Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer - 04.06

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer FC
- Location: Stadium Field - Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 2-0 L

- Starting XI: Edwards, Chatterton, Bahr (C), Molloy, Albert, Smith, Pinto, Yamazaki, Chester, Soderstrom-Bulger, Guthrie

- Substitution: Joyce 45' (Bahr); Sochacki 45' (Guthrie); May 61' (Bulger); Komori 61' (Chester); Satterfield 74' (Chatterton); White 74' (Molloy)

- Unused: Wyatt

Scoring Summary:
KHFC – Simmons 23' (unassisted)
KHFC - Bain 76' (assist Yordy)

- Bookings:

KHFC - Frey 72' (Yellow)

- Referee: Jeff Chop

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

Playing simultaneously to this game, Racing Louisville and Lexington SC were playing their Kentucky Derby (I don't know what they call it... Maybe the Bluegrass Derby since the Kentucky Derby is probably trademarked...). Regardless, Kings Hammer had already helped Indy by beating Racing last week. If Lexington could do the same tonight, that would bring Racing to 2 losses, even with Indy, assuming Indy took care of business against Kings Hammer to avenge their earlier loss to the team from Cincinnati. Kings Hammer would still be ahead of Indy, and Indy would still need help, but the math would start working its way towards Indy winning the Division if they could take care of their business in the remaining games. Unfortunately for Indy fans, neither happened as Indy fell 2-nil to Kings Hammer and Racing finished in a 1-1 draw to Lexington. With three losses on the season and two against Kings Hammer, Indy will play out their final 4 games for pride now that the odds of winning the Division are out of reach.

Another game, another appreciation post for the work of ISC Sports and their telecasts of the Indy Eleven games, and Indy Eleven's use of ISC Sports for said streaming purposes. I'm not sure how Kings Hammer was streaming this game, but I lost track of the number of times I was watching green grass without a ball anywhere in sight. For so many of the other teams in the Division (I'm looking at you Racing), pre-professional players means bare minimum camera work. To be fair to Ethan Herzog, commentary was fine. I also have to give credit to the Kings Hammer staff responsible for the X feed, which was much more detailed than any of the above mentioned teams (including Indy).

While I'm on the topic of pre-professional meaning a reduced standard in other places, refereeing in the league is, how do I say this nicely, woefully inconsistent. Apparently, in this game, being in an offside position means that you are offside even if the ball isn't played anywhere close to you. Also, if a player is falling on their own because they're trying to spin their self out of the defense, a free kick is awarded just outside the box. A free kick, in this game, that led to the opening goal by Kings Hammer in the 23rd minute when the ball deflected off a player adjacent to the wall and snuck passed an outstretched Edwards. 

The goal turned out to be the game winner, but Kings Hammer deserved to win this game. I honestly not sure that I would call them the more technical team, but they were much more effective in doing what they wanted to do than Indy was able to do. Winning teams score more goals. Indy's goose egg means the team has now lost more games this season (excluding playoff results) than the past three seasons combined. Interestingly, when Indy keeps a clean sheet, they win by a combined 10-nil score line. When the concede goals, they lose being outscored by a combined 6-2. Indy also are either hot or cold on the season; wins or losses but no draws.

The last time we saw Grace Bahr carried off a pitch, she had torn her ACL in the League Championship game in 2023. As soon as I saw her crumble to the ground after a late first half challenge, I was worried. When I saw Chatterton immediately run to Grace once the ball was cleared, I feared the worst. When she didn't return after the halftime break, my fear grew. It's difficult to overstate what Bahr means to this team and the defense. She's the rock in the defense, and the connecting piece for the team culture between this team and the winning teams in the past. Her experience is vital for a team full of young Academy players. 

Maybe it's an incorrect assessment on my part, but I have had a feeling each game this year that teams are playing Indy more physically than in the past. I've also felt like Indy has struggled with that physicality, expecting a whistle to be blown more often. An expectation that continues to not be met.

Due to the poor camera work, I can't say that every call was correct, but when the two teams combine for double-digit offside calls, either the players never learned to adjust their runs or the assistant referees don't know what constitutes offside. In this game, I think it was likely a combination of both. I'm not convinced that the two goals that Kings Hammer had called back due to offside calls were truly offside. 

Indy hit the woodwork two more times, bringing their total to 7 across both games against Kings Hammer. Kings Hammer converted two set piece attempts, which proved to be the deciding factor in this game. Kings Hammer are in the driver seat as the seats turns into the second half of the schedule. They finish with three games against Lexington, who haven't shown me that they are capable of beating KHFC that many times; a game against Louisville, who they have already beat once this season; and a game against Dayton, who everybody has beaten. An undefeated season from Kings Hammer doesn't seem out of the question.

Indy return to action next Monday when they return to Ohio to face the Dayton Dutch Lions, then Lexington at their place, before returning to Grand Park for the final two games of the season against Racing and Dayton. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

This was another game on the road where players just didn't look like their normal selves. Some of that can be attributed to Kings Hammer, but even a player like Chester was having a hard time with her decisions, passes, and footing (there was a lot of that issue). Once again, though, the players that kept jumping out to me on the effort and decision making was Pinto and Yamazaki. In a 2-nil loss, it's unlikely that any player still had a perfect game, but I'll give tonight's GBGB to those two players, who have quickly proven to me to be assets to this team.

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 Kings Hammer - 03.09

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer
- Location: Scudamore Stadium - Northern Kentucky University
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 1-1 D

- Starting XI: Phillips, White, S., Cherry, Snyder, Adam, Darey, Rogers (C), Smith, O., Soderstrom, K., Buels, Budish

- Substitution: Soderstrom, S. 19' (White, S. - injury?); Bahr 45' (Buels); Mitchell 45' (Smith, O.); Pelkowski 45' (Adam); Katembo 62' (Budish); Jacomen 62' (Soderstom, K.); Unkraut 81' (Darey)

- Unused:

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Budish 51' (assist Mitchell)
KH - Own Goal 83'

- Bookings: 

- Referee: -

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

I have said it often with the USL W League teams, but I bears repeating for the next point for this game. Rosters, and specifically, gameday lineups are constantly in flux. Players' availability, particularly when you're like Indy Eleven and include some veteran players who have day jobs, forces coaches to be flexible, have faith in a number of players, and for players to have faith in any combination of players that can be used in games. Seemingly some teams have trouble with that amount of inconsistency, but Coach Dolinsky has pulled together a roster, and has a playing style, that allows players to be pulled in and out of lineups without any major drop in talent or results.

Which leads me to my 1st point. By my count, Coach Dolinsky has played 33 different players this season, and 28 different starters, in 9 games. To the tune of a 7W-2D-0L record, with tonight's result. That's impressive, no matter what level you play.

Which leads me to my 2nd point. There was only one goalkeeper suited for tonight. Five different keepers have been on the various game day rosters throughout the first part of this season, and for whatever reason, Dolinsky was only able to take one keeper with him tonight. Such is the life of a USL W League coach. Luckily, he didn't need a second keeper. I do wonder who would have been thrust into the goalkeeper position if it had become necessary. Particularly after all the substitutions had been made. My money? I would put it on Bahr to be willing to take the role. Dolinsky, however, would value her defensive presence too much, so I would go with Rogers. In a tight spot, you go with your leaders. That's Bahr and Rogers in late game situations.

In the opening minutes of the game, KH looked like a team that knew that only three points was good for them if they wanted any chance of playing in the playoffs. They were the clear aggressors and routinely had Indy's backline running back towards their own goal to defend. It was difficult to tell, but I thought I could hear Coach Dolinsky yell, "okay, organize!" every time the Indy forwards lost the ball in the KH defensive third. A point, on the road, was going to be enough to clinch their spot in the playoffs. When the referee blew the whistle in the 26th minute for the hydration break, KH had already managed (unofficially by my count) 6 shots to Indy's 1. They had managed to get just 2 of those on target, but the field was drastically tilted in their direction, while Indy had a definite "bend but don't break" appearance to their play.

While it's one of the few times in three years of this team where I thought they were out-hustled to balls passes were consistently not where they intended them to go, the halftime nil-nil score was definitely in Indy's favor and not KH's. Indy hadn't forced Galley into any saves, but Indy hadn't conceded either. KH's three shots on target in the half were all from distances that weren't that threatening for Phillips. Indy fans love to see the score higher than zero for their team, but the goose egg wasn't a bad result for the half.

Yet, for all that Kings Hammer did correct in the first half, they conceded a 51st minute goal when halftime substitute Mitchell attacked the middle of the KH defense before finding a trailing Budish who put the ball out of reach of Galley and into the lower left hand corner of the goal. The substitutes and the goal changed the tenor of the game as it became a bit more wide open as KH chased the equalizer and Indy counterattacked with the spaces that were now open. 

A poor clearance from Indy in the 77th minute found the crossbar and then landed harmlessly on top of the goal. The near miss seemed to energize KH as they rattled off a few promising attacks in the next couple of minutes. That extended pressure finally paid off when a cross deflected off an Indy defender out into their own goal, bringing the match level again.

Despite the level score being acceptable for Indy's playoff needs, they looked upset that the KH goal came from an own goal and looked determined to get back on top. Buoyed by the level score, KH looked just as motivated to get their own game winner. As a result, the closing minutes were tense, frenetic, and difficult for both sets of fans to watch, knowing that any simple mistake could spell disaster.

After a stoppage time delay where Unkraut and Donovon ran into each, bringing both sets of trainers onto the field, KH found themselves a 25-yard free kick that was subsequently shot directly into the wall. A couple minutes later, they found themselves with a 40-yard free kick that resulted in no real threat on goal. Those two chances were the best near the end of the game, with the 40-yard free kick being the final action of the game.

It wasn't the win that Indy wanted, but the draw solidifies their place in the playoffs for a third straight season. After the game last week between these two teams, I called the win "gritty." Tonight was no different. Kings Hammer looked to be the more threatening team in the first half, but it's hard to argue with the defensive effort that Indy continues to put in against this team and finds a way to get points. Kings Hammer definitely need to hold their head high though. They were fortunate on the deflection goal tonight, but they have also held Indy to just a single goal twice out of their three meetings, which no other team has been able to do this year, while also getting two draws with a combined score of 5 to 4 in favor of Indy. It may not feel great to be out of the playoffs, but that's a respectable showing this season for Kings Hammer against the league's defending champions.

Indy stays on the road to close out the regular season on June 30th when they play Racing Louisville. They still have everything to play for since the conference playoffs are based on points per game. It looks like Minnesota Aurora is in the driver seat in the Heartland Division, while Detroit City are in the driver seat in the Great Lakes Division. However, both teams have teams right behind them that will be wanting that top spot or at a minimum get the third playoff spot that is available to the "best of the rest" of those two divisions. Indy could really use the bump in PPG with the win, and then hope Minnesota and Detroit slip to help Indy's cause for hosting their first playoff game. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

You know it by know. This award isn't always given to the player that gets noticed the most. Or at least not statistically noticed the most. Sometimes it goes to whomever I keep noticing as doing the good work to get the result. For me, that person was Ella Rogers. I know, I know, Rogers has been doing the dirty work for three seasons. Tonight, though, I just feel like she turned up at key moments for an intervention, a pass to unlock the KH defense, or a shot. In another gritty defensive effort on the road against a good KH team, tonight's GBGB just gets narrowed down to my "eye test" and Rogers edged her teammates for it tonight. 

I will give an honorable mention to Mitchell though. Her energy, pressure, and attack after the halftime break really gave the team a spark that led to her assist and the team's goal.

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 Kings Hammer - 03.02

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 3-3 D

- Starting XI: Blair, Sexton, Snyder, Cherry, Cuneio, Unkraut, Rogers (C), Pelkowski, Mitchell, White, Chester

- Substitution: Jacomen 64' (Chester); Darey 64' (Unkraut); Otto 64' (Sexton); Bagley 78' (Rogers); Budish 84' (Mitchell)

- Unused: Weiger, Adam

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Mitchel 24' (assist Sexton)
IND - Chester 47' (assist White)
KH - White 60'
KH - Mink 64' (unassisted)
IND - Jacomen 83' (assist White)
KH - Yordy 90'+1' 

- Bookings:

IND - Cuneio 90' (Yellow)

- Referee: Grace Barrett

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Two out of the first three seasons for Indy, they have started their home opener with the team from Kings Hammer. With the exception of last year's 4-nil victory by the Eleven, the games have all been relatively close, with Indy holding a 3W-1D-0L record against the inaugural game foes from Cincinnati. The previous meetings have included Abby Unkraut on Kings Hammer's roster, but she had made the move to the good side and picked up her first start for Indy tonight against her former team and friends.

Indy looked to keep their good vibes going after their win against Racing Louisville while Kings Hammer, once again, kicked off their season in the unfriendly (to them) confines of the Grand Park Event Center. Their first game of the season came against the perennial favorite in Indy, on the road, after a delay of the start of the game because their team bus was stuck in traffic on I-465, and the players arrived without the proper gear. Or at least from what I heard later, different gear than they told Indy they would be wearing and Indy refused to change from their already planned blue kits. Even a call to USL W-League headquarters didn't help KH, and so they had to resort to white duct tape on the backs of their warm-up jerseys. Not a good start to the season.

It didn't take long for Indy to get their first shot, as a ball from Mitchell went off the crossbar within the first 90 seconds. Within the next 90 seconds, Indy nearly had another perfect chance at the goal, but was pulled back for Indy's first offside call. Kings Hammer struggled to keep any kind of possession, and also keep their duct tape numbers connected to their jerseys. Before the clock reached 5 minutes, at least one of Kings Hammers players were running around without a number.

Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer

However, despite all of Indy's early possession, it was Kings Hammer that had the game's first corner kick. Blair did a good job of holding onto the ball as it went over her head, but set pieces would turn out to be the deciding factor in this game. A couple minutes later and Indy's ability to get in and around the KH defenders led to a shot from Addie Chester. Indy's plan in the early stages was clear with the forwards making runs behind the KH defenders, with Cherry looking frequently over the midfielders to get the ball into a position to let the forwards do what they do. The 4-3-3 lineup for Indy frequently looked like a 4-2-4 with the midfielders, especially Rogers, pushing forward as well. Indy's back four mostly stayed home with Unkraut serving as the holding midfielder to put out the fires that were coming through the center of the field from KH.

Indy finally capitalized on their persistent attack of the KH defense when Rogers pushed wide and found an overlapping Sexton. Sexton went to the endline and put a cross towards the six-yard box and Mitchell found, bounced the ball off one defender, and then put the ricochet back on target and past Galley for the opening goal.

The opening goal sent Indy into further attack mode and tightened the screws to keep KH pinned in their defensive half. However, every time KH was able to counter, they did it with the foot firmly planted on the gas forcing the Indy defenders to track back with some last ditch defending. Both teams clearly felt that they had an advantage of their forwards over the other team's defenders. While Indy's attack over the defenders was usually accompanied with numbers, KH rarely had numbers when they went forward as Indy tracked back perfectly to stifle the attacks or force long-range shots that were mostly directly at Blair. Indy's ability to get a goal from their attack and preventing KH's counterattacks is why the team's went into the halftime locker room with Mitchell's goal being the separator.

Indy came out of the locker room and proceeded to double the lead by doing exactly what they had been doing; they attacked through the right side. This time it was through the pace of White who went to the endline, but instead of immediately sending in a cross, turned to the middle of the field and finally put a ball across the six-yard box where Chester easily redirected the ball into the goal. Within 2 minutes, KH found themselves down two goals and a hill to climb to get back into the game.

Right at the 60th minute, Kings Hammer did find a goal from a corner kick that Blair was unable to handle and it bounced around, lastly off an Indy defender for what looked like an Own Goal, but was credited to Taylor White. Less than five minutes later, again from a corner kick, KH leveled the match when Indy couldn't get the ball cleared. Blair was blocked by one of her defenders and the ensuing shot crept past her to turn the game on its head. What looked like an Indy victory suddenly became a back-and-forth affair with KH looking like a different team with the team flush with confidence. 

Addie Chester - Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski

After the goal from KH, Indy got away from what got them the lead and stopped going away from attacking the right side and resorted to more and more long balls through the middle of the field. As the game crept closer and closer to its conclusion, White dispossessed the Kings Hammer defender and went straight to goal with as much pace as when she started the game. As she did so, she pulled three defenders with her and calmly slotted the ball to her left to an on-rushing Jacomen. Jacomen turned the defender and put the ball past Galley to give Indy the lead again.

Yet Indy's early season issue with set pieces bit them again in this one. After Cunieo took down a KH player near the 18-yard box, KH had a free kick from a good angle and a good distance. Yordi bent the ball around the Indy wall and between the post and Blair, who might have been shading a bit too far to the wall side of her goal. Just like that, Kings Hammer had again fought back from a deficit to give them a point on the road on a night when things weren't going their way for them early.

It doesn't look like Indy is going to have issues scoring goals if the early season games are any indication, but they have conceded late in both games, while also conceding four goals from four set pieces. If Indy want to look for a place to work on in practice, that's a good place to start. For a team that has only had a couple weeks of training together, there were very good moments of connectivity. Set pieces are a place where that connectivity, where every player knows where they should be located, often takes time. Right now, it's the set pieces that are hurting Indy. In Louisville, the late set piece goal only prevented the clean sheet. Tonight's three-goal set piece barrage from Kings Hammer prevented Indy from getting a win and keeping pace with Lexington, who have won both of their games.

Indy also drew last year's home opener in a 1-1 affair against Racing Louisville, and last year finished fine, so there's no need to worry just yet about not making the playoffs, but in a compact ten-game season, there can't be too many more of missed opportunities and points the rest of the way. Indy doesn't have much time to think about this game as they go again on Thursday, in game 4 of the club's busy week. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Amelia White - Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski

I thought Cherry had a good game anchoring the back line. I thought Sexton had a really good game with her overlapping runs with Rogers on the right side. I thought Unkraut played well as the holding midfielder. As is often the case though, the eye test for me is what ultimately decided tonight's GBGB winner. 

Amelia White finished the game with two assists, but probably could have had more and could have had a goal. The Kings Hammer defense didn't have much answer for her ability with the ball, and definitely not with her pace. The Penn State sophomore seemed to be just as fast at the end of the game as she was in the beginning, and it wasn't because she was pacing herself throughout the game. White was all-out blistering speed from start to finish. She already has a goal and 2 assists for the season and I think there are a lot more of both coming from her in the next 8 games.

Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer - 02.08

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 4-0 W

- Starting XI: Reason, Chatterton, Watson, Bahr, Sexton, Kraszula, Rogers (C), Dewey, S., Whitsett, Chester, Williams

- Substitution: Soderstrom, K. 45’ (Williams); Matsuhisa 45’ (Dewey, S.); Slimak 57’ (Matsuhisa - injury);  Houweling 72’ (Whitsett - injury); Kevdzija 72’ (Kraszula); Kugler 72’ (Chatterton)

- Unused: Edwards

- Scoring Summary:
IND – Williams 9’ (assist Chester)
IND – Williams 19’ (assist Sexton)
IND – Slimak 65’ (assist Sexton)
IND – Bahr 74’ (from direct free kick)

- Bookings:

NONE

- Referee: ?

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

With the end of the USL W League’s compacted regular season quickly coming to an end, and Indy coming off a less-than-desirable result against St. Charles, the team wanted, and needed, to come into this game to show that they are still one of the top teams in the division and the league. Indy made a couple changes from their Sunday starting lineup, notably player/coach Maddy Williams started the game up top, with Soderstrom off the bench, Hershfelt not in the team’s 18 (late scratch), early goal scorer Dewey (Sam) back, and Reason back in goal in place of Edwards. Kings Hammer has historically played Indy well, with all the games been tight affairs. Indy wanted to come out today and prove that Thursday was an aberration.

Williams made an impact within 2 minutes by putting a header on frame that Kowalski managed to deflect enough to send it off the crossbar and down on the field side of the goal line instead of the goal side of the line. But her veteran presence was immediately apparent. A few minutes later, she put a perfect cross into the box that Chester couldn’t finish. A few minutes after that, she put a chip over the keeper that also found its way over the crossbar. Then, "finally," she found a looping header that looked like it was going to go wide, but managed to drop under the bar with the keeper leaning the wrong way to get the scoring started in the 9th minute.

The pressure continued and Dewey put a ball off the post that bounced to Williams, who put the ball wide. The waves of attack from Indy in the early stages of the game were persistent, as Kings Hammer continued to absorb pressure, but struggled to keep any possession, and when KH lost the ball, Indy were quick to attack. In the 19th minute, Sexton took a look up field, and put a ball over the top to, you guessed it, Williams. Kowalski started to come out to get to the ball, but didn’t do so with any conviction or confidence, and Williams got a boot to it to put it up and over Kowalski and into the goal to extend the lead.

After the second goal, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Kings Hammer figured things out, but the game settled in a little bit. Indy continued to pepper the Kings Hammer defense with attacks, but couldn’t quite find the finishing touch again. Given the frustration of Thursday night’s game, heading into the halftime locker room with a 2-nil lead is an acceptable way to regroup after the team’s first regular season loss. 

Sitting on a potential hat trick, Coach Dolinsky went ahead and pulled Williams at halftime, which was the plan coming into the game. I’ll give that a subdued “boo” to coach, but in her place was just last year’s top goal scorer in Soderstrom. How’s that for a perfect indication of the plethora of riches available to Dolinsky? Coach has the players in the starting lineup, and on the bench, so that "whether we're chasing the game, again going back to Thursday, I felt we made changes that gave us a chance to win the game, and today making the changes, we were protecting the lead, but we also expanded the lead. So very confident regardless of who the 18 are." That's how a coach can confidently pull a player that was as dominant in the first half as Williams was, knowing there are still games remaining where Williams will be valuable and not put undue strain on her body. 

However, Indy lost some of their sharpness after coming out of the locker room, and Kings Hammer had some of their best possession of the game. Not completely in  threatening positions, but they were definitely more on the front foot than they were in the first half. The BYB lost some of their voice in the second half and the difference in atmosphere was palpable. I don’t know if that was part of the change in energy from Indy, but there was a definite change in the game dynamic in the second half.

Almost against the run of play, Indy scored a third through Sexton as she put a cross through the six that Slimak nicely tucked inside the right corner post. The third goal helped the tension that was forming with the dreaded 2-nil score line. Unfortunately for Indy, shortly after the goal, Indy picked up their second concerning injury as Whitsett tried to attack a kick from KH's goalkeeper Rehberger, who was a little slow with her kick. Matsuhisa had gone out about 15-minutes prior with her own injury. Both held their left knee and had to be helped off the field. Whitsett was seen walking around after the game without ice, and just the slightest of limps, so hopefully she'll be okay going forward. The word from the team was that Matsuhisa was the "more serious of the two," but that nobody knew much more than that at this point. As well as she has been playing in her limited role, it would be unfortunate if she was injured for the remainder of the season and into her return back to VCU after the summer.

Shortly after the injury, Bahr put a 35- to 40-yard free kick into the upper 90 and out of the reach of Rehberger. The former player/coach further settled the game with the game's fourth goal in the 74th minute. Both teams were coming off a short turnaround from the previous game (Wed for KH, Thurs for Indy) and KH only dressed 16 players. The fourth goal, the two injuries to Indy players, and the dwindling fresh legs meant that players were starting to cramp even in the air conditioned confines, and the game slowed down. Indy saw out the game with possession, and by keeping the ball in their offensive half of the field.

Indy next go to Lexington on Thursday before having more than a week off to prepare for the revenge match against St. Charles the following Friday. The math remains the same; win out and they have a spot in the playoffs waiting for them. St. Charles played Racing Louisville today to a 2-1 loss, so their confidence is high with a win against the top team in the division, and a close loss to the 2nd place team in the division. The path to the playoffs is still in Indy's control, but it suddenly became an interesting final two weeks. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

If you have to ask, you didn't watch the game. Maddy Williams was a difference maker, and an easy pick for the GBGB. She joked after the game that it's different starting than coming off the bench, where you're not fully warm, "especially at my age," but she looked like the best player during her time on the field. There's something about the refined runs she's able to make that her younger counterparts haven't quite figured out as evidenced by the nearly double digit offside calls last game. It's hilarious to say after scoring two goals in a ten-minute span in less than 20-minutes of game time, but if she had been a little luckier (or Kowalski not as fortunate at getting her hand in the way), Williams probably could have surpassed her first half hat trick from last season's game against Flint City. Her presence up top, and her early goals, put the confidence back into an Indy team desperate to prove that Thursday was a fluke.

Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer - 02.03

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer
- Location: Corcoran Field
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 1-0 W

- Starting XI: Edwards, Sexton, Watson, Bahr, Chatterton, Hershfelt, Rogers (C), Kraszula, Soderstrom, K., Chester, Lindley

- Substitution: Whitsett 45' (Kraszula); Kugler 62' (Sexton); Vanegas 72' (Lindley); Dewey, R. 72' (Chatterton); Houweling 78' (Chester); Hunt 78' (Soderstrom, K.)

- Unused: Reason

- Scoring Summary:
IND – Vanegas 76’ (unassisted)

- Bookings:

None

- Referee: ?

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Thanks to the camera microphone being able to capture every command, adjustment, and exasperation that came from the two coaches on the sideline (something Indy fans hope will be an impossibility when Indy Eleven play their home opener on June 2nd at Grand Park), the discussion of this game is going to be intermingled with the coach's commentary.

 

Several of Indy's players are familiar with the Xavier field, either because they played their home games there (Bahr, Dewey, R., Dewey, S, and Rogers) or they played away games there as part of the Big East conference. When you're playing your third straight road game to start the season, it's a nice benefit to have the game on a field that is familiar to the players, which was not the case for the St. Charles and Lexington games. 

"Addy, Addy, Addy!" and Watson sent a cross-field ball to Chester with space to run at the goal.

Soderstrom off the crossbar in the 4th minute from just outside the 18-yard box. This will be a reoccurring theme in this game...

"1v1, 1v1!" at Soderstrom to tell her she could turn and take on her defender.

"We have to find the space that Cassidy is creating!"

"Keep working Blue, we'll get it!"

"Organize early!" after the ball went out for a deep Kings Hammer throw-in.

Indy was a step faster in their running and speed of thought. Kings Hammer coach kept shouting "connect the next pass," just trying to hold some kind of possession, but Indy had the Kings Hammer defenders chasing shadows for most of the first half. 

"Find the 2nd runner, not the 1st runner!"

Last year's #23 was Robyn McCarthy, an All League defender. This year's #23 is Trinity Watson, and in the first two games she has played for Indy Eleven this season, she has been filling McCarthy's shoes nicely. She's making good decisions as the right CB, is controlling her area perfectly, and can put a cross-field pass on a dime. Reminds me a lot like Robyn.

Not long after a drop ball restart in the 28th minute because a ball was pinged off the referee, Lindley received a pass from Soderstrom and took a one-time shot that pinged off the post. A 40th minute low cross from Hershfelt ran across the goal mouth, through a mass of humanity, and the shot on goal from Lindley was blocked. At this point, Indy was starting to feel like there was an imaginary lid or force field on the Kings Hammer goal. 

"We're exposed if we lose it!"

"Give the ball up!" directed at Bahr who carried the ball a long way up the field and then took an ill-advised long distance shot that went harmlessly wide.

The first half of this game looked like the men's first team. I don't know what the final possession numbers were for the half, but it had to be pushing the 80/20 ratio that we saw from the men earlier this year against Las Vegas. Kings Hammer stayed compact, had timely defensive interventions, and managed to keep Indy off the board allowing them to go into the locker room with a nil-nil scoreline despite never really threatening Edwards. I felt like Hershfelt was not as decisive in her decisions in the first half as she was in the game against Lexington. She looked like she wanted to set up her teammates, but she had opportunities to take the ball herself if she went quickly. When she didn't, the Kings Hammer defenders stepped to her, forcing the ball backwards. 

Kings Hammer came out of the halftime locker room more aggressive, in both their defending and their movements going forward. Fortunately, Indy weathered the early additional pressure, in part because the Kings Hammer forwards had trouble getting off good shots.

"C'mon, we're too complacent!"

"It's not going to come to you. Let's make something happen!"

"Guys! Discipline!"

"Our movement has to be proactive! We're waiting for the ball to come to us!"

"We're getting too predictable!"

At this point in the game (58th minute), this looked like two different teams than the ones from the first half. Indy looked timid and weren't the aggressors to the ball, while Kings Hammer looked the complete opposite of those characteristics. Whatever the possession was in the first half, it wasn't a full 180 in the early part of the second half, but it was much much closer to even. It's like Indy came out of the locker room forgetting that they were the better players and team.

ANOTHER ball off the crossbar in the 62nd minute.

"Keep playing Blue! C'mon girls!"

"Nooooooo..." That one actually turned out okay, but my initial feeling was the same as Coach's assessment of the pass.

Goal by Vanegas in the 76th minute by just being in the right place in the box and losing her defender. Venegas came on with a lot of energy and was rewarded by getting in front of her defender to give her a chance at the ball after the initial shot was deflected. The goal had been coming and was deserved by how many shots found the crossbar or post, but it was still good to see that Kings Hammer hadn't put a hex on the goals, or at least that Indy had found a crack in that hex.

"Madisyn, play your position!"

ANOTHER ball off the crossbar in the 84th minute.

"You guys need to make the goal bigger."

"We're in stoppage time. Make 'em play facing their own goal!"

Indy were unfortunate to not have this game be a blowout just like the others with the number of balls that hit the crossbar and posts, but a win on the road after Sunday-Wednesday games was deserved. As I stated after the first game, this division has the appearance that it could come down to the two games between Indy and Racing Louisville. If the two teams split the series, then goal differential could come into play, and Indy would love to have seen the woodwork be kinder today. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

The Girls in Blue need to take the win and get on the bus knowing they're still leading the division and that their next game will FINALLY be in front of the home fans in their version of LIPAFC. Coack Dolinsky will probably have some words about shaking off the woodwork issues, but that they need to not relax after halftime like they did today. Then he'll have them ready to play Louisville in an environment where he shouldn't be able to make as many corrections as he did tonight because the BYB are in full voice behind him.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Vanegas entered the match excited and full of energy. She listened to what Coach Dolinsky wanted from her, and she was rewarded for that effort with a goal, making her Indy's third multi-goal goal scorer. 

Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer FC - 01.07

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer
- Location: Mustang Athletic Center

- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 1-1 D

- Starting XI: Wood, McCarthy (Ro) (C), Kraszula, Bahr, Dean, Lynch, Chatterton, Rogers, McCarthy (Ra), Soderstrom, Williams

- Substitution: Cherry 45' (Lynch); Chester 45' (Kraszula); Gajdobranski 62' (Dean); McCalligett 62' (Chatterton); Bulatovic 65' (McCarthy, Ra)

- Unused: Phillips, McLaughlin

- Scoring Summary:
KHFC - Young 2' 
IND - Soderstrom 19' (unassisted - I assume)

- Bookings:
KHFC - Alexander 79' (Yellow)

- Referee: ??
- Adage goals: One

Thoughts and Opinions

1. Open Opponent's Twitter account.
2. Find game thread.

3. Refresh.

4. Scroll to bottom of thread.

5. Rinse and repeat steps 3 through 5 for 2 hours.

I guess it goes with the territory of a pre-professional league, but as I stated for the Flint City away game, and will reiterate here, "let's start with an appreciation of Greg Rakestraw and Margaret McLaughlin and the production value of the Indy Eleven home games." Indy have now played 4 away games and only two of those have been streamed (I'm looking at the barely tweeted Racing Louisville game here too).

After a delay to 7:25 PM due to heat index concerns, KHFC's first tweet about starting didn't happen until 7:37 PM. Two minutes later and Indy were already down a goal. It would seem that Indy can, at times, have some issues getting off the bus on the road and being ready to play, as the same thing happened in Ann Arbor when they gave up a goal in just the 17th second. Luckily, it's not sudden death, first team to 1, and there were still 88 minutes remaining (+ stoppage time).

2' | GOAL #KHFC! Fastest goal in club's short history in #ForTheW! 1-0.

— Kings Hammer FC (@kingshammerfc) June 14, 2022

Thanks to an informational assist from @IndyMatt who was at the game taking photos, we know that Katie Soderstrom tied the game in the 19th minute, seemingly off a rebound from a shot from...somebody.

19' | Goal Indy Eleven. Service was batted by Rehberger, but not far enough. 1-1.

— Kings Hammer FC (@kingshammerfc) June 14, 2022

Final Update:

FULLTIME | Two first half goals, one for #KHFC and one for Indy Eleven are the only tallies of the match. A third draw for Kings Hammer FC. #ForTheW pic.twitter.com/E2zZ56iEHm

— Kings Hammer FC (@kingshammerfc) June 15, 2022

As I had plenty of time between updates from KH's Twitter, I went and looked at the Kings Hammer roster and noticed an Indiana connection with Whitney Wells (Cincinnati, OH) playing her collegiate soccer at my second (& Brad Hauter's) alma mater, DePauw University. Whitney is going into her Junior season at DePauw, having played in 12 games last season and scoring once. 

I also went back and looked at the the 16-person squad that King's Hammer brought to Indy for the opening match on May 6th. What I found interesting is that today's KH roster only had 7 of those same players (only 6 of which played in the first game), and 4 of those players didn't come on today until halftime. I guess it should seem obvious that a team that has jersey numbers well into the 40s, likely has a large roster and the ability to rotate more players. There are 38 players listed on the KH roster page and it looks like there was quite a bit of lineup turnover from the KH team that played on Sunday. 

Did the temperatures and the fact that Indy started 8 of the same players that started the game on Friday night while KH were able to play fresher players affect tonight's result, so that the division's last place team got a draw out of the division's first place team? It probably didn't hurt them.

In such a short season, we've already come to expect wins and convincing wins from this team. An early goal conceded, three games in a week, and scorching temperatures means that, to me, a draw on the road is a perfectly acceptable result. Particularly since I have very little visible evidence to tell me otherwise.

Indy return home to play Racing Louisville on Friday night and will go a long way towards who finishes first or second in the division. Get your tickets and show your support.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

With so little to go on, I'll go ahead and give the GBGB to Soderstrom, the goal scorer.

Indy Eleven vs Kings Hammer - 01.01

Summary

- Opponent: Kings Hammer FC
- Location: Grand Park
- Attendance: 1,571
- Final Score: 3-1 W

- Starting XI: Wood, McCarthy (Robyn), Leonard (C), Cherry, Isger, McLaughlin, Bahr, Lynch, Soderstrom, Williams, McCarthy (Rachel)
- Substitution: Barnett 45' (Isger); Rogers 60' (Williams); Lindley 73' (McCarthy, Ra); Dewey 73' (Lynch)
- Unused: Reason

- Scoring Summary:
IND - McCarthy, Ra 8' (assist Soderstrom)
IND - McCarthy, Ra 17' (assist Williams)
KH – Mandy Schlueter (unassisted) 40’
IND - Soderstrom 78' (assist Barnett)

- Bookings:
None

- Referee: 
- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

In 2014, Indy Eleven began their foray into the Indianapolis soccer landscape with a 1-1 draw against the Carolina Railhawks on a goal from Mike Ambersley in front of more than 11,000 fans. Eight years later, Indy Eleven have expanded to include a group of championship winning Academy teams, and now a USL-W team. A USL-W team that kicked off their inaugural season, for both the team and the league, last night in the event center at Grand Park. While that original men's team needed 10 games before they achieved their first win of the season, this new addition to the club needed just a single game to achieve that same result. While the +1,500 fans who were in attendance at this game may be significantly less than those in attendance at that first game in 2014, the indoor nature of the Grand Park event center provided more than enough noise as the BYB, once again, continue to turn Indy venues into home field advantage for Indy Eleven teams. The only difference between the feel of this game and the men’s games was that there was a simultaneous game taking place on Field 3, with their own set of fans adding to the noise in the facility. Oh, and the fact that the USL League office had a few more folks here for this game than most other games, including Amanda Vandervort, the President of the USL Super League and Betsy Haugh, the Directory of the USL Super League. With a Lauren Holiday tifo behind the team bench, players from the men's team (Ayoze, Arteaga, Pinho, and Michael) in the stand, and rumors of former coach Martin Rennie in the facility, Indy Eleven found the back of the net three times in route to a 3-1 victory over visiting Kings Hammer FC from the Cincinnati area.

As I said on Twitter during the game, I don't know the statistics, and they are not available as I write this (likely a function of a pre-professional league), but Indy Eleven were dominant for large stretches of this game, despite having just a single practice as a team before last night's game. The men's team took 9 games to have a player score a brace, but Rachel McCarthy managed that feat in the women's team's first game. Afterwards, she indicated that she didn't arrive to town until 3:00 AM on Wednesday morning, went to the practice later that day, and then scored the first two goals in the team's and league's history. Not a bad start for the BYU junior who decided to try and make the Indy Eleven because she enjoyed the thought of playing with her older sister, starting defender Robyn McCarthy. 

A single win does not make for a successful inaugural season, but it definitely makes for a successful start to that season. Indy Eleven is coached by Paul Dolinsky, who recently coached amateur side Lady Victory FC last season. By my count, there are 8 players on the Indy Eleven roster who were on that Lady Victory roster last year. Five of those were in last night's starting lineup. When asked if his familiarity with those players weighed into his decision to start those players, he responded, "100%. This first game, we don't know what to expect. From ourselves, from the opponent. Having that ability to have some cohesion on the field and even putting Soderstrom, Isger, and Molly all on the right side of the field, I thought was important to have girls that have played together was huge." Of those 8 women that Dolinsky pulled from Lady Victory, they composed the team captain (Leonard), the goal scorers (McCarthy and Soderstrom), the starting goalkeeper (Wood), and two of three subs, including the pacey player on the right side that set up the third goal, Barnett. As teams are still trying to get the full complement of their players in town (Indy only had Reason remaining on the bench unused, and KHFC only brought 14 players), having some consistency in what to expect from the players was an important part of last night's victory for Indy Eleven. 

Of course, it also doesn't hurt to have a starting lineup with three solid defenders, four active midfielders, and three forwards who are completely unafraid to shoot. Indy's first shot happened within the first 15 seconds. As evidenced by her two goals, McCarthy is not afraid to shoot and does it effectively. Soderstrom and Williams were unafraid, and more than willing, to take on players 1v1, which set up shots for themselves and for McCarthy. At times, Soderstrom looked like the prototypical “beat people, get to the end line, and cross the ball into the box” type player. From what I saw from her, it’s an effective strategy. Periodically, just to keep the KHFC players off guard, she took them on herself, looking for her shot. Though that could be said for all Indy’s forwards. If you’re looking for players who aren’t afraid to shoot the ball, this squad is for you. 

Indy's first goal in the 8th minute (I think it was the 9th, but we'll go with the official sources that indicate 8th) from a break. Soderstrom's initial shot was blocked, which McCarthy blasted the rebound to the right side of the keeper. The excitement of the crowd pushed both teams in the early part of this game as KHFC stepped up their own pressure after Indy's goal and nearly had their own chance in the 10th minute. In back-and-forth action, Indy took off down the field in the opposite direction and were fouled 25 yards away from goal. In one of the first moments where the potential lack of cohesion and limited time together showed, the ensuing free kick was, uh, ineffective.

Moments before KHFC pulled the game back within a goal, Indy had a nervy moment in the 33rd minute as a well-orchestrated break from KHFC after a giveaway near midfield led to a shot. The shot went through Wood’s arms and her legs, but luckily for Indy, she slowed the ball down enough for it to be pulled off the line by Leonard, keeping KHFC off the board. The relief of preventing the goal was short-lived as KHFC found their own goal in the 40th minute. KHFC's Schlueter put Leonard into the spin cycle to find just enough space to get her shot off and beyond the outstretched arms of Wood.

Moments before KHFC scored their goal, there was a moment in the 37th minute where Cherry made a run up the field and started a give-and-go with Maddy, but didn't get the "go" part correctly. It was still only the 2nd or 3rd time that I can remember where it seemed like the Indy players weren’t on the same page. Given the short duration that they have had training together, that’s the kind of play that would have been great to see pulled off, but it will get there soon. I can promise you that.

KHFC came out in the 2nd half with much more purpose on getting shots. Not all of them were effective shots, but they definitely decided to attack Indy’s defense more and forced Indy to make a few more defensive decisions. Indy still had the better of the chances at KHFC’s goal, but it was obvious that KHFC were not going to take the loss without a fight. The frenetic pace of the first half, buoyed by the atmosphere of the BYB, began to give away to tired legs, cramps, and a slower paced game in the second. Both teams had chances, but there was a little more control of the ball for both teams as they looked to unlock the defenses differently than they had in the 1st half. After Indy's goal scorer's cramps took her out of the game in the 73rd minute for Cassidy Lindley (yes, the sister of former men's team player Cam Lindley), Soderstrom found her own goal in the 78th minute and the game clinching goal. From there, the moment that I remember most was in the 80th minute when the BYB chanted V-A-R after they felt that Soderstrom's corner kick was an Olympico, crossing the line directly from her kick. In the replay, I think the second official was in a good spot and the BYB's chants were unwarranted. Funny given the preprofessional level of the USL-W league, but unwarranted nonetheless.

I know this is a site that discusses the Indy Eleven, but I need to properly acknowledge that despite their loss, the Kings Hammer FC had their own chances and are a good team. Given their limited available substitutions, their ability to chase the game late wasn't feasible because they just didn't have the stamina nor the available people to do it. That shouldn't take away from the game that they were able to play before that point. I want to also give a special recognition to KHFC’s CB Abby Unkraut, who prevented so many chances from Indy with her speed and recovery. Several times Williams or Soderstrom had their attack or momentum stopped as she stepped in front of passes, or just hustled enough to prevent anything from Indy’s attackers. For much of this game, Indy looked to be the dominant side, but KHFC have some very skilled players too; Unkraut just stood out for me because of how much work she had to do against Indy’s attacking players and the important interventions she was able to do. She's also a junior in high school... This league is designed to help girls and young women get better and work towards a future in soccer. Watching Unkraut hold her own against college players and Williams, who has played professionally, there is a lot of talent in this country that we, as fans, aren't seeing. We get to see the USWNT and the NWSL, but this league is going to be able to highlight the talented players around the country. Great game Abby!

Right now, it's a good time to be an Indy Eleven fan. Last night's win means that Indy Eleven's win streak is now extending between teams. The women play again this coming Thursday at Flint City AFC and the men play Saturday at Memphis. Can the win streak extend for another weekend or beyond? 

Let's hope so. Winning is fun. 

Maybe the women can force the league to bring back the trophy that was in the building last night. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

As a Purdue fan, there has been a running joke of "Thank God for Mama Anthrop" as there has been an Anthrop son involved in the Purdue sports program since, I think, 2009. With Rachel and Robyn's performance on both ends of the field last night, Indy may fans find themselves saying, "Thank God for Mama McCarthy." With a brace in the first game of the season, the GBGB goes to the younger of the two McCarthy's, since Rachel's quick and accurate shots allowed Indy to absorb the pressure from KHFC, and then ride out the win late when the teams were wearing down. Based on what I saw last night, the GBGB could go to any number of players in upcoming games.

Additional Photos (Courtesy of @DLTPhotog)