Boys in Blue Return Home for First of Back-to-Back Games Versus Conference Leaders
#INDvSA Preview
Indy Eleven vs. San Antonio FC
Saturday, August 27, 2022 – 7:00 p.m. ET
IUPUI Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
FOLLOW LIVE
Local TV: MyINDY-TV 23
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Radio (Spanish): Exitos 94.3 FM / exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers
Live stats: #INDvSA MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS
Indy Eleven: 6W-14L-4D (-13 GD), 22 pts.; 10th in Eastern Conference
San Antonio FC: 18W-4L-3D (+22 GD), 57 pts.; 1st in Western Conference
COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK SPORTS MEDICINE INDY ELEVEN INJURY REPORT
OUT: FW Manuel Arteaga (R knee), MF Ayoze (R adductor), FW Aris Briggs (R shin), GK Bryan Meredith (R hand fracture)
QUESTIONABLE: GK Sean Lewis (L hamstring)
DISCIPLINE REPORT
IND: none
SA: none
* IND’s Sam Brown & Neveal Hackshaw will receive a one-game suspension from USL should either receive their eighth caution of the season on Saturday
While Indy Eleven’s summer has been wrought with adversity, the next week will bring with it the opportunity to prove itself at home against the USL Championship’s top two sides in 2022, starting with Saturday’s tilt against San Antonio FC.
Despite being in the midst of a 12-game winless streak, Indy Eleven’s defense continues to keep it in games, with Indy allowing just one goal in seven of its outings during its winless streak. Of the 10 losses in the streak, seven have come by a one-goal margin – with last week’s match serving as the fifth heartbreaking 0-1 scoreline during the stretch. Overall in 2022, the Eleven’s 38 goals allowed through 24 games ranks 14th in the USL Championship, placing it squarely in the middle of the 27-team pack.
While scoring the ball has been a pain point during Indy’s slide – the squad has tallied thrice in its last 10 matches combined – the attack put up a season-high 18 shots last Saturday – 7 of which were on target; only a USL Championship player of the week performance by FC Tulsa goalkeeper Austin Wormell kept the Eleven off the board. Indiana’s Team will need to channel that attacking prowess more and more over the next few weeks, as its next four opponents happen to be the four stingiest defenses in the entire league.
For San Antonio, a current 2W-1L-2D run counts as a “cooling off” for the Texan side, which used six straight wins prior to break away from the rest of the Western Conference pack in July.
Defense is where the Alamo City outfit shines, its 21 goals allowed ranking second in the league behind only Louisville (16). Old friend Jordan Farr has stood tall when called upon, his 55 saves ranking only 12th in the Championship, but his 10 clean sheets are just one behind a trio of league leaders in the category.
In attack, San Antonio has done things by committee, with Samuel Adenirian (7), Justin Dhillon (6), Santiago Patino (5), Mitchell Taintor (5), and ex-Eleven performer Elliot Collier (4) all pitching in with meaningful goal hauls. That extends to playmaking as well, with Dhillon pacing SAFC with seven assists, followed by four different players than the goal-scoring pack – Victor Giro (5), Mohamad Abu (4), Shannon Gomez (4) and Connor Maloney (4) – all contributing their fair share of helpers. While San Antonio may not bring the most high-octane attack in the league – its 43 goals place seventh in USLC – its augmented by the fact defenses cannot key in on just a couple key contributors.
LAST TIME OUT
FC Tulsa 1 : 0 Indy Eleven
Saturday, Aug. 20 | Recap & Highlights | Stats
Indy Eleven and FC Tulsa came up empty for 89 minutes of back and forth soccer last Saturday night at ONEOK Field, only to see Machuca score on the cusp of stoppage time to give the home side a 1-0 victory crucial for its postseason hopes. The result came despite one of Indy’s better attacking performances of the summer, but its 18-shot and 7-shot-on-goal barrage couldn’t dent the net of Austin Wormell, who ultimately was named the USL Championship Player of the Week for his efforts between the posts.
Scoring Summary:
TUL – Machuca (Gabi Torres) 90’
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2): Tim Trilk, Jesus Vazquez, Mechack Jerome, Jared Timmer, Ayoze (captain) (Neveal Hackshaw 21’), Sam Brown, Justin Ingram (Wilfredo Rivera 86’), Bryam Rebellon (Robby Dambrot 86’), Raul Aguilera (Juan Tejada 66’), Solomon Asante, Stefano Pinho
IND substitutes: Sean Lewis (GK), Hayden Vostal (GK), AJ Cochran
San Antonio FC 2 : 2 Rio Grande Valley FC
Saturday, August 20 | Stats & Highlights
San Antonio dropped its first points in the final match of its three-game homestand, but it was a “draw that felt like a win” courtesy of Mitchell Taintor’s equalizer six minutes deep into stoppage time. RGV Toros FC took a shock lead late in the first half with two goals in a three minute span by Christian Pinzon (34’) and Akeem Ward (36’) to give the visitors the lead heading into the break. However, Shannon Gomez’s tally just before the hour mark set the stage for Taintor’s late-game drama, which fittingly evened an affair that was tight throughout.
IXI SERIES VS. FC TULSA:
First meeting between IND & SA
Indy Eleven and San Antonio FC will be squaring off for the first time this evening … although it’s not the first time Indiana’s Team has faced a squad from the Alamo City.
From 2014-15, Indy Eleven and the San Antonio Scorpions played six contests in the North American Soccer League (NASL), with the Boys in Blue collecting a 2W-4L-0D record against the Texan side, which dissolved in December of 2015, paving the way for San Antonio FC to begin play at Toyota Field in the then USL starting in the 2016 season.
FAMILIAR FACES: #INDvSA
Indy Eleven fans will recognize two faces from the San Antonio roster, most notably goalkeeper Jordan Farr. The Oregon native grew to be a fan favorite during his four-year tenure in the Circle City from 2018-21, when he registered a 1.07 goals against average and 73.8 save percentage in 36 regular season appearances, primarily as the starter throughout the 2021 season (23 games).
Additionally, Elliot Collier will return to Indy, where he suited up on 11 occasions and scored one goal during the front half of the 2018 season while on loan from MLS’ Chicago Fire SC.
ELEVEN PLAYER TO WATCH: GK TIM TRILK
With Sean Lewis questionable for a second straight week, it appears while have “Trilk Time” once again on Saturday at The Mike. In his seven starts in league play, the third-year netminder has produced a solid 1.14 goals against average and allowed one goal in six of those seven outings to help keep the Boys in Blue in every match – and even the lone start in which Indy conceded two goals, his debut in Championship play on May 28 against New Mexico, included a fluky own goal that shouldn’t go against the Western Illinois University product’s permanent record.
Against a balanced San Antonio attack, Trilk’s organization of the defense in front of him will be just as vital as his shot-stopping ability. That said, if Indiana’s Team is to get back on track with a positive result on Saturday night, it will likely take a moment of brilliance or two by Trilk to achieve it – which he’s shown he’s capable of doing throughout his first season in Indy.