67’
IND – Justin Braun (Lovel Palmer) 88’

Discipline Summary:
IND – Lovel Palmer (caution) 15’
IND – Brad Ring (caution) 42’
FTL – Ramon Nunez (caution) 52’
IND – Duke Lacroix (caution) 76’
IND – Gerardo Torrado (caution) 84’
FTL – Bruno (caution) 92+’

 

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Daniel Keller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Omar Gordon (Duke Lacroix 57’), Gerardo Torrado, Brad Ring (Dylan Mares 57’), Don Smart (Nicki Paterson 74’); Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Marco Franco, Neil Shaffer, Souleymane Youla

Fort Lauderdale Strikers (4-3-3): Bruno; Nana Attakora, Julius James, Dalton, Jorge Luis Corrales; Manny Gonzalez (Bryan Arguez 45’), Luis Felipe Fernandes, Ramon Nunez (Adrianinho 70’); Paulo Jr., Jose Angulo, Maicon Santos (Amauri 81’)

Strikers bench: Matias Reynares (GK), Geison Moura, Luis Zapata, Victor Pineda

Indy Eleven’s Comeback Bid Falls Short in 1-2 Loss at Fort Lauderdale

Justin Braun’s Fifth Goal of the Season Not Enough to Help Indiana’s Team Earn Road Result

(Saturday, September 10, 2016) – Indy Eleven saw a late comeback bid fall short, as forward Justin Braun’s 88th minute tally could only bring things close in an eventual 1-2 defeat at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Central Broward Stadium. Fort Lauderdale used goals from Brazilian forwards Paulo Junior and Maicon Santos on either side of halftime to build a lead that proved insurmountable, keeping Indy Eleven winless on the road in seven Fall Season attempts.

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #FTLvIND via the NASL MatchCenter

Paulo Jr. would see the game’s first quality look just four minutes in when a ball found him with ample space in the right side of the area, but his rushed shot would miss just high and wide of goal. He would make up for that miss in the 19th minute, when he finished a lengthy run down the right flank with a shot that beat Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch low and inside the far left post to give the home side the early 1-0 advantage.

Despite several dangerous crosses and set pieces earned throughout the first half, Indy Eleven couldn’t scratch across a goal. Midfielder Gerardo Torrado’s volleyed attempt in the 14th minute marked the visitors’ best chance until the 37th minute, when midfielder Don Smart’s crafty chip was batted away by Strikers netminder Bruno at the near left post.

Paulo Jr. nearly had his second of the night in the 42nd minute when he danced past a defender and into the area to snap off a shot from 10 yards, but Busch did well to knock away the chance with two hands. A minute later Maicon Santos saw a header ring off the crossbar and bounce off the goalline, but the shot was nullified anyway when the offside flag went up on the dead ball opportunity. Indy Eleven looked to have scored a last gasp goal in first half stoppage time when Lovel Palmer got a head on Nemanja Vukovic’s set piece delivery, but it too was whistled dead for offside.

The second half would take some time to heat up, but quality chances would come from both sides around the hour mark, first from the Strikers when a cross found Ramon Nunez unmarked at the far post, but the Honduran would push his header from five yards out wide. A minute later Indy’s best chance from the run of play on the evening would end with substitute Duke Lacroix running onto Eamon Zayed’s low ball played across the area, only to sky the chance from the edge of the six.

That would leave the door open for the home side to double the advantage, and it would do just that through Maicon Santos in the 67thminute. With the Indy backline stretched, Santos was able to carry 20 yards into the left side of the Eleven area before cutting inside and firing a low shot inside the far right post, giving Busch no chance and extending the Fort Lauderdale lead to 2-0.

Braun had a great chance to cut the lead in half in the 72nd minute after running onto Lacroix’s cross five yards out, but the ball short-hopped the forward, forcing him to pop up the golden opportunity. However, Braun would indeed make things interesting in the late going thanks to his fifth goal of the season, ending well an industrious shift in what was his first start in more than a month since suffering a right MCL strain. Braun’s return to the scoresheet came in the 88th minute, when he nodded home Lovel Palmer’s cross from 10 yards out, cutting the Fort Lauderdale lead in half and setting up a contested finish. However, repeated forays into the final third would be repelled through four minutes of stoppage time, resulting in Indy Eleven’s recent winless streak moving to five games (0W-2D-3L).

Indy Eleven returns to IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 17, and will look to extend its 14-game home undefeated streak when it welcomes The Miami FC to “The Mike” for the first time. Kickoff that evening is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on WISH-TV and online via ESPN3.com), while the club’s second annual Oktoberfest event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for that match and the pre-game Oktoberfest celebration are available at www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours.
 

NASL Fall Season
Fort Lauderdale Strikers  2 : 1  Indy Eleven
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Central Broward Stadium – Lauderhill, FL
Attendance: 2,376

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 6W-3D-5L, 21 pts.
Overall Season: 10W-9D-5L, 39 pts.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers:
Fall Season: 4W-4D-5L, 16 pts.
Overall Season: 8W-7D-8L, 31 pts.

Scoring Summary:
FTL – Paulo Jr. (Ramon Nunez) 19’
FTL – Maicon Santos  (Paulo Junior) 67’
IND – Justin Braun (Lovel Palmer) 88’

Discipline Summary:
IND – Lovel Palmer (caution) 15’
IND – Brad Ring (caution) 42’
FTL – Ramon Nunez (caution) 52’
IND – Duke Lacroix (caution) 76’
IND – Gerardo Torrado (caution) 84’
FTL – Bruno (caution) 92+’

 

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Daniel Keller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Omar Gordon (Duke Lacroix 57’), Gerardo Torrado, Brad Ring (Dylan Mares 57’), Don Smart (Nicki Paterson 74’); Eamon Zayed, Justin Braun

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Marco Franco, Neil Shaffer, Souleymane Youla

Fort Lauderdale Strikers (4-3-3): Bruno; Nana Attakora, Julius James, Dalton, Jorge Luis Corrales; Manny Gonzalez (Bryan Arguez 45’), Luis Felipe Fernandes, Ramon Nunez (Adrianinho 70’); Paulo Jr., Jose Angulo, Maicon Santos (Amauri 81’)

Strikers bench: Matias Reynares (GK), Geison Moura, Luis Zapata, Victor Pineda

Indy Eleven Stays Undefeated at Home after 1-1 Draw with Tampa Bay

Omar Gordon’s 34th Minute Equalizer Helps Move Unbeaten Streak at Carroll Stadium to 14 Games Dating Back to Last October

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, September 3, 2016) – Two squads in need of a win for different reasons had to settle for a share of the spoils, as Indy Eleven and the Tampa Bay Rowdies fought to a 1-1 draw in front of 9,098 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

The tie snapped Indy Eleven’s home win streak at eight games, but it also extended the squad’s unbeaten run at home to 14 games, including a 9W-3D-0L mark in 2016. Indy Eleven had hoped to make up more ground on front-running New York in the Fall Season and Combined Season standings, but finished the evening still six points behind on both tables.

MATCH STATS: Click here to get detailed Opta Stats from #INDvTBR at the NASL MatchCenter

Meanwhile, with Tampa Bay lost points in its chase to remain within shouting distance of the fourth and final postseason position, falling to eight points behind Minnesota United FC on the Combined Season table.

The two squads took a while to sort things out in attack, with Indy Eleven midfielder Duke Lacroix’s 8th minute cut inside past three Rowdies ending with a blocked shot really the only truly dangerous threat of the opening minutes. Tampa Bay’s Martin Vingaard had the visitors’ first shot in the 15th minute, a swerving effort from 25 yards that Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch blocked out for a corner at his right post.

The attacks finally started to get in sync for both sides, a set piece finish by Tampa Bay finally moving the scoreboard first in the 28th minute. Joe Cole’s exquisite service from 30 yards out looked to have two options at the back right post, with a lunging Justin Chavez ending up the winner, poking his first-time shot through the legs of Busch from three yards out to give the Rowdies the lead.

However, the advantage would last only six minutes, as Indy’s swarming pressure 30 yards from goal paid off, ending with Nicki Paterson nicking the ball to Omar Gordon. The Jamaican striker would take it from there, with some help from a touch by Eamon Zayed, weaving past two Rowdies defenders before finishing low past Matt Pickens to even the score at 1-1. A pair of Indy Eleven free kicks by Nemanja Vukovic would mark the best chances of the last 10 minutes of the opening half, but with both sent into the Tampa Bay wall neither threatened goal.

The second half would see Indy trying to work the flanks hard with crosses into the area, none more dangerous than Paterson’s service from the left in the 62nd minute that found the head of a waiting Zayed, but the Irishman steering his shot wide left by a foot. Tampa Bay would try to find success with shots from distance, PC’s effort in the 54th minute from 35 yards out testing Busch at his right post, but the veteran netminder had the chance covered all the way.

Neither goalkeeper would be forced into making a memorable save over the course of the final half hour, but that doesn’t mean chances were lacking. Don Smart’s run onto a Zayed ball in the 83rd minute brought the crowd to its feet, but his shot from the right side of the area would rise over frame. Indy midfielder Brad Ring would run onto no less than three loose balls outside the area in the final 10 minutes, his final attempt in the third minute of stoppage time form 25 yards trailing just left of frame to keep things square until the end.

Indy Eleven will return to the road next Saturday, Sept. 10, when it travels to South Florida to take on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (7:00 p.m. ET, live on beIN SPORTS and online via beIN SPORTS CONNECT).

Indy Eleven’s next home contest will come the following weekend on Saturday, Sept. 17, when it welcomes The Miami FC to Carroll Stadium for the first time. Kickoff that evening is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on WISH-TV and online via ESPN3.com), while the club’s second annual Oktoberfest pre-game celebration will begin at 5:00 p.m. Tickets for that match – and all of Indy Eleven’s remaining regular season and postseason games – are available in the “Tickets” section of www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours).

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  1 : 1  Tampa Bay Rowdies
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 9,098

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 6W-3D-4L, 21 pts., 3rd place
Overall Season: 10W-9D-4L, 39 pts., 3rd place

Tampa Bay Rowdies:
Fall Season: 3W-3D-6L, 12 pts., 10th place
Overall Season: 7W-7D-8L, 28 pts., 6th place

Scoring Summary:
TBR – Justin Chavez (Joe Cole) 28’
IND – Omar Gordon (unassisted) 34’

Discipline Summary:
IND – Nicki Paterson (caution) 29’
TBR – Martin Vingaard (caution) 42’
IND – Don Smart (caution) 45+’
IND – Nemanja Vukovic (caution) 88’
TBR – Michael Nanchoff (caution) 88’
IND – Gerardo Torrado (caution) 89’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Daniel Keller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Duke Lacroix (Dylan Mares 83’), Nicki Paterson (Gerardo Torrado 62’), Brad Ring, Don Smart; Eamon Zayed, Omar Gordon (Justin Braun 68’)

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK),Neil Shaffer, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Souleymane Youla

Tampa Bay Rowdies (4-2-3-1): Matt Pickens; Darnell King, Tamika Mkandawire (c), Stefan Antonijevic, Walter Ramirez; Justin Chavez, Martin Vingaard; Eric Avila (Michael Nanchoff 59’), Joe Cole (Keith Savage 93+’), PC (Carlos Preciado 77’); Georgi Hristov

Rowdies bench: GK Chris Glodack (GK), Junior Burgos, Juan Guerra, Tommy Heinemann

Indy Eleven Stays Undefeated at Home after 1-1 Draw with Tampa Bay

Omar Gordon’s 34th Minute Equalizer Helps Move Unbeaten Streak at Carroll Stadium to 14 Games Dating Back to Last October

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, September 3, 2016) – Two squads in need of a win for different reasons had to settle for a share of the spoils, as Indy Eleven and the Tampa Bay Rowdies fought to a 1-1 draw in front of 9,098 fans at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

The tie snapped Indy Eleven’s home win streak at eight games, but it also extended the squad’s unbeaten run at home to 14 games, including a 9W-3D-0L mark in 2016. Indy Eleven had hoped to make up more ground on front-running New York in the Fall Season and Combined Season standings, but finished the evening still six points behind on both tables.

MATCH STATS: Click here to get detailed Opta Stats from #INDvTBR at the NASL MatchCenter

Meanwhile, with Tampa Bay lost points in its chase to remain within shouting distance of the fourth and final postseason position, falling to eight points behind Minnesota United FC on the Combined Season table.

The two squads took a while to sort things out in attack, with Indy Eleven midfielder Duke Lacroix’s 8th minute cut inside past three Rowdies ending with a blocked shot really the only truly dangerous threat of the opening minutes. Tampa Bay’s Martin Vingaard had the visitors’ first shot in the 15th minute, a swerving effort from 25 yards that Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch blocked out for a corner at his right post.

The attacks finally started to get in sync for both sides, a set piece finish by Tampa Bay finally moving the scoreboard first in the 28th minute. Joe Cole’s exquisite service from 30 yards out looked to have two options at the back right post, with a lunging Justin Chavez ending up the winner, poking his first-time shot through the legs of Busch from three yards out to give the Rowdies the lead.

However, the advantage would last only six minutes, as Indy’s swarming pressure 30 yards from goal paid off, ending with Nicki Paterson nicking the ball to Omar Gordon. The Jamaican striker would take it from there, with some help from a touch by Eamon Zayed, weaving past two Rowdies defenders before finishing low past Matt Pickens to even the score at 1-1. A pair of Indy Eleven free kicks by Nemanja Vukovic would mark the best chances of the last 10 minutes of the opening half, but with both sent into the Tampa Bay wall neither threatened goal.

The second half would see Indy trying to work the flanks hard with crosses into the area, none more dangerous than Paterson’s service from the left in the 62nd minute that found the head of a waiting Zayed, but the Irishman steering his shot wide left by a foot. Tampa Bay would try to find success with shots from distance, PC’s effort in the 54th minute from 35 yards out testing Busch at his right post, but the veteran netminder had the chance covered all the way.

Neither goalkeeper would be forced into making a memorable save over the course of the final half hour, but that doesn’t mean chances were lacking. Don Smart’s run onto a Zayed ball in the 83rd minute brought the crowd to its feet, but his shot from the right side of the area would rise over frame. Indy midfielder Brad Ring would run onto no less than three loose balls outside the area in the final 10 minutes, his final attempt in the third minute of stoppage time form 25 yards trailing just left of frame to keep things square until the end.

Indy Eleven will return to the road next Saturday, Sept. 10, when it travels to South Florida to take on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (7:00 p.m. ET, live on beIN SPORTS and online via beIN SPORTS CONNECT).

Indy Eleven’s next home contest will come the following weekend on Saturday, Sept. 17, when it welcomes The Miami FC to Carroll Stadium for the first time. Kickoff that evening is set for 7:30 p.m. (live on WISH-TV and online via ESPN3.com), while the club’s second annual Oktoberfest pre-game celebration will begin at 5:00 p.m. Tickets for that match – and all of Indy Eleven’s remaining regular season and postseason games – are available in the “Tickets” section of www.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours).

 

NASL Fall Season
Indy Eleven  1 : 1  Tampa Bay Rowdies
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 9,098

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 6W-3D-4L, 21 pts., 3rd place
Overall Season: 10W-9D-4L, 39 pts., 3rd place

Tampa Bay Rowdies:
Fall Season: 3W-3D-6L, 12 pts., 10th place
Overall Season: 7W-7D-8L, 28 pts., 6th place

Scoring Summary:
TBR – Justin Chavez (Joe Cole) 28’
IND – Omar Gordon (unassisted) 34’

Discipline Summary:
IND – Nicki Paterson (caution) 29’
TBR – Martin Vingaard (caution) 42’
IND – Don Smart (caution) 45+’
IND – Nemanja Vukovic (caution) 88’
TBR – Michael Nanchoff (caution) 88’
IND – Gerardo Torrado (caution) 89’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Daniel Keller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Duke Lacroix (Dylan Mares 83’), Nicki Paterson (Gerardo Torrado 62’), Brad Ring, Don Smart; Eamon Zayed, Omar Gordon (Justin Braun 68’)

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK),Neil Shaffer, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Souleymane Youla

Tampa Bay Rowdies (4-2-3-1): Matt Pickens; Darnell King, Tamika Mkandawire (c), Stefan Antonijevic, Walter Ramirez; Justin Chavez, Martin Vingaard; Eric Avila (Michael Nanchoff 59’), Joe Cole (Keith Savage 93+’), PC (Carlos Preciado 77’); Georgi Hristov

Rowdies bench: GK Chris Glodack (GK), Junior Burgos, Juan Guerra, Tommy Heinemann

Indy Eleven Downed at New York Cosmos, 3-0

League-leading Cosmos Finish the Job as Indy Plays Majority of Second Half Down a Man

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Wednesday, August 31, 2016) – Indy Eleven’s chance to pull even with the New York Cosmos atop the NASL standings went the way of the home side instead, as New York dominated the proceedings from the get-go in a 3-0 win at Shuart Stadium on the Hofstra University campus.

MATCH STATS: Find detailed Opta Stats breakdown at the NASL Matchcenter

It was all Cosmos in the first half, but it was Indy Eleven that had the game's first good look just three minutes in as forward Souleymane Youla's low effort forced New York goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer to dive right and steer the ball around the post for an indy corner. The Cosmos would move the scoreboard eight minutes into the match, with forward Jairo Arrieta doing the heavy lifting on the opener by drawing three Indy defenders at the top of the area. Arrieta then flicked a short pass to Ruben Bover, who took one touch before firing a low shot that squeezed between a diving Jon Busch and the right post to put New York up early.

It was defensive midfielder Danny Szetela creating the Cosmos’ second tally, drawing a penalty kick when he went to ground after absorbing contact on a Nemanja Vukovic challenge in the 16th minute. Midfielder Juan Arango step up to take the spot kick, sending Busch the wrong way and finishing into the right side of goal to double the lead at 2-0.

Busch did well to keep the score right there just before the half hour mark by stopping Arrieta on back-to-back shots, first stoning the Costa Rican with a kick save on his effort near the spot before stopping a chipped follow up on the doorstep.

Indy Eleven would finally get some good looks down the stretch of the first half, a free kick from 30 yards in the 43rd minute by Vukovic looking dangerous but missing just wide right. The final play of the half saw captain Colin Falvey intercept a pass at the midfield stripe and carry all the way to the 18 before squaring for Youla, whose low shot was sent right to Maurer .

Indy Eleven came out of the locker room at halftime the aggressor, with Don Smart’s lashed effort from the right side of the area that forced Maurer into a two-handed save in the 51st minute signaling the visitors’ intentions. However, that aggressiveness would be tamed just two minutes later when Cory Miller was shown a straight red card, his last-defender tackle that ended Arango’s run ending  the Indy center back’s night early.

The play also resulted in a point to the penalty spot, but Arango’s second spot kick of the evening would soar over frame, keeping Indy Eleven within arm’s reach. Arango would also be denied a brace on another Busch kick save in the 65th minute and after missing on a header in the 70th that he pushed just inches left. However, the Venezuelan international's second tally would finally come in the 73rd minute, this time his header off a Bover cross skipping past Busch and into the left side of goal to lift the score to 3-0.

Other than a Dylan Mares shot from 10 yards out in the 77th minute that Maurer saved, the visitors mustered no serious threats on goal from there on out. On the other side, New York created a handful of chances, but the Indy defense managed to maintain the scoreline the rest of the way, no small feat against a Cosmos team that leads the league in scoring and posted a 6-1 win over Carolina just four days ago.

With tonight’s game ending a three-game, 11-day road trip, Indy Eleven will return to the comforts of IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 3, to finish off its three-game week against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff from “The Mike” on Indiana Soccer Heritage Night is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (live on WISH-TV & ESPN3.com). Tickets for the match are still available and can be purchased at www.indyeleven.com or by phone at 317-685-1100.

 

NASL Fall Season
New York Cosmos  3 : 0  Indy Eleven
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
James M. Shuart Stadium – Hempstead, NY
Attendance: 2,977

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 6W-2D-4L, 20 pts., 3rd place
Overall Season: 10W-8D-4L, 38 pts., 3rd place

New York Cosmos:
Fall Season: 8W-2D-2L, 26 pts., 1st place
Overall Season: 14W-2D-6L, 44 pts., 1st place

Scoring Summary:
NYC – Ruben Bover (Jairo Arrieta) 8’
NYC – Juan Arango (penalty kick) 17’
NYC – Juan Arango (Ruben Bover) 73’

Discipline Summary:
NYC – Ruben Bover (caution) 27’
IND – Cory Miller (ejection) 53’
IND – Souleymane Youla (caution) 55’
NYC – David Diosa (caution) 67’
IND – Lovel Palmer (caution) 67’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Dylan Mares, Gerardo Torrado, Brad Ring (Omar Gordon 45’), Don Smart (Jair Reinoso 74’); Eamon Zayed, Souleymane Youla (Daniel Keller 55’)

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Duke Lacroix, Nicki Paterson, Sinisa Ubiparipovic

New York Cosmos (4-1-4-1): Jimmy Maurer; Ayoze Carlos Mendes (capt), Hunter Freeman, Jimmy Mulligan; Danny Szetela; David Diosa (Adam Moffat 70’), Ruben Bover (Yohandry Orozco 89’), Juan Arango, Sebastien Guenzatti; Jairo Arrieta (Lucky Mkosana 63’)

Cosmos bench: Brian Holt (GK), Kyle McTurk; Alexis Velela, Roversio 

Indy Eleven Downed at New York Cosmos, 3-0

League-leading Cosmos Finish the Job as Indy Plays Majority of Second Half Down a Man

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Wednesday, August 31, 2016) – Indy Eleven’s chance to pull even with the New York Cosmos atop the NASL standings went the way of the home side instead, as New York dominated the proceedings from the get-go in a 3-0 win at Shuart Stadium on the Hofstra University campus.

MATCH STATS: Find detailed Opta Stats breakdown at the NASL Matchcenter

It was all Cosmos in the first half, but it was Indy Eleven that had the game’s first good look just three minutes in as forward Souleymane Youla’s low effort forced New York goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer to dive right and steer the ball around the post for an indy corner. The Cosmos would move the scoreboard eight minutes into the match, with forward Jairo Arrieta doing the heavy lifting on the opener by drawing three Indy defenders at the top of the area. Arrieta then flicked a short pass to Ruben Bover, who took one touch before firing a low shot that squeezed between a diving Jon Busch and the right post to put New York up early.

It was defensive midfielder Danny Szetela creating the Cosmos’ second tally, drawing a penalty kick when he went to ground after absorbing contact on a Nemanja Vukovic challenge in the 16th minute. Midfielder Juan Arango step up to take the spot kick, sending Busch the wrong way and finishing into the right side of goal to double the lead at 2-0.

Busch did well to keep the score right there just before the half hour mark by stopping Arrieta on back-to-back shots, first stoning the Costa Rican with a kick save on his effort near the spot before stopping a chipped follow up on the doorstep.

Indy Eleven would finally get some good looks down the stretch of the first half, a free kick from 30 yards in the 43rd minute by Vukovic looking dangerous but missing just wide right. The final play of the half saw captain Colin Falvey intercept a pass at the midfield stripe and carry all the way to the 18 before squaring for Youla, whose low shot was sent right to Maurer .

Indy Eleven came out of the locker room at halftime the aggressor, with Don Smart’s lashed effort from the right side of the area that forced Maurer into a two-handed save in the 51st minute signaling the visitors’ intentions. However, that aggressiveness would be tamed just two minutes later when Cory Miller was shown a straight red card, his last-defender tackle that ended Arango’s run ending  the Indy center back’s night early.

The play also resulted in a point to the penalty spot, but Arango’s second spot kick of the evening would soar over frame, keeping Indy Eleven within arm’s reach. Arango would also be denied a brace on another Busch kick save in the 65th minute and after missing on a header in the 70th that he pushed just inches left. However, the Venezuelan international’s second tally would finally come in the 73rd minute, this time his header off a Bover cross skipping past Busch and into the left side of goal to lift the score to 3-0.

Other than a Dylan Mares shot from 10 yards out in the 77th minute that Maurer saved, the visitors mustered no serious threats on goal from there on out. On the other side, New York created a handful of chances, but the Indy defense managed to maintain the scoreline the rest of the way, no small feat against a Cosmos team that leads the league in scoring and posted a 6-1 win over Carolina just four days ago.

With tonight’s game ending a three-game, 11-day road trip, Indy Eleven will return to the comforts of IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 3, to finish off its three-game week against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff from “The Mike” on Indiana Soccer Heritage Night is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (live on WISH-TV & ESPN3.com). Tickets for the match are still available and can be purchased at www.indyeleven.com or by phone at 317-685-1100.

 

NASL Fall Season
New York Cosmos  3 : 0  Indy Eleven
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
James M. Shuart Stadium – Hempstead, NY
Attendance: 2,977

Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 6W-2D-4L, 20 pts., 3rd place
Overall Season: 10W-8D-4L, 38 pts., 3rd place

New York Cosmos:
Fall Season: 8W-2D-2L, 26 pts., 1st place
Overall Season: 14W-2D-6L, 44 pts., 1st place

Scoring Summary:
NYC – Ruben Bover (Jairo Arrieta) 8’
NYC – Juan Arango (penalty kick) 17’
NYC – Juan Arango (Ruben Bover) 73’

Discipline Summary:
NYC – Ruben Bover (caution) 27’
IND – Cory Miller (ejection) 53’
IND – Souleymane Youla (caution) 55’
NYC – David Diosa (caution) 67’
IND – Lovel Palmer (caution) 67’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L–>R):  Jon Busch; Nemanja Vuković, Cory Miller, Colin Falvey (capt), Lovel Palmer; Dylan Mares, Gerardo Torrado, Brad Ring (Omar Gordon 45’), Don Smart (Jair Reinoso 74’); Eamon Zayed, Souleymane Youla (Daniel Keller 55’)

Indy Eleven bench: Keith Cardona (GK), Duke Lacroix, Nicki Paterson, Sinisa Ubiparipovic

New York Cosmos (4-1-4-1): Jimmy Maurer; Ayoze Carlos Mendes (capt), Hunter Freeman, Jimmy Mulligan; Danny Szetela; David Diosa (Adam Moffat 70’), Ruben Bover (Yohandry Orozco 89’), Juan Arango, Sebastien Guenzatti; Jairo Arrieta (Lucky Mkosana 63’)

Cosmos bench: Brian Holt (GK), Kyle McTurk; Alexis Velela, Roversio