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Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven Ends Preseason with 5-0 Victory over Bradley University

March 28, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release


INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, March 28, 2015) - Indy Eleven used goals from Wojciech Wojcik, Dragan Stojkov, Dylan Mares and Brad Ring to post a thorough 5-0 win over Bradley University in its final preseason exhibition Saturday afternoon at IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

Today's comprehensive victory allows Indy Eleven to end its exhibition season with some momentum as it begins preparations in earnest for next Saturday's 2015 NASL Spring Season opener at the Atlanta Silverbacks. Kickoff from Atlanta Silverbacks Park on April 4 is set for 7:30 p.m. ET for a match that can be seen live via streaming video on ESPN3.com and additional ESPN online platforms.

Just 14 days remain until Indy Eleven's 2015 home opener at Carroll Stadium on Saturday, April 11, against the New York Cosmos, featuring the NASL debut of legendary Spanish striker Raul. Limited amounts of full season and partial season ticket packages remain, while single game tickets are also now available, starting at just $10. For full ticket information, visit www.IndyEleven.com/tickets or call 317-685-1100.

Indy Eleven began looking for an early goal from the first minute of the match, when forward Charlie Rugg ran onto a loose ball before cracking a blistering effort from 25 yards that was well held by the Bradley goalkeeper.

Six minutes later, a corner from Victor Pineda found its way to Rugg in the penalty area. The LA Galaxy loanee held up before squaring back to Dylan Mares, but the second-year midfielder's first-time volley flew wide of the right post.

The early chances would pay off in the 12th minute. Pressing forward, central midfielder Sergio Pena laid off for Pineda in the box before the winger touched on for Rugg on the right. Rugg then centered for in-stride striker Wojciech Wojcik, who hit his first-time effort inside the left post to give Indy Eleven a 1-0 lead.

In the 16th minute, Mares latched on to a through ball before pushing Rugg through the Bradley central defense, but the striker's effort was saved at point-blank range by the Bradley goalkeeper. Four minutes later a blocked Mares free kick from 20 yards out fell for defender Marco Franco, who whipped in a looping cross for Rugg, but his off-balance header drifted right of the goal.

In the 26th minute, Rugg beat his man down the right, springing free before centering for Dragan Stojkov, but the Macedonian midfielder's shot was stopped from close range.

Indy nearly found its second goal deep in first half stoppage time when Pineda played Mares towards the endline on the left, but his first-time scoop was saved as the Bradley 'keeper once again came off his line. Bradley would get its best look of the half at the death off a long throw-in deep into the Indy Eleven penalty area, but a looping effort from 10 yards out was snared by leaping Eleven netminder Kristian Nicht.

After the halftime interval Indy Eleven continued to find chances - and began to convert more of them into goals. In the 48th minute, Rugg cut in from the left to feed a beautiful through pass for Stojkov on the right, but his effort was well saved by the Bradley 'keeper.

In the 53rd minute, Indy caught Bradley out in a counter attack as Pineda played Stojkov into acres of space. Playing a combination with Wojcik, Stojkov hit a first-time effort from the top of the area that was blocked, but recollected and laid off for Rugg, whose low blast from distance was well held by the Bradley 'keeper.

Indy Eleven came close again one minute later when Pineda's free kick from the right found midfielder Brad Ring - who entered late in the first half for a hobbled Pena - streaking at the near post, but his glancing header trailed just wide of the mark.

The home side ran a similar corner kick play in the 59th minute, this time with Pineda's take trailing through the area before falling to Wojcik, but the Polish-American striker saw his first-time volley carom off the cross bar and the Bradley goalkeeper before being cleared away.

The hard work finally paid off a minute later when Wojciech worked his way to the endline on the right before cutting back for Stojkov at the near post. The Macedonian got just enough on his shot to sneak it inside the bar, as the slow-rolling ball trickled in for a 2-0 Indy Eleven lead.

Indy Eleven nearly went up three in the 74th minute when substitute Don Smart's whipping cross from the right deflected off a Bradley defender and towards goal, but the active Braves 'keeper was again down to his right to keep the score within reach.

Following a quick distribution from Nicht, Smart picked up the ball in the center circle and glided through the Bradley midfield before unleashing a 25-yard effort that forced the 'keeper into a diving stop in the 76th minute.

Indy Eleven came close again in the 78th minute when substitute forward Brian Brown played a great combination with Wojcik at the top of the box that saw the Jamaican get into the area before blasting his effort off the left post.

Indy Eleven's third would finally come one minute later when Wojcik took down a bouncing ball and squared it for Mares streaking into space. This time the IU Hoosier product blasted a first- time effort inside the right post to give Indy a 3-0 lead in the 79th minute.

Indy would find its best goal of the day in the 86th minute. After a long spell of possession around the area that went without a shot, Ring took matters into his own hands after receiving a pass from debutant midfielder Osman Melgares, taking space in front of him before curling a 30-yard belter into the top left corner.

The hosts would cap the scoring in the 90th minute when Mares was played in towards the endline on the right. The attacker centered looking for Brown, but his cross deflected off of a Bradley defender before sneaking over the line to give Indy Eleven a 5-0 victory.

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