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Indy Eleven

Preview | #jaxvind

April 28, 2017 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release


Match Notes

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview

Indy Eleven at Jacksonville Armada FC - #JAXvIND

Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 7:00 P.M. EST

Hodges Stadium - Jacksonville, Florida

Watch/Listen Live:

Local/National TV: MyINDY TV-23, beIN SPORTS Streaming Video: beIN SPORTS ($)

Follow Live:

In-game updates: Follow @IndyElevenLive on Twitter Official stats: NASL Opta MatchCenter

FIGHTING NEW FACES

As we enter Week 6 of the Spring season, "Indiana's Team" will square up against Jacksonville Armada FC for the first time after four, back-to-back fixtures against San Francisco Deltas and Puerto Rico FC. Indy Eleven is set to travel to Jacksonville, Florida for the first time since last October, where the "Boys in Blue" settled for a 0-0 draw at Hodges Stadium. In all competitions against Armada FC, Indy holds a 2W-3D-1L record, accumulating half of the possible points against the east-Florida squad.

Although Jacksonville Armada currently sits at the top of the NASL table with eight points (2W-2D-0L), Indy Eleven's head coach Tim Hankinson is prepared to sink the Armada as Indy's "Fight for Three" continues on the road.

"There's no doubt that when you travel on the road you've really got to fight hard for a clean sheet," Hankinson explained. "You can't put yourself in a goal down position. They're playing particularly well, so their confidence is high. [You know,] Giving up nothing and then we just have to look for our moments...You look for that first goal that's going to put you in the driver's seat..."

WHO TO WATCH INDY ELEVEN EDITION: MF GERARDO TORRADO

"Boys in Blue" Gerardo Torrado made his first appearance against the Armada during Indy's 5-2 victory over the visiting side. After Torrado came into the match during the 63rd minute for midfielder Brad Ring, he made his presence in the midfield known for the 27 minutes he was on the pitch by completing over 90-percent of his passes and winning close to half of his duels.

Since the start of the 2017 season, "El Borrego" has asserted his dominance on the pitch. In four starts and 360 minutes of play, Torrado has won the majority of his tackles, half of his duels, three-fourths of his passes and sits on the top ten list for top passers across the league.

WHO TO WATCH JACKSONVILLE ARMADA EDITION: FW J.C. BANKS

The former Minnesota United FC midfielder J.C. Banks has joined the ranks of Indy's Justin Braun, Puerto Rico FC's Hector Ramos, North Carolina FC's Lance Laing and Matthew Fondy, and San Francisco Deltas' Thomas Heinemann in a race to break the six-way tie for top goal scorer in the NASL with his two goals across his for matches played. Banks' first goal in 2017 came in the 77th minute of their 1-0 home opener against FC Edmonton after a left-footed strike found the bottom right of the net. Banks' next goal came during Armada's 1-1 visit to the defending NASL champs, New York Cosmos. The former Loon found the top right corner of the net in the 67th minute to keep the Armada afloat.

MATCH-UP TO MARK: MF ZACH STEINBERGER VS. DF LOVEL PALMER

Another battle along the flanks will take place this Saturday as Jamaican product Lovel Palmer suits up for Indy to take on former "Boys in Blue" loanee Zach Steinberger.

The Jamaican international and MLS veteran signed for Indy Eleven in January 2016. Since he put pen to paper last season, Palmer has played 1946 minutes in Indy's backline, making him a staple of our defensive wall. In 2017, after 151 minutes on the pitch, Palmer has found his way into the top ten of total clearances after forcing 17 balls out of dangerous territory.

Steinberger arrived in Jacksonville in the Fall of 2016 on loan from the Houston Dynamos before making a permanent move to the Florida side on February 17, 2017. Since his arrival to Armada FC, Steinberger has scored five goals (four during Fall 2016, one Spring 2017). Steinberger's aggressiveness on the wing makes him a dangerous target; Steinberger has won every tackle he's been contested, won four interceptions, completed over 80-percent of his passes and secured a goal for his team. Defenders would do well to keep a watchful eye over the young playmaker.

Steinberger got his NASL debut with Indy Eleven in 2015 after coming to Indy on loan from the Houston Dynamos. During his spell with "Indiana's Team", the former Butler University star scored his first two NASL goals, both of which were against his current team.

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