Four-game Undefeated Streak Halted by Western Conference Playoff Contender
Indy Eleven saw its four-game unbeaten streak come to a halt Saturday evening on the Pacific Coast against a motivated Monterey Bay F.C. side in a 5-0 defeat at Cardinale Stadium on the campus of Cal State Monterey Bay. The defeat, coupled with other results from around the Eastern Conference, officially eliminated Indiana’s Team from postseason contention, while Monterey Bay moved to within a point of the playoff line in the Western Conference with the result.
After Indy dominated possession for the opening 10 minutes the match became mired in the midfield through about the half hour mark. The first shot on goal came in the 26th minute when Eleven defender Jared Timmer got forward and into the right side of the area for a near-angle shot, but Monterey Bay ‘keeper Ahtony Siaha cut off the angle with a hard-charge off his line to make the save. The next minute saw Monterrey Bay midfielder Chase Boone receive the game’s first caution for a challenge on Eleven captain Neveal Hackshaw, perhaps coming out of it a little lucky not to see a red for the studs-up tackle.
Boone was fortunate again in the 31st minute, when he followed up Christian Volesky’s saved shot and slammed home the rebound to put the home side up 1-0 on the match’s first chance of note for either side. Less than two minutes later MBFC midfielder Simon Dawkins picked off a pass in the attacking third and nearly doubled the advantage, but his shot just trickled past the far post to divert disaster for the Boys in Blue.
The Californian side earned a slew of chances in the final five minutes of the half, starting with Indy goalkeeper Tim Trilk saving Hugh Roberts’ looping header in the 41st minute. MBFC’s growing stranglehold on possession in the final third paid off two minutes later thanks to a give-and-go at the top of the area between Sam Gleadle and Volesky that allowed the former space to center a dangerous cross for Boone on the doorstep. Eleven defender Robby Dambrot cut across and lunged to reach the ball first, only to send it across the goalline for an own goal that gave Monterey Bay a 2-0 lead. A close-range chance by Gleadle in stoppage time sailed over the bar, leaving the Boys in Blue ready to get into the locker room to regroup down only two.
The second half began as the first ended, with Monterey Bay keeping its foot on the gas in attack. James Murphy’s bending shot from 25 yards beat Trilk’s dive to his right post in the 49th minute to move the scoreboard quickly. A minute later the MBFC momentum continued with another goal off a 1-2 involving Gleadle, this time with him finishing off the chance from the top of the area after receiving the ball back from Dawkins to push the Monterey Bay lead to 4-0.
A trio of changes for Indy just prior to the hour mark included Ayoze, who tried to make a quick impact with a shot on frame in the 64th minute that Siaha handled. Two minutes later it was Volesky getting his turn to move the scoreboard, accepting Gleadle ball into the area and slotting past a stranded Trilk to push the proceedings to 5-0 MBFC.
The Eleven gained more time in their attacking third from there on out, but Stefano Pinho’s deflected shot in the 72nd minute bounced right to Siaha, while the MBFC ‘keeper had a tougher kick-save to make on Jesus Vazquez’s redirect of Ayoze’s free kick to the six a few minutes later. Another substitute, forward Juan Tejada, had a claim for a goal in the 83rd minute when he redirected a cross at the six that saw Siaha lunge from just inside his goal to pounce on the shot, but the ball was deemed not to have completely crossed the line. Solomon Asante’s bending effort three minutes from time that just missed the upper right 90 marked the last best chance for the Eleven to get on the board.
The Boys in Blue return to IUPUI Carroll Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 25, when they play host to Loudoun United FC for a special 5:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Details on the club’s annual Hispanic Heritage Night festivities – presented by Financial Center First Credit Union, Morales Group & Sherwin-Williams – can be found at indyeleven.com/promotions, and tickets can be purchased at indyeleven.com/tickets, starting for $15. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 / exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed.
2022 USL Championship Regular Season – Matchday 29
Monterey Bay F.C. 5 : 0 Indy Eleven
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Cardinale Stadium – Seaside, Calif.
Indy Eleven: 9W-15L-5D, 32 pts., 9th in Eastern Conference
Monterey Bay F.C.: 12W-14L-2D, 38 pts., 8th Western Conference
Scoring Summary:
MB – Chase Boone (unassisted) 31’
MB – own goal (Robby Dambrot) 43’
MB – James Murphy (unassisted) 49’
MB – Sam Gleadle (Simon Dawkins) 50’
MB – Christian Volesky (Sam Gleadle) 66’
Disciplinary Summary:
MB – Chase Boone (yellow card) 28’
IND – Jared Timmer (yellow card) 40’
IND – Robby Dambrot (yellow card) 55’
IND – Juan Tejada (yellow card) 62’
MB – Hunter Gorskie (yellow card) 74’
IND – Alex McQueen (yellow card) 79’
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2): Tim Trilk; Robby Dambrot, Jesus Vazquez, Mechack Jerome, Jared Timmer (Alex McQueen 45’); Neveal Hackshaw (captain) (Bryam Rebellon 56’), Sam Brown, Raul Aguilera (Juan Tejada 56’), Justin Ingram (Ayoze 56’); Stefano Pinho, Solomon Asante
IND substitutes: Sean Lewis (GK), Rodney Michael, Wilfredo Rivera
Monterrey Bay F.C. (4-3-3): Ahtony Siaha, Grant Robinson, Hugh Roberts, Kai Greene (Arun Basuljevic 74’), Morey Doner; James Murphy (Hunter Gorskie 71’), Mobi Fehr; Simon Dawkins, Sam Gleadle (Adrian Rebollar 71’), Chase Boone (Walmer Martinez 71’); Christian Volesky (Chris Cortez 81’)
MB Substitutes: Carlos Herrera (GK), Seku Conneh
