Boys in Blue Return Home Looking to Start New Streak
#INDvNY Preview
Indy Eleven vs. New York Red Bulls II
Saturday, May 21, 2022 – 7:00 p.m. ET
IUPUI Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
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Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 94.3 FM / exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers
Live stats: #INDvNY MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS
Indy Eleven: 4W-3L-2D (+1 GD), 14 pts.; 7th in Eastern Conference
New York Red Bulls II: 1W-8L-1D (-12 GD), 4 pts.; T-13th in Eastern Conference
COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK SPORTS MEDICINE INDY ELEVEN INJURY REPORT
OUT: FW Aris Briggs (shin contusion), MF Bryam Rebellon (R quadriceps strain)
QUESTIONABLE: none
DISCIPLINE REPORT
IND: none
NY: none
Indy Eleven will look to start a new win streak when it returns to Carroll Stadium Saturday evening to host New York Red Bulls II. Despite a loss last week at Memphis that snapped a four-game winning run and six-match undefeated streak, the Boys in Blue still sit just on the right side of the Eastern Conference playoff line with some room to improve that positioning thanks to two games in hand on each of the four teams within two points both above (Tampa Bay & Miami) and below (Birmingham & Tulsa) them.
And the next two weekends would be the optimal time to stock up on points, as its meetings with New York and New Mexico mark the Eleven’s last games at “The Mike” before embarking on a four-game road trip across June. Head Coach Mark Lowry’s squad has faired well on the IUPUI campus, following their opening 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy II in early April with three straight home W’s to close out last month.
The presence of 2019 and 2020 USL Championship Most Valuable Player Solomon Asante should only bolster Indy Eleven’s hopes of a successful homecoming. After signing with the Boys in Blue on April 11, some massive lifting behind the scenes allowed Asante to arrive from his native Ghana last weekend. The ex-Phoenix Rising FC standout trained throughout the week for the Boys in Blue, but how much Head Coach Mark Lowry will utilize the influential attacking presence remains to the seen. Whether in a starting role or coming off the bench, you can rest assured Asante will be motivated to push his career USL Championship goal haul in regular season action to 50, which would make him just the 16th player in the league’s now 12-year history to reach that plateau.
For New York Red Bulls II, a glimmer of hope to kick off their road schedule – a 1-0 win at Atlanta United on March 16 – marked their only positive result to date. While the “Baby Bulls” have garnered only one point from their last eight outings (via a 1-1 home draw with Tampa Bay on April 23), they have gotten more competitive along the way, dropping each of their last four losses by a single goal. In fact, despite losing eight out of 10 matches, New York has trailed by multiple goals for only 74 minutes of their 900 minutes of action (8%), proving the young side has the mettle to stay in matches.
LAST TIME OUT
Memphis 901 FC 2 : 1 Indy Eleven
Sat., May 14 | Recap & Highlights | Stats
At the site of its largest comeback win in club history, Indy Eleven fell short in duplicating that feat last weekend at AutoZone Park. While Elliot Panicco did well to patrol his area early with two saves and several more interventions on crosses within the first half hour, goals by Zach Carroll (34’) and Laurent Kissiedou (58’) put the home side in command. Eleven striker Jonas Fjeldberg gave Indiana’s Team hope in the 66th minute with a 10-yard blast that split the mitts of former IU goalkeeper Trey Muse, but Memphis held firm down the stretch to snap the Eleven’s four-game winning streak.
Hartford Athletic 3 : 2 New York Red Bulls II
Sat., May 14 | Recap | Stats & Highlights
A back-and-forth affair between the Championship’s northeastern contingent saw New York come back from a pair of deficits, only to drop the full points thanks to Corey Hertzog’s stoppage time winner for the home side at Trinity Health Stadium. Jordan Adeabyo-Smith’s first half stoppage time tally for RBNYII cancelled out Hartford’s opener by Luke Prpa in the 36th minute to even things heading into the break. After Joel Johnson put Hartford back in front in the 54th minute, Illia Tyrkus again found an equalizer for the Baby Bulls, who looked primed to gain a point for their effort. However, a 93rd minute corner kick for Athletic saw three Hartford players get a touch to the ball inside the six, with Herzog finally slamming home on the doorstep and New York seeing their seventh goal allowed past the 75th minute on the campaign prolong their unbeaten streak.
SERIES VS. NEW YORK RED BULLS II
USL Championship regular season: 3W-2L-0D (7 GF/6 GA)
USL Championship at home: 3W-0L-0D (5 GF/0 GA)
USL Championship on the road: 0W-2L-0D (2 GF/6 GA)
Saturday’s meeting marks the first matchup between Indy Eleven and New York Red Bulls II in nearly three years. The clubs last faced off in the 2019 USL Championship Playoffs opener at Carroll Stadium on Oct. 26, 2019, with the Boys in Blue winning the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal 1-0 thanks to a goal from Karl Ouimette in the 27th minute.
The Eleven lead the all-time series 3-2-0 and have never lost at home to New York, shutting out Red Bulls II in all three previous meetings in the Circle City. Saturday marks the final regular season meeting in Indianapolis between the two sides, as Red Bulls II are set to join the MLS Next PRO Div. III league in 2023. Assuming there is no postseason meet up on the horizon, the two sides will close out their series at Montclair State University Soccer Park in Montclair, N.J. on Friday, July 15.
#INDvNY FAMILIAR FACES
Former Eleven forward Jeremy Rafanello makes his return to Indy – but first visit to Carroll Stadium – on Saturday with New York Red Bulls II. Rafanello played for the Eleven during the 2020 COVID-shortened season, scoring once in his nine appearances. Indy’s Noah Powder began his professional career for Red Bulls II from 2016-17 (3 goals, 1 assist in 43 games), while currently on-loan defender Karl Ouimette suited up for NYRBII from 2015-16.
ELEVEN PLAYER TO WATCH: FW MANUEL ARTEAGA
Yes, the temptation here is to go with Asante, but instead we’ll pick Indy’s incumbent endless ball of energy in Arteaga. After a late preseason injury sidelined him for the team’s first five matches, the Venezuelan archer had been every bit the disrupter and focal point he proved to be last year in his first three games back, creating chances, setting the tone for the team’s high-press and generally seeming to be everywhere in helping the squad to three more wins on the trot.
However, Memphis seemed to frustrate Arteaga last weekend, holding him to just one shot from outside the area in his 90 minutes. That said, he was still able to put his stamp on the scoresheet by assisting on Fjeldberg’s finish midway through the second half, proving that even when he’s not scoring he’s still deserves every bit of attention opposing defenses can give him.
While a willing provider, Arteaga has certainly never been one to turn down a scoring opportunity, and he may be the biggest beneficiary of Asante’s arrival on that front thanks to the Ghanaian’s nearly unparalleled vision in USL Championship circles. That partnership will most certainly pay dividends throughout the season, but can they ring in the partnership by cueing the smoke on Saturday night? You better believe the Brickyard Battalion will be ready for it.