Indy Eleven vs Dayton Dutch Lions - 04.10

Summary

- Opponent: Dayton Dutch Lions
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 6-0 W

- Starting XI: Edwards (C), Satterfield, Kruer, Beasley, Foulk, Smith, Yamazaki, Pinto, Joyce, Sochacki, Jennings

- Substitution: Wyatt 45' (Edwards); Komori 64' (Yamazaki); May 64' (Jennings); Pittman 69' (Pinto); Touhey 69' (Smith)

- Unused: Phillips

Scoring Summary:
IND - Pinto 15' (unassisted)
IND - Kruer 19' (assist Sochacki)
IND - Jennings 22' (assist Joyce)
IND - Yamazaki 28' (assist Sochacki)
IND - Jennings 63' (unassisted)
IND - May 78'  (assist Sochaki)

- Bookings:

None

- Referee: Rachel Glago

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

After the Racing game, I wondered aloud how Coach Kim might handle tonight's roster. Would the more experienced players like Osswald and Bulger play, or would he roll with the youth in the final game to keep building their experiences. As the roster came out, it was a dramatic emphasis on the youth. Not only were Osswald, Bulger, Chester, or Chatterton not on the starting lineup, they weren't even on the game day roster. In a league that is intended to be an avenue for players to grow - a pathway to the pros - or for some old pros to scratch a competitive itch, tonight's roster was heavy on the pathway to the pros variety. With the chance for the playoffs done and dusted, against the bottom team in the league, getting the youth some experience completely makes sense. 

Dayton arrived with 12 players. No, that isn't a typo. They had 12 players. Total. For those that are bad at math, that means they had just 1 substitute available. Indy had 6 subs, 2 of which were goalkeepers, so they had just 4 field players available. The number of fans were on par with the number of subs, as the stands were the emptiest I have ever seen them. It seemed like everybody was ready to just get through the game and move onto their high school or college seasons. 

Maddy Williams in just three games played finished the season as the team's leading goal scorer with her three goals. In many ways, that might have been part of the problem this season. The past three seasons, the team has never scored less than 30 goals and had only been shutout once. This year, they were shutout 3 times and only scored a total of 22 goals. Indy has some talented forwards, but seemed to struggle at times this year getting shots on target and passed the opposing goalkeepers. Dayton was prone to leaking goals with a -59 goal differential coming into the game (2 GF vs 61 GA). Indy had a couple of 3-nil results against Dayton until tonight's 6-nil result, but never looked as dangerous as they looked tonight. Indy could have doubled the score with just a little bit better finishing.

Dayton has had a rough introduction to the Valley Division this year and tonight was no different. Indy dominated this game from start-to-finish. Very few minutes of the game ever crossed into the Indy defensive half of the field. Emily Edwards spent the majority of the 1st half of the game 35-yards from her own goal and only fielded one long range shot on goal. When she made way for Wyatt, her teammate wasn't required to make a single save. Indy, contrarily, took 32 shots forcing Dayton's goalkeeper Shirley into 16 saves, meaning had 22 shots on target (or 68.75% of their shots found their way towards the goal).

A summary of tonight's goals:

Photo: Robbie Mehling

• Pinto in the 15th minute from a free kick that Sochacki put on frame. Shirley spilled the ball and Pinto put the ball into the goal from within the 6-yard box.
• Kruer in the 19th minute with a forceful header from a corner kick from Sochacki. 
• Jennings in the 22nd minute from a long ball sent from the Indy defensive half by Joyce that Jennings tracked down, pushed around Shirley and calmly passed into the goal from within the 6-yard box.
• Yamazaki in the 28th minute from a free kick by Sochacki. Sochacki put a perfect ball into the box near the penalty spot that Yamazaki headed passed Shirley.
• Jennings in the 63rd minute after Sochacki put a shot on target that Shirley spilled. Jennings had followed up the shot and slammed it into the goal. 
• May in the 78th minute from a cheeky chip over the defenders by Sochacki.

The Valley Division has become a very competitive division, but Dayton was way over their heads this season. This game was never in doubt, mostly from the opening whistle. Indy managed to finish the season with a good performance and Dayton continued their struggles. There's not much else that can be said about this game. Indy's talent was higher, and they played with more intensity. When those things combine, 6-nil results that could have been much much worse are what happen. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

I've said it before this year, but the midfield duo of Pinto and Yamazaki often caught my eye. Tonight was no different. They were all over the place. Distributing the ball and defending when necessary.  Jennings was going to get the edge for the GBGB because the Dayton defense had no answer for her pace and crosses from the right side of the field. She didn't give up on balls, scored a goal herself, and could have had a couple more goals or assists. Clearly, I could talk about the spectacular service and play from Sochacki that had her involved in 5 of the 6 goals. She's shown moments all season, but she was in complete control tonight. Sochacki's delivery from set pieces and corner kicks was perfect, and her distribution was spot on. In a night where the GBGB could have been up for grabs, sometimes I just have to go with the player(s) that I keep noticing as doing positive things. Pinto and Yamazaki have been rocks in the midfield all season, so Jennings and Sochacki have to share the GBGB.

Indy Eleven vs Racing Louisville - 04.09

Summary

- Opponent: Racing Louisville SC
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 2-1 L

- Starting XI: Edwards (C), Chatterton, Adam, Kruer, Albert, Smith, Yamazaki, Pinto, Komori, Sochacki, Chester

- Substitution: Satterfield 45' (Albert); Jennings 45' (Komori); Sochacki 45' (May); Joyce 60' (Chester); Beasley 68' (Pinto); Malin 68' (Chatterton)

- Unused: Phillips, Bahr

Scoring Summary:
LOU - Smith 21' (unassisted)
LOU - Smith 33' (penalty kick)
IND - Joyce 85' (assist Yamazaki)

- Bookings:

LOU - Lund 54' (Yellow)

- Referee: Sao Kamara

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer

I've said before that when Indy Eleven decide to start honoring players that have had a significant affect on the club, Brad Ring should be the first. I'm going to adjust that statement slightly. Brad Ring should be the first from the men's team. The first woman to be honored should be Grace Bahr. There will be others that can and should be mentioned in the conversation, but Bahr should be the first. Part-time coach, part-time player, full-time captain. She has given everything in the service of the club, including now two ACLs. She has been the rock in the defensive line, and the leadership voice across all the lines across four seasons and age groups. Bahr is the team's all-time leader in Appearances (40), Starts (38), Minutes (3,416), Top 3 in Assists (6), and Top 4 in Game Winners (3), proving that the defensive captain impacted the game everywhere and every time she stepped onto the field. All the stats aside, Bahr is likely your favorite player's favorite player. When Indy clinched the league title in 2023, most of the players ran to her first to celebrate as she sat in a knee brace with the first ACL injury sustained in that game. After her most recent ACL injury a few games ago against Kings Hammer, Grace has decided to hang up her boots and move to Ohio for the next stage of her life working at the club where she first got her start playing. Brad Ring may have been the first to be dubbed as the Legend by Indy fans, but those of us who have had the privilege of watching Bahr give everything to this club know that not having the official club nickname doesn't mean that you aren't one. Grace Bahr is a legend and I wish her nothing but the best moving forward. The respect she deserves extends beyond just the Indy Eleven fans and players, which is why both teams tonight agreed to allow Grace to start tonight's game and receive the accolades she deserves from her teammates and competitors. Good luck Grace in your next phase of life (and, more imminently, in your upcoming surgery and rehab), but you'll always be #IndyForever. 

After Grace received her accolades, she stepped off the field and Chatterton stepped in to play the remaining 89 minutes. The early moments of the game looked very much like two teams that have played each other before and were trying to figure out the best way through their opponent. Indy had just the slightest of edge in control of the tempo and possession, but couldn't do much with it. As time passed, Louisville began to tilt the field in their favor.

A couple minutes after the 20-minute mark, a recycled ball found Louisville's Smith about 25-yards from goal. A touch to her right to get the ball in a more central location and she put a shot over Edwards to get the scoring started. The goal further energized the Louisville squad and the field firmly tilted entirely towards Edwards in goal. The continued pressure eventually forced a lunging defensive effort from the typically stalwart Chatterton where she missed the ball and caught the Louisville player. Unfortunately, that foul occurred within the Indy 18-yard box and the referee quickly and correctly pointed to the spot. Smith stepped up again, firing her attempt low and to her right. Edwards guessed correctly, but couldn't get down quickly enough and the ball slide under her outstretched arm, giving the visitors a 2-nil lead. Indy found a bit more possession and opportunities after the second goal, but were unable to be too dangerous in the final third of the field and the teams went to the halftime locker rooms with the two-goal differential. 

It's been a reoccurring thought for me this season, but Indy's opponents have just seemed more physical in their approach to 50/50 balls and tackles. I'm not sure why or if I'm accurate in that assessment, but it has just felt like Indy has been afraid to get a foul called against them and never adapted over the course of the season to the continued lack of whistles from the referees. The other teams have seemed to learn that they can get away with physical play and routinely muscled the Indy players off the ball. Or maybe it's a function of the youth of this team and not knowing they can, or maybe it's that they aren't yet capable of physically doing so against some older, more experienced players. Tonight, and in general in the losses this season, it often felt like Indy was missing a player that would try to throw the team on their back and will a victory. Bahr often tried, but she can't do all the scoring from the back. Seeing that timidity tonight made me nostalgic for a player like Hershfelt. Somebody who wasn't (and seemingly still isn't) afraid to get in on a tackle, yellow card be damned. I never thought Hal was dirty, but she made sure you knew she was in the midfield with her. The talent level is obvious for most of this current version of Indy Eleven players, so maybe it's just an experience and growth that will help their confidence to remove some of the timidity and decision-making. 

The second half was more evenly matched, with Indy getting a few more of the dangerous chances than Louisville was able to muster, but Indy couldn't find the goal early enough that would have given them a light and make Louisville nervous. Indy did find the net in the 85th minute from a feed from Yamazaki that Joyce looped over Teague to prevent the shutout. Indy turned up the pressure some more in the dying minutes of the game, including nearly drawing their own penalty kick (which was correctly determined to be outside the box), but couldn't find the equalizing goal.

With the loss tonight and Indy's 5 total losses on the season, the best Indy can finish this season is .500 depending on the result Friday against Dayton. Indy could also finish 4th out of the 5 team division depending on Indy's result and the two games between Lexington and Kings Hammer. Now that Kings Hammer have clinched the Valley Division and Indy are out of the running, I have to root against Coach Dolinsky and Lexington when I was rooting for them just a couple of games ago (KHFC won tonight vs LEX 4-2). Indy finish off the season on Friday against Dayton, who have struggled to even get goals much less wins, so hopefully Indy can finish on a strong note. It will be interesting to see if, or how much, the more experienced players like Osswald and Bulger play, or if Coach Kim rolls with the youth in the final game to keep building their experiences.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Despite the losing result, there were some good performances from players. Kruer played well in the back. Pinto had a decent game. Yamazaki continues to impress me. Tonight, though, the player that I kept noticing doing good things time and again was Olivia Smith. She seemed to be everywhere for Indy. She was good on the ball, good on defense, and seemed to be doing whatever she could to get the team a win. Tonight, she might have been the closest one to being the player I mentioned earlier about trying to put the team on her back. She looked like a player that is going into her Senior season at IU. Tonight's effort didn't get the team a win, but it does get her the GBGB.

Indy Eleven vs Lexington SC - 04.05

Summary

- Opponent: Lexington SC
- Location: Grand Park Event Center
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 5-0 W

- Starting XI: Edwards, Chatterton, Bahr (C), Kruer, Albert, Yamazaki, Pinto, Smith, Chester, Williams-Osswald, Soderstrom-Bulger

- Substitution: Komori 61' (Chester); Adam 61' (Chatterton); Sochacki 73' (Bulger); Joyce 73' (Yamazaki); Beasley 79' (Smith); Budish 79' (Osswald); White 79' (Albert)

- Unused: Wyatt, Molloy

Scoring Summary:
IND – Pinto 6' (assist Smith)
IND - Osswald 26' (assist Yamazaki)
IND - Osswald 44' (assist Bulger)
IND - Chester 45' (unassisted)
IND - Sochacki 85' (assist Bahr)

- Bookings:

LEX - Sexton 36' (Yellow)

- Referee: ??

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

In the midst of an unprecedented losing streak for The Girls in Blue, having Lexington show up at Grand Park was not the team Indy was most eager to see. Former Coach and former teammates on the other side of the ball, and the second of three times playing the team from Lexington, creates a chess match of tactics. Coming into the night, Indy likely would have preferred to see Dayton, a team that's conceded a lot of goals this season, but you have to play the team in front of you when they're scheduled. By the end of the night, Indy had defeated Lexington 5-nil and showed that when they play to their potential, they're still a good team. 

Photo: Don Thompson Photography

The game within the game was always what intrigued me about the games against Lexington this year. In the first outing a few weeks ago, Indy was without Chester, Bulger (Soderstrom), and Osswald (Williams) so that was a new wrinkle for Lexington to defend. But, Coach Dolinsky really knows what all those players are capable of providing to Indy. But, I've always been impressed with Osswald's tactical IQ and I knew she would be able to figure out and adjust to whatever Coach Dolinsky wanted his defenders to do against her and Bulger. Whoever could win the chess match, the game within the game, was going to be the one to come out on top tonight. That, and if Indy could be clinical and avoid the woodwork like last week's game...

It was Indy that got out of the gates fast, scoring a 6th minute goal off the boot of Pinto who took a long-range shot that found the lower right corner of the goal. Unlike their male counterparts who scored an early goal on Wednesday and then became more defensive-minded, Coach Kim and the women are not inclined to do that. Knowing that Coach Dolinsky also wants to attack and then attack some more, the potential for more goals by both teams was high with 84 minutes to go. In the early stages of the game, Coach Dolinsky had his Lexington side overloading the midfield when they were in possession, regularly leaving just two defenders back. Indy's early goal and propensity to go forward caused him to rethink that strategy for a little bit, but quickly dropped back into that tactic. 

Interestingly, both coaches could be easily heard barking commands to their players over the sparse crowd, telling each other what they were doing or wanting to do. The chess match is a bit more interesting when you can hear what your opponent is thinking.

Osswald doubled the advantage in the 26th minute that she admitted to me was intended to be a cross that she mishit slightly. So instead of the ball finding a path along the 6-yard box for an on-rushing teammate, it drifted towards the goal. Garrity was unable to push it over the bar cleanly and it dropped into the goal after a couple of deflections off the post and her knee. Given that it was headed into the goal without the touches from the goalkeeper, Osswald was given credit for the goal. 

Photo: Don Thompson Photography

As the half began to close, Lexington's Garrity made a questionable decision trying to play out of the back that nearly resulted in a goal by Bulger who hadn't given up on the ball. Garrity just barely got the ball out of her feet and across the end line for a corner kick. Looking flustered by conceding two goals and nearly giving up a third, Indy's forwards smelled blood in the water and became persistent. Immediately before the clock ran out of regulation time, Osswald brought down a ball near the six-yard box, took a touch to her left that freed a window when her defender overran the ball, and Osswald put a left-footed shot under the outstretched leg of the recovering defender and passed Garrity who was leaning the wrong direction. Seconds later, Chester intercepted a ball being played out of the back by Lexington and immediately ran at the goal. A slight push of the ball to the left, and she uncorked a left-footed shot to the right side of the goal. At halftime, Coach Dolinsky had his backup keeper, Bolton, warming up, realizing his starting net minder was rattled having given up 4 goals in the half.

After the break, Coach Dolinsky made two other changes in addition to his keeper trying to breath some life into his shell-shocked squad. For the first ten minutes, the game was very even with both teams getting opportunities on goal. However as much as Lexington wanted to control and overload the midfield, it was Indy's midfield that was up to the task and stifled the Lexington offense. The midfielders and defenders put themselves in good positions to limit whatever Lexington was trying to do. They switched well as Lexington tried to change the point of attack, and recovered nicely when Lexington did get balls into the final third.

Indy and Lexington have now played each other twice in this compact, fast-paced season. So far, Coach Kim is getting the best of his former boss in this chess match:

Indy Eleven 7 - Lexington SC 0

Coach Kim 2 - Coach Dolinsky 0

This team isn't used to losing, and a 5-nil clean sheet helps restore some of the confidence for the upcoming games that Indy are going to need to win to stay in the conversation for the Division title and the playoffs. The official stats indicate that Indy had 11 shots and Lexington goalkeepers had 4 saves. 4 saves + 5 goals = 9 shots on target. 9 shots on target out of 11 shots = 81.8% shot accuracy. That also helps with confidence.

Indy return to action next Wednesday when they go on the road to face Kings Hammer.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Tonight, the GBGB isn't going to a single player. Coach Dolinsky brought his Lexington squad to Indy and put them into a 2-5-3 arrangement while in attack, severely overloading the midfield. Not discounting the effort from Indy's back four, which did a stellar job, the midfield, anchored by Pinto in the holding midfielder position, completely stifled the Lexington midfield. In the second half, it was clear that they had run out of ideas on how to get through the Indy midfield. In the rare occasions when they did, Bahr and company helped put out any of those fires. The midfield four of Pinto, Yamazaki, Smith, and Chester get tonight's GBGB for their ability to take away what Lexington wanted to do.

Photos - Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer - 04.04

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer FC
- Location: Grand Park Event Center
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 3-2 L

- Starting XI: Edwards, Malin, Bahr (C), Malloy, Satterfield, Yamazaki, Pinto, Smith, Chester, Williams-Osswald, Soderstrom-Bulger

- Substitution: Guthrie 45' (Chester); Chatterton 45' (Malin); Joyce 68' (Smith); Trandji 68' (Soderstrom-Bulger); Molloy 79' (Kruer); Albert 82' (Satterfield); Sochacki 82' (Williams-Osswald)

- Unused: Wyatt, Komori

Scoring Summary:
KHFC – Britt 10' (assist Broering)
KHFC - Erbach 25' (assist Smith)
IND - Yamazaki 39' (assist Chester)
KHFC - Flax 86' (assist Carle)
IND - Joyce 88' (assist Bahr)

- Bookings:

None

- Referee: Erin Patterson

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

Kings Hammer has regularly given Indy a good game and were Indy's first opponent in the inaugural game of the inaugural season of the W League, so it's been a long history. Tonight marked the 8th game between the two teams, with Indy holding a 4W-3D-0L advantage coming into the game over the team from Cincinnati, but that means that Kings Hammer account for 60% of Indy's draws in the club's history. Which is why it wasn't altogether surprising that Kings Hammer scored the game's first goal from a corner kick that Indy couldn't get cleared. What was surprising for Indy fans was that the goal was the first of three in the game and Indy could only muster two of their own to finish with a 3-2 loss and their second loss in as many games. For a club that struggles for consistency in results, Indy fans could bank on the women's team getting wins, not just results. Two losses in a row has historically seem like an improbability, but that's where the team and the fans find themselves. Indy have nowt put a ton of pressure on themselves if they want to repeat as the Division champs for the 4th year in a row. The margin of error for that to happen has likely dropped to zero with tonight's loss. The good news for Indy is that with the exception of Dayton who have not fared well against any of the other teams, it's unlikely any team in the division is going to make it through unscathed. So if Indy can take care of their business, they're likely going to get help from their opponents. The Division title isn't lost tonight, but it's currently on a dangerous precipice. 

Photo: Don Thompson Photography

Coach Kim wasn't messing around with his starting lineup tonight though. Captain Bahr in the back, obviously, but the forward line consisted of Williams-Osswald, and Soderstrom-Bulger and Chester in their first appearances for the team this season. That's a combined 118 starts for the four for the Girls in Blue, and a combined 59 goals (or ~46% of the team's goals in the history of the team), as well as the team's top two assist makers. Not to mention the four include the team's leaders in Game Winners (Soderstrom-Bulger & Williams-Osswald) and account for 3 of the team's 4 hat tricks (Williams-Osswald (2); Soderstrom-Bulger (1)). Knowing these players can't always make the away trips due to their life schedules that are significantly different than their younger teammates', Coach Kim gave them all a chance to make an immediate impact on the game. With her start tonight, Grace Bahr became the team's career start leader, overtaking Ella Rogers. Bahr overtook Rogers as the career leader in minutes a couple of games ago. Chester was on a minutes restriction as she returns from an injury, but she looked really good in the 45-minutes that she played. 

After Kings Hammer took the early lead in the 10th minute when a corner kick to the back post was headed back towards the middle of the box which Britt one-timed to Edwards' right, Indy nearly pulled one back in the 15th minute, but the experienced players in Soderstrom-Bulger and Williams-Osswald saw their shots hit the post and then pushed over the top on the rebound. Kings Hammer were controlling the possession, but Indy's midfield and forwards were finding dangerous and threating ways around and through. Much like the mid-week men's game, this game looked like there were going to be more goals in it and that it was just going to be a matter of who could convert their chances. 

Photo: Don Thompson Photography

Kings Hammer nearly doubled their lead in the 19th minute, but Edwards' reaction save kept the home team within reach. A few minutes later, Soderstrom-Bulger put a ball over the crossbar from the 6-yard box in the 23rd minute that seems like the kind of shot and location that would normally be harder for her to miss than make, but somehow she got her foot under it and looped it over the crossbar. Indy's three experienced forwards looked a bit out of sync in the early minutes, and maybe a bit rusty, but still had their moments where they looked like the best players on the field. Seconds after Soderstrom-Bulger's miss, Kings Hammer did finally double their lead when Erbach took a shot from outside the 18-yard box that just made it over the outstretched arm of Edwards and just under the crossbar.

The Girls in Blue were not as lucky with the Kings Hammer crossbar as they tallied 1 post & 2 crossbars in the first half, which would have made for a very different conversation in the halftime locker room. They were getting chances and good looks to claw their way back into the game, but were just a hair away from getting on the scoreboard. The thing that the Kings Hammer players were doing well was that they were adamant about trying to not let Indy's known commodities up front get the best of them. Two players were regularly running to the ball to defend when any of those players received the ball. Given their proficiency in scoring in this league, that's a good and smart tactic.

Crossbar hit #3 came in the 52nd minute from a shot by Soderstrom-Bulger that would have equalized the game. Five minutes later, Kings Hammer's goalkeeper Galley pushed a shot/cross against the crossbar to keep her team in the lead. She didn't have a lot of options, but when the posts and crossbars are working for you, you use what's working. The woodwork was not Indy's friend as they found it five times during the game. With that kind of close calls, it starts to feel like it's just not your night.

Kings Hammer would get their 3rd insurance goal in the 86th minute when Bahr was unable to get Carle contained as she made a run to the endline before turning it back inside. Bahr kicked the ball which bounced off Carle, but in the opposite direction of Bahr's momentum, putting Carle a step ahead of Bahr. Not wanting to concede a penalty kick by fouling in the box, Bahr found herself behind Carle, trying to not give the referee any option to call a foul. Carle laid the ball off to an onrushing Flax who had snuck between Indy defenders and easily redirected it past Edwards. While Indy would get a late long-distance goal from Joyce, the third Kings Hammer goal would prove to be the game winner.

Indy have a week between games before Coach Dolinsky and Lexington return to Grand Park for the second of three meetings. Hopefully the second version is able to be played on the same night as it starts, but the chess match between the two coaches and friends will be the main talking point of the game as the two coaches try to outwit and anticipate the other's tactical adjustments.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

In a game where Indy started Williams-Osswald, Soderstrom-Bulger, Chester, and Bahr, it was the midfielder from Japan that I kept noticing doing good things with the ball. The fact that Yamazaki also got the goal to open her account and Indy's scoring on the night was a testament to her work rate and her reward for her effort on both sides of the ball. There were other good performances, but as I've stated before, when it comes to the GBGB, sometimes it's just a gut feeling and an eyeball test on who actually gets it. Yamazaki was that player tonight.

A Final Thought - Maddy Williams-Osswald

Photo: Don Thompson Photography

There are a wide range of players when it comes to the USL W League in both age and experience. In nearly every soccer/football league/level in the world, the thing that most stands out to me as you move to better and better players is their first touch and their IQ. Even while not playing or training full-time, Williams-Osswald continues to demonstrate her IQ and touch are just better than the majority of players that I've watched in this league. Whereas her teammates and her opponents tonight had to regularly chase down a ball after a poor first touch, her first touch is almost always impeccable. It's that first touch that allows her to then use her IQ to put passes (properly weighted passes) to teammates. For better or for worse with this year's team that is using more Academy players than in previous years, the correct run that she sees should be made isn't made from her teammates. Or the heavy passes that they send to her that don't give her the chance to do anything with the ball. To me, Maddy is the perfect example of how an injury (and then a pandemic) can derail what I think should have been a long professional career. She moved onto "life after soccer" long before her talent has given way. 

Photos - Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Lexington SC - 04.01

Summary

- Opponent: Lexington SC
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 2-0 W

- Starting XI: Edwards, Albert, Bahr, Molloy, White, Smith, Komori, Pinto, Yamazaki, Sochacki, Abbe

- Substitution: Satterfield 45' (White); Williams-Osswald 63' (Sochacki); Joyce 63' (Joyce); Guthrie 72' (Komori); May 72' (Abbe); Malin 83' (Albert)

- Unused: Wyatt, Kruer, Touhey

Scoring Summary:
IND - Bahr 8' (unassisted freekick)
IND - Williams-Osswald 90' (assist Guthrie)

- Bookings:

IND - Williams-Osswald 83' (Yellow)

- Referee: Dana Hackney

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

As soon as it was announced that Lexington was in the Valley Divisionwith Indy Eleven, I became concerned about this game. When the schedule was released and it was announced that the home opener was against Lexington, my concern was elevated. When the rosters for teams were announced, the concept of Indy's first home opener loss looked to be a real potential. Lexington's coach is Paul Dolinsky, Indy's former coach. Coach Dolinsky poached some of Indy's last year roster and brought 5 of them with him tonight to face his and their former club. Coach Dolinsky knows everything about this club, from how current Coach Kim wants to play to how many of the Indy players play since he has coached many of them on this USL W League team and during their youth careers. It's impossible to discount the advantage for Lexington of having an inherent knowledge of Indy, when the teams face each other three times this year.

The league, and specifically this conference, is getting better and Indy's recent stranglehold on the lone playoff spot for the Division could be in jeopardy this year. Not today(s) though as Indy scored an early goal and a late insurance goal to get a 2-nil victory in one of the more unique matches in the team's history.

A few minutes into the game a storm passed over the facility, knocking out part of the power, then all the power. With the field partially bathed in about 1/4 of the normal LED lighting, the referee and the club decided that for the safety of the players, the game would be temporarily delayed. Temporarily turned into long, which turned into a delay that lasted approximately 13 hours. When it became apparent that the battery back-up for the lighting might not last much longer, the stands were evacuated. However, the teams both decided to wait until 10:00 PM to see if Duke Energy could get the power going again. At 10:00 PM, both teams headed to homes and hotels, to get some rest before an 8:30 AM restart on Saturday morning.

Bright and early Saturday morning, both teams kicked off again with 3 minutes and 38 seconds on the clock that they had been able to play before the previous night's delay. While sitting around Friday night hoping to get restarted, I asked Coach Kim if he was able to get anything out of the first 3-1/2 minutes? "I think I know how Pauly wants to play." Coach Kim continued his back four arrangement from the night before, while Coach Dolinsky stayed with his back three arrangement that often felt like it transitioned to a back two when Lexington was in attack. 

Minutes after the restart, the Lexington defense had a miscommunication and lost their location on the field, resulting in a handball by former Indy goalkeeper Nona Reason. From the sideline, you could hear Coach Dolinsky yelling to his keeper to get back in goal, fearing a quick restart before his team was prepared. The teams set up for a typical restart, but it was Indy stalwart Grace Bahr who stepped up and put a perfect left-footed shot around the Lexington wall and out of the reach of Reason to get the scoring started. The atypical mistake from Reason put her current team in the hole behind her former team.

Lexington, as previously mentioned, is a good squad and dominated portions of this game. Indy had some moments in the 1st and 2nd halves, but the home team officially had half as many shots (my unofficial stats were a little different) going into the halftime break. 

Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer

In the 70th minute, there was a shot from Lexington that looked destined for the upper 90, but Edwards stretched and knocked the ball away for a corner kick. Even at the time, that felt like a difference maker in the game. Had Lexington scored there with 20-minutes left to play, this might have been a different game. As it was, Indy's substitutes that had come on at the 63rd minute (Williams-Osswald & Joyce), and then shortly after Edwards' save in the 72nd minute (Guthrie & May) did exactly what you want your substitutes to do; they affected the game. Williams-Osswald (and yes, I know that they team is officially just referencing her by her married name, but I want a distinguisher in my stats to show that Williams and Osswald are the same person, so for me, she gets the hyphen...I hope she doesn't mind) immediately showed her ability and IQ, getting called for both of Indy's offside calls. Both were either really close or completely wrong. From my angle, the second one was an incorrect call, and Maddy was upset enough about it that she picked up a yellow card for her dissent. Elise May came on and quickly, literally and figuratively, became at thorn in the Lexington defense's side. She had pace, skill, and a desire to attack. Guthrie eventually won a ball that got to Williams-Osswald for the insurance goal in the 90th minute. 

What stood out for me in the game were the tactics from both coaches. We all know Dolinsky likes to play attacking soccer. Coach Kim has also stated he wants to play the same kind of style. However, in this game, Coach Dolinsky's lineup and back 3 (or 2) defenders caused a drastic overload in the midfield. With Bahr and Malloy anchoring Indy's back four, Indy was athletic enough and disciplined enough to weather the efforts. They kept almost everything in front of them, switched players as Lexington moved across the field, and made good defensive interventions when required. By the end of the game, the Lexington players looked like they were unsure how to find the key to unlock the Bahr-led defense, and Coach Kim released his subs to attack over the top. 

Knowing these teams will face each other two more times, the chess match has been started. Both coaches have now seen some of what the other wants and can do, and both are going to have to adapt and provide some wrinkles. Coach Kim made a Star Wars padawan/master reference in the post-game, so he understands it's difficult to face the person has been your mentor the past three seasons. With the weather delay, the mentor/apprentice relationship made for a very interesting game and storyline.

Indy head to Dayton next week to face the new kids in the Division, a team who Racing Louisville beat 9-0 on Wednesday. Long-time Indy fans are familiar with the Dayton Dutch Lion organization as their men's team was Indy Eleven's first U.S. Open Cup in 2014, when Blake Smith scored Indy's first hat trick in a 5-2 win. With goal differential being a part of the tiebreakers, hopefully Indy can keep pace with Racing when Indy faces Dayton.

It was good to see Coach Dolinsky. It was good to see some old players. As an Indy Eleven fan, it was good to see the home squad get the win over our former players and coach. Now we're back to #IndyEleven. At least until June 6th when the two teams face each other again, also at Grand Park. 

Hopefully, it only takes one day to play that game though.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Oh Captain, My Captain! Game-winner. Defensive anchor. There were some good performances by a few players, including the aforementioned Edwards and Williams-Osswald, but Bahr's effort and leadership is a good portion of the reason Indy managed to withstand the Lexington offensive effort. For the first GBGB of the season, Bahr showed why she has been so important to the team in its now four seasons.

Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer - 03.07

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 1-0 W

- Starting XI: Phillips, Martin (C), Darey, Bahr, Pelkowski, Otto, Chatterton, Chester, Mitchell, Whitsett, Soderstrom, K.

- Substitution: Rogers 64' (Whitsett); Jacomen 64' (Darey); Snyder 71' (Otto); Buels 77' (Soderstrom, K.); Cherry 77' (Mitchell); Unkraut 77' (Pelkowski)

- Unused: Weiger

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Mitchell 31' (assist Pelkowski)

- Bookings: 

IND - Jacomen 74' (Yellow)

- Referee: Erin Patterson

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Elite athletes can find motivation in any number of things. A perceived slight or a poor showing or just an internal drive that is higher than those around them. Indy Eleven is filled with elite players. If they needed to find motivation coming into this game, they just needed to look to the last game against Racing Louisville where it took a stoppage time penalty kick from Bahr to get the victory. If that isn't enough, they could have looked to the previous game against Kings Hammer where KH overcame a two goal deficit and being down twice to get a point from Indy. If all that isn't enough, thanks to a Lexington win in Racing over the weekend, a win tonight over KH would put them 9 points clear of KH who sit in second. Indy would sit on 19 points, with KH only able to get to 22 if they won out. A win tonight would take some of the pressure off from winning the division, with only the ability to host their first playoff game on the line for the remaining three games.

I'm sure they all knew this before the whistle blew. I'm sure Coach Dolinsky reminded them that KH didn't roll over in the first game even when they were down.

Kings Hammer arrived with the appropriate jerseys this time around so duct tape numbers weren't required tonight. So they looked the part this game, and continued to play the part of a team that wants to compete with Indy Eleven for the division title as well. It's clear that many of the KH players have played together for multiple seasons in their youth programs. They look very much in sync with each other and consistent with how they want to play. Like the previous game, they didn't come to Indy tonight and roll over. 

The first 20 minutes was back and forth. KH had the bulk of the possession, much of it in Indy's defensive half, but couldn't really do much with it. When Indy had the ball, their touch up to or by the forwards was just a bit off. Passes were too long or too short. Shots were too late or too soon. Indy managed a burst where they had a couple shots, but only one on target, and KH had an opportunity in the 21st minute that Phillips went down low to push to the side for Martin to ultimately clear. 

However, it wasn't until the 31st minute that the KH defensive effort made their first real mistake. Like good teams do, Indy made them pay for that mistake. Pelkowski put a ball through the lines and the KH defenders paused just long enough thinking that their offside trap was effective, but the flag stayed down and Mitchell touched the ball around Galley and put the ball into the far netting to open the scoring.

The goal for Indy didn't change how the two teams were playing. KH continued to hold possession, while not being able to figure out how to get the best of Martin and Bahr. Indy struggled to find the touches to unlock the back three of KH. As a result, the teams went to the halftime locker room with Mitchell's goal being the lone tally of the game. Coach Dolinsky knew he had options sitting on the bench that could change the tenor of the game like Rogers, but also knew that the experience of playing different players together will only benefit the team as they finish out the season and, now likely, into the playoffs.

The second half tilted itself firmly to KH's benefit as they lived in Indy's defensive half of the field. At one point near the 60 minute mark, KH rattled off three corner kicks as Indy could not clear the ball from their box. As good as Indy has looked at times this year, KH were getting good bounces, but they were also the aggressors. They were quicker to the ball. They played harder. They played like a team that wanted it more. Due to their place in the table and the first half goal from Indy, frankly, KH needed the result more, and they looked like the better team for large chunks of this game. 

They didn't, however, come away with a win. Sometimes it's called "winning ugly." I just think it was a gritty performance from Indy against a very good, organized, and motivated Kings Hammer squad. It's unrealistic to think that a team can win every game by scoring 3 or more goals, particularly with the squad rotation that is required in a league where players are unavailable for any number of reasons (White had to return to Penn State, for example). Yet, the capitalized on one of the few mistakes from KH and then gutted out a win. In a division where only one team makes it to the playoffs, you just have to get positive results, mostly wins, and do it however you can. Tonight, that was through grit and team defense. 

Indy don't play again until next Tuesday when they travel to Lexington, but tonight was Indy's final home game of this season unless they make the playoffs and host a game there. Tonight's win makes that more likely, but an away run of Lexington (2nd time playing this season), Kings Hammer (3rd time playing this season), and Racing Louisville (3rd time this season), also doesn't make it a guarantee. There's also the issue of the other two divisions in the Central Conference potentially snagging the hosting rights.

Please note that hosts will be decided based on host bid submission. Being the highest seed in your conference does not guarantee the hosting of matches, however, it will be one of the several contributing factors when deciding the host site(s).

It's fun to cheer for this team. It's fun to watch a group of girls/women come together for a summer and gel and come together quickly to play exciting to watch soccer. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

I know that they just won the GBGB award two games ago, but this has to go to Martin and Bahr. If pressed, I might go with just Martin. The two veterans were rock solid tonight against a pressing Kings Hammer team with a speedy Taylor White and Lauren Donovan. Coach Dolinsky thought that the youthful legs of Kings Hammer showed tonight, but I think the importance of having Martin and Bahr holding down the line tonight was equally important. Their ability to see the game, defensively and offensively, allows them to overcome some of the difference in speed that they lacked tonight. A team doesn't get a gritty 1-nil win without somebody stepping into the leadership role and directing. It was a lot of team defending, proving that they could hold a team from scoring that had proven in the last game against Indy that they are capable of doing so, but that effort started with Martin and Bahr. So they get tonight's GBGB(s).

Photos - Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Racing Louisville - 03.06

Summary

- Opponent: Racing Louisville
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 3-2 W

- Starting XI: Reason, Sexton, Cherry, Snyder, Chatterton, Pelkowski, Rogers (C), White, Dewey, S., Jacomen, Williams

- Substitution: Smith 63' (Dewey, S.); Bahr 63' (Snyder); Mitchell 63' (Williams); Otto 63' (Chatterton); Soderstrom, K. 63' (Jacomen); Darey 71' (Pelkowski)

- Unused: Phillips

- Scoring Summary:
LOU - Coffield 32' (assist Gibson)
IND - Williams 47' (assist Chatterton)
LOU - Own Goal 56' (Cherry)
IND - White 71' (unassisted)
IND - Bahr 90'+1' (penalty kick)

- Bookings: 

IND - Snyder 25' (Yellow)
IND - Sexton 70' (Yellow)
IND - Indy Bench 82' (Yellow)

- Referee: Race Williams

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

The first two seasons of this league and division for Indy Eleven have predominantly been a battle between Indy and Louisville to determine which club takes the one playoff spot from the division. Indy have come out on top each season, but it's always been Louisville fighting for that spot. While tonight's game for Indy is their 6th game of the short USL W League, this was just Louisville's 4th game so they while they came into tonight's game behind Lexington on the table, Racing had a games in hand, even after tonight's game. However, Indy's defeat of Louisville in the first game of the season put Indy in the driver's seat for this year's playoff spot.

Tonight's result only magnifies that advantage. Lexington may still have something to say about it, but Louisville and Lexington can help Indy out by fighting each other in an upcoming game. Indy has to also take care of their remaining games against both Lexington and Louisville to close out the season, with two games against Kings Hammer around the Lexington game, but the win tonight makes the division Indy's to lose. 

Like many of the games in this series, it was an even match, with Indy have the bulk of the good opportunities in the early stages. Williams had an early opportunity that she touched off the outside of the post in disbelief after beating her defender to the ball. Rogers also had an early shot that was blocked before Racing finally found their first shot around the 10 minute mark. Racing came out with a tactical change that they hadn't shown on video, and it took awhile for Indy to adjust to the new look from the visitors. The change from Racing forced Rogers deeper on the field from where Indy fans have seen her playing this season.

The next 10 to 15 minutes was a fight in the midfield as neither team could impose their will in the attacking third. It wasn't until Pelkowski put a shot on frame in the 24th minute that the teams were able to break through the defense. Then opportunities for Indy came in rapid succession as Williams found another shot a few minutes later when White used her pace to break the midfield line and then Rogers put a header on frame, but without enough velocity to significantly challenge Brandon. 

Racing was the first team to get on the board in the 32nd minute when a ball from the left side by Gibson was lofted over the defenders and in a location where Reason couldn't reach. The Indy defenders lost track of Coffield as she split defenders and redirected the ball into the goal. Indy's previous chances that didn't find their target came back to hurt them and forced a rare Indy deficit. The goal also imbued Racing with confidence as they began to tilt the game towards Indy's defensive half of the field for the next five minutes.

As the half closed, however, Indy began to remember they are the defending league champions and pinned Racing into the defensive half with attack after attack. As the shots, crosses, and opportunities began to increase for the home side, the Racing Louisville defenders proved to be stout with a number of clearances, preventing Indy from equalizing before the halftime whistle. Indy had more than double the shots, but couldn't get the ball past Brandon and went into the locker room with work to do in the second half to get back into the game.

It took less than 2 minutes for Indy to get the equalizer when Williams received a through-ball from Chatterton. Williams found the post once again, but this time the ball tapped the inside of the post and spun across the line to bring the game level. With the scoring even, the game turned into a back-and-forth physical affair. Racing again took the lead when a cross took an inadvertent deflection off Cherry and beyond Reason's reach.

Minutes after the goal by Racing, Coach Dolinsky said he couldn't remember doing a mass line change substitution, but assistant coach Brandon Kim did it against St. Charles in the last game and Dolinsky did a large sub change in the previous St. Charles game. So while he might not remember doing it, hockey line change has become a routine thing for this team. The mass substitution created a spark for Indy, and made an immediate impact in the energy with their fresh legs. 

It was one of the starters though that brought Indy back into the game. The subs brought a tactical change with it and White was moved to play the #9. Dolinsky thought she was looking winded having to recover to play defense and told her to just stay up top and showcase her blazing speed when the opportunity arose. Goalkeepers keep underestimating how fast she can close the space between her and the ball and she did the same thing to Brandon that she did in the first game of the year. Thinking she had time, Brandon held onto the ball a second too long and White attacked the ball before the keeper could react. White took the ball off Brandon's feet and ushered the ball across the line with Brandon falling down trying to get to the ball. 

The Eleven's absolute refusal to quit once again brought the game level.

The goal ratcheted the intensity even higher for the players and the supporters as both teams and fans knew that this game was there for either team. Racing knew they could score. Indy knew they could come back. 

Indy's persistent attack finally paid off when Mitchell received a ball in the Racing box and was fouled. The referee pointed to the spot and Indy had their lifeline to salvage a win out of a very intense battle with their long-standing rival. As the ball rolled out towards Bahr, she handed the ball to Mitchell, allowing her to take the penalty kick that she was awarded. However, it looked like word came from Dolinsky that he wanted Bahr to take it instead, knowing how vital the 3 points were for Indy's chances to make the playoffs. 

Bahr turned her first goal of the season into a stat stuffer, with a game winning penalty kick goal in stoppage time. The arguable best defender in the league last year stepped up and sent Racing back down I-65 without any points and keeping them in an unfamiliar location at the bottom of the table.

Brandon was credited with 11 saves on 22 shots from Indy, while Racing had 6 shots. Brandon's saves and some atypical less-than-clinical finishing from Indy players is what kept this game close. The games are always close, but Indy was deserved of the win.

Indy maintain their position at top of the table and will once again welcome Kings Hammer to town next Wednesday. Kings Hammer has used their earlier draw to Indy to position themselves firmly in 2nd place, so they will once again come to Indy with the intent to prove that the earlier game wasn't a fluke and that they can hang with Indy. Indy, as they have done in the past, will look to use that result as fuel to put the division out of reach.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

With so many clutch plays to get this win, I think I want to give the GBGB to Coach Dolinsky. It's been a tricky season for Coach in trying to get playing time for the next group of players, getting time for the veterans who are unable to play every single game, particularly the away games, and getting time with all those players intermingled so that they can all play well together in the playoffs. In the 63rd minute, he pulled out Chatterton, Dewey, and Williams, stars of this team, who had all be effective during the game. That, combined with the decision to let White focus on attacking instead of defending, was bold and smart. Not sure I've ever given the GBGB to a coach before, but I thought his tactical adjustments helped change this game in Indy's favor.

Photos - Don Thompson Photography