#LVvIND Preview
Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Indy Eleven
Saturday, August 24, 2024 – 10:30 p.m. ET
Cashman Field – Las Vegas, Nevada
Follow Live
Stream: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
In-game updates: IndyElevenLive
Stats: #LVvIND MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 10-8-5 (-3), 35 pts; 5th in Eastern Conference
Las Vegas Lights FC: 8-8-8 (-2), 32 pts; 6th in Western Conference
Indy Eleven is back in action for the first time in almost two weeks with a road trip to Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday.
Indy dropped a 3-1 decision to Western Conference leader New Mexico United on August 11 at Carroll Stadium. The Eleven are in fifth place in the East with a 10-8-5 record. Las Vegas is sixth in the Western Conference at 8-8-8 after having its 11-match unbeaten streak (tied for the longest in the USL this season) snapped at Hartford last Saturday.
| LV | IND | |
| 24 | Games | 23 |
| 31 | Goals | 33 |
| 33 | Goals Conceded | 36 |
| 23 | Assists | 22 |
| 100 | SOT | 103 |
| 114 | Shots Faced | 99 |
| 7 | Clean Sheets | 5 |
SERIES VS. LAS VEGAS LIGHTS
The Boys in Blue are facing Las Vegas for the second time ever. The teams played to a scoreless draw in Indianapolis on April 1, 2023.
Series 0-0-1 | GF 0, GA 0
History
April 1, 2023 T 0-0 Home
NEIDLINGER MAKES INDY ELEVEN HISTORY
18-year-old Logan Neidlinger became the youngest goal scorer in Indy Eleven history with his first career goal in the 28th minute vs. New Mexico United on August 11. Neidlinger is also the first Indy Eleven player on a USL Academy contract to score. The Indianapolis native recorded career highs in shots (2), shots on target (2), tackles (4), and interceptions (1) vs. New Mexico.
Neidlinger has played the full 90 minutes in all three of the team’s August matches, including his first career start at Charleston on August 2.
SAVE OF THE WEEK III
Indy Eleven goalkeeper Hunter Sulte earned his third USLC Save of the Week award this season with a spectacular diving stop off a Mark Doyle shot in the 17th minute of his 1-0 shutout of Rhode Island FC on August 7 at home. The 6’7 Sulte recorded his fifth clean sheet this season with four saves in that match.
The 22-year-old on loan from MLS-side Portland Timbers also made the Save of the Week in weeks 15 & 19 and he was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week in Week 15.
The Anchorage, Alaska, native has started 13 straight matches and 16 of the last 17 for the Boys in Blue. He is 12th in the USL in clean sheets and tied for 16th in saves (47).
WOOTTON ON FIRE
Midfielder Laurence Wootton has recorded an assist in the first half of his last two matches. In his sixth start of the season against New Mexico on August 11, the 24-year-old set up Logan Neidlinger’s first career goal in the 28th minute.
On loan from the MLS Chicago Fire, Wootton recorded his first career assist for the Indy Eleven on August 7 vs. Rhode Island in the 34th minute on a goal by Sebastian Guenzatti, after entering in the 15th minute as an injury replacement for Cam Lindley.
BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
Indy Eleven recalled midfielders Ethan O’Brien and Max Schneider on Thursday. O’Brien had been on loan with Huntsville City FC in MLS NEXT Pro, while Schneider returns from Union Omaha in USL 1.
Earlier this season with the Boys in Blue, Schneider played in eight matches, starting three and recording two assists. O’Brien, teamed with his younger brother Josh, in two matches for the Indy Eleven this season.
MAALIQUE FOSTER ACQUIRED
On Friday, Indy Eleven acquired forward Maalique Foster, who joins the Boys in Blue after playing for the USL Championship Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC for the last two seasons. Foster is available for selection pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. He will wear #99 for the Indy Eleven.
In 2024, Foster leads Colorado Springs in assists (4) and chances created (34), he is second on the team in goals (4) and shots (33), and third in shots on target (14). The 27-year-old Foster has played in 20 matches this season, starting in 18. Against the Indy Eleven on April 20 in Colorado Springs, Foster started and had two shots (one on target), two chances created, and six completed passes in the final third in a 1-1 draw.
Foster joined the Switchbacks in 2023, leading the team with 49 key passes in 34 games played. His speed on the wing helped him record four goals and four assists.
Current Indy Eleven defender James Musa was Foster’s teammate in Colorado Springs in 2023 and 2024 prior to being acquired by Indy on June 28.
In 2021, Foster played for the Sacramento Republic FC, and despite sustaining an early-season injury made a difference in 15 appearances during the second half of the season. In 2022 he had a larger impact with eight goals and one assist, completing 16 key passes and holding a passing accuracy rate of 79.8%. Foster’s season highlight came in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal when his Panenka penalty kick against Sporting Kansas City helped Republic FC advance to the final after a penalty shootout.
The Portmore, Jamaica native (also the hometown of Indy Eleven’s Romario Williams) joined Sacramento from the Israeli Premier League club Ironi Kiryat Shmona, on loan from Santos de Guápiles FC of the Costa Rican Primera División. With Santos de Guápiles FC he recorded five goals in 12 appearances.
Foster’s previous experience in the USL Championship includes a stint with Rio Grande Valley FC in 2019, where he netted three goals and four assists in 11 matches. He earned Championship Team of the Week honors for Weeks 7 and 11 while with RGVFC.
International play for Foster consists of multiple call ups to the Jamaican National Team the Reggae Boyz, including one in November 2023, where he has recorded three goals across eight appearances. In his international debut with the team, he scored the game-tying goal in a 2-2 draw against South Korea. He was also part of the 2019 Gold Cup squad that advanced to the tournament semifinals and competed for his country in CONCACAF Nations League.
ROAD RED
Indy is 5-3-3 (7-3-3 overall) away from The Mike in 2024, making them the first USL Championship team to five road wins in league play.
GOALS
The Boys in Blue scored in 15 straight USLC matches to open the 2024 campaign. 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 Eleven have 33 goals this season (8th USL), with at least one tally in 19 of their 23 matches.
Indy has scored 20 first half goals this season, the third-most of any USLC team. Defensively, the team has held opponents scoreless in the first half in 15 of 23 matches in 2024.
LAST TIME OUT
Indianapolis – On August 11, visiting Western Conference leader New Mexico United scored three second-half goals in a 22-minute span to rally for a 3-1 road victory over the Indy Eleven at Carroll Stadium.
Indy played an impressive first half with an 8-4 advantage in shots. In the second minute of the match, a header from Romario Williams set up a chance for Augi Williams for a left-footed opportunity in the area that was saved by New Mexico keeper Alex Tambakis.
In the 23rd minute, Logan Neidlinger struck a nice cross from the right corner to the far post to defender Aedan Stanley, but his header was just over the bar.
The Boys in Blue took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute when Logan Neidlinger became the youngest player in franchise history to score a goal. Neidlinger is also the first Indy Eleven player on a USL Academy contract to score. Neidlinger, born in Indianapolis, has played the full 90 minutes in all three of the team’s August matches.
Defender Adrian Diz Pe started the scoring sequence with an interception at midfield. Three quick passes got the ball to midfielder Laurence Wootton, who quickly passed it to Neidlinger on the right side of the box. Neidlinger fired a shot into the top left corner. It was Wootton’s second straight match with an assist.
Indy Eleven had a great chance to increase its lead just three minutes later when Neidlinger delivered an excellent cross from outside the area on the right side to the far post to Augi Williams, who headed across to the far post, but Romario Williams was not able to finish.
In the 39th minute, forward Sebastian Guenzatti spun and passed to Stanley, who hit a cross that just eluded both Augi and Romario Williams.
Indy Eleven 1:3 New Mexico United
Sunday, August 11, 2024 – 5 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis
Attendance: 10,013
Weather: Partly sunny, 75 degrees
Scoring Summary
IND – Logan Neidlinger (Laurence Wootton) 28’
NM – Harry Swartz 53’
NM – Sergio Rivas (Daniel Bruce) 64’
NM – Greg Hurst (Jacobo Reyes) 75’
Discipline Summary
IND – Aodhan Quinn (caution) 27’
NM – Sergio Rivas (caution) 27’
NM – Nana Houssou (caution) 27’
NM – Kalen Ryden (caution) 45+2’
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (caution) 61’
IND – Callum Chapman-Page (caution) 78’
NM – Bench (caution) 79’
NM – Greg Hurst (caution) 90+4’
Indy Eleven line-up: Hunter Sulte, Aedan Stanley, Adrian Diz Pe, Callum Chapman-Page (Josh O’Brien 80’), Benjamin Ofeimu, Logan Neidlinger, Aodhan Quinn (captain) (Tyler Gibson 80’), Laurence Wootton, Sebastian Guenzatti (Elliot Collier 60’), Romario Williams (Karsen Henderlong 79’), Augi Williams (Jack Blake 60’).
Subs Not Used: Yannik Oettl, Ben Mines, James Musa.
