#RIvIND Preview
Rhode Island FC vs Indy Eleven
Friday, July 5, 2024 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Beirne Stadium – Smithfield, Rhode Island
Follow Live
WISH-TV
Stream: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #RIvIND MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue hit the road for a Friday match up with Rhode Island FC. This is the first of two meetings this season, with RI making the return trip on Aug. 7.
Indy is coming off a 1-0 loss to Orange County SC and sits at 9-5-2 in third place in the Eastern Conference. Rhode Island defeated El Paso Locomotive FC, 3-0, in its last outing and is 3-4-9 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
| RI | IND | |
| 16 | Games | 16 |
| 21 | Goals | 27 |
| 23 | Goals Conceded | 22 |
| 16 | Assists | 15 |
| 60 | SOT | 78 |
| 71 | Shots Faced | 64 |
| 5 | Clean Sheets | 3 |
GOALS
The Boys in Blue scored in 15 straight USLC matches to open the 2024 season, bringing their total to 27 goals (5th USL). The streak, which ended on June 22 against Orange County is the longest to open a USLC campaign and is the longest run overall within the same season for the club. In total, Indy scored in 18 straight regular season matches dating back to Sept. 30, 2023.
The Boys in Blue have scored 16 first half goals this season. Defensively, the Indy has held their opponents scoreless in the first half in nine of 16 matches in 2024.
TOTW REGULARS
Jack Blake has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week five times in 2024, the most for any player in the league, while Aedan Stanley has three nods and a Player of the Week accolade to his name. Additionally, five players have had at least one selection in Younes Boudadi (to HFD 6.13), Adrian Diz Pe, Benjamin Ofeimu, Hunter Sulte and Augi Williams.
In total, seven players have earned team of the week nods, while eight total have received either team or bench honors.
LAST TIME OUT
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, June 22, 2024) – Indy Eleven had its eight-match USL Championship win streak halted on Saturday as it fell to Western Conference opponent Orange County SC, 1-0.
Indy found themselves trailing following the first frame after Orange County’s Ethan Zubak scored a 25th-minute header, which would stand as the match winner. Indy was narrowly outshot 6-5 in the half, despite holding 64% of the possession.
Indy finished the game with an 18-8 advantage in shots, including 7-2 in shots on target. Augi Williams led the home team with four, while he and Tega Ikoba registered a pair on frame.
Scoring Summary
OC – Ethan Zubak (Owen Lambe) 25’
Discipline Summary
OC – Christian Sorto (caution) 35’
OC – Ethan Zubak (caution) 42’
OC – Bench (caution) 45+7’
IND – Benjamin Ofeimu (caution) 45+8’
IND – Romario Williams (caution) 52’
OC – Ashish Chattha (caution) 73’
STREAKING
The Boys in Blue were unbeaten in 12 straight matches across all competitions, including a club-best eight straight wins in USL Championship matches before falling to Orange County on June 22. The eight-match USLC win streak tied for fifth over the league’s history.
Indy outscored opponents 23-6 in those matches, while posting six clean sheets and never conceding more than one goal.
4.17 Chicago Fire FC II^ W, 1-0
4.20 at Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC D, 1-1
4.27 North Carolina FC W, 2-1
5.4 at Monterey Bay F.C. W, 1-0
5.8 San Antonio FC^ W, 2-0
5.12 at Miami FC W, 3-1
5.18 Hartford Athletic W, 4-1
5.22 Detroit City FC^ W, 3-0
5.25 Phoenix Rising FC W, 2-1
6.1 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC W, 2-1
6.9 at Birmingham Legion FC W, 1-0
6.15 San Antonio FC W, 1-0
^denotes U.S. Open Cup match
THIS IS MAY
Indy Eleven finished off the month of May going 4-0-0 in USL Championship action and 6-0-0 across all competitions. The four wins for the Boys in Blue are the most so far this season for a side in the USLC to take maximum points in a month.
TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (6th, 73) and Augi Williams (9th, 71) serve as the only pair of active teammates in the USL Championship’s top 10 for all-time regular season goals. Williams currently sits at five goals in 2024, while Guenzatti has three. Williams also has a pair in U.S. Open Cup action this season to lead Indy.
ALLOW ME TO ASSIST YOU
Aedan Stanley has a league-best seven assists, which includes his first career multi-assist game, a two-helper performance against his old club Miami FC on May 12. He also has a team-high two in Open Cup games. Stanley has 15 career USL Championship assists, posting no more that three in a season before joining Indy Eleven for 2024.
2024: 7 | 2023: 3 | 2022: 3 | 2020: 2
THE [NEW] GAFFER
2024 is Indy’s first season under head coach Sean McAuley, who previously served as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others.
McAuley got his first career win in the USL Championship on March 16, 2024, a 2-1 defeat of Memphis 901 FC.
USLC : 9-5-2 | USOC: 3-0-0 | OVERALL: 12-5-2
IN THE WIN COLUMN
The Boys in Blue had 13 regular-season wins in 2023 tied for the second most during a USL Championship season (2018) and behind the 19 victories from the 2019 season. Indy currently has nine in 2024, a total not reached until August 19 a season ago.
ROAD WARRIORS
Indy is 5-2-1 (6-2-1 overall) away from The Mike this season, making them the first USL Championship team to five road wins in 2024.
The Eleven finished the 2023 regular season 8-5-4 on the road, giving them the most regular season wins away from home in the club’s USLC history (previously 6 in 2019). Indy outscored its opponents 27-21 on the road with eight multi-goal performances and four of 3+ (3 at ELP, PIT, SA; 4 at CHS).
