Indy Eleven Hosts FC Cincinnati
Published on February 21, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release
New Beginnings
2018 is a year of new beginnings for the "Boys in Blue" after the club announced that it would be joining the United Soccer League for the 2018 season. With a new league, new rivals, a new home at Lucas Oil Stadium, new coaching staff and an almost entirely new roster, it's hard for players and fans to not get swept away in all of the excitement.
For the last week and a half, the "Boys in Blue" have been putting in the paces and getting to know the lay of the land. In the meantime, several USL clubs, including FC Cincinnati, have been accumulating preseason minutes. Most see winning to be the main goal, but for Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie, the first preseason match for his side is business as usual.
"For us, it's very much a training game," said Rennie. "You're not going to win or lose championships at this point. We're just giving everyone the chance to play, giving some tryout players a chance to play, and giving everyone the opportunity to gain some fitness to get preseason going."
Who to Watch, Indy Eleven edition: MF Brad Ring
Indy Eleven midfielder Brad Ring has been a mainstay in the squad since joining the team in its inaugural season in 2014. From then to now, Ring is the last remaining member of the original Eleven.
Ring's consistent success in the midfield made him a key component in last season's lineup. In 2017, Ring played 29 of 32 regular season matches, racking up over 2,400 minutes, scoring one goal and tallying his first assist in an Indy Eleven jersey. Additionally, the self-described "midfield wrecking ball" landed nearly 82 percent of his passes, Moreover, Ring showcased his defensive abilities with 62 clearances, 207 duels and intercepting the ball 43 times.
Match-up to Mark: DF Ayoze vs. FCC attack
After a wild five-year stint with the New York Cosmos, defender Ayoze Garcia looks to emulate his success. Known to fans as simply "Ayoze", the Spanish defender was an integral part of the Cosmos' North American Soccer League Championship run in 2017 after netting five goals and five assists in 27 regular season appearances. The former Cosmos star previously found success in Spain, including a top flight La Liga campaign with CD Tenerife.
In 2017, FC Cincinnati proved to be an attacking force to be reckoned with. Over the course of the season, FCC's aggressive abilities often saw their players in their opponent's box, where they scored 38 of their 46 goals. Although 46 made their way to the back of the net, the Lions took a total of 328 shots with 245 of them being on target. Successful distribution often played a role in their ability to weave past defenders. In all, FCC completed over 10,000 passes with close to 40 percent of them forward to teammates.
Catch all the action tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Grand Park Events Center. Parking will be available in the main lot outside of the events center.
Want to see more of the "Boys in Blue" this year? You can save up to 48% with one of our 2018 Season Ticket Packages, which are available NOW!
United Soccer League Championship Stories from February 21, 2018
- Charleston Battery Falls to Columbus Crew - Charleston Battery
- Rangers Sign Midfielder Chase Minter Ahead of 2018 Season - Sporting Kansas City II
- Strong Second Half Pushes Steel FC Past Penn FC - Philadelphia Union II
- Kickers Restructure Rec Program - Richmond Kickers
- Kickers Name Neal Director of Partnership Marketing - Richmond Kickers
- Indy Eleven Hosts FC Cincinnati - Indy Eleven
- Lights FC's Confidence Growing as Showdown with Major League Soccer's D.C. United Approaches - Las Vegas Lights FC
- MLS Forward Soony Saad Signs with Indy Eleven - Indy Eleven
- Preseason: Week 3 Preview - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Striker Tomi Ameobi Added to FC Cincinnati Roster - FC Cincinnati
- Bethlehem Steel FC Inks SuperDraft Selection Aidan Apodaca - Philadelphia Union II
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
