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Indy Eleven

Match Preview: Indy Eleven Hosts New York Red Bulls II for USL Championship Playoffs Quarterfinal Round

October 25, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release


Indy Eleven (#3) vs. New York Red Bulls II (#6)

USL Championship Playoffs | Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Saturday, October 26, 2019 - 7:30 P.M. ET

IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

Follow Live:

Local/National TV: MyINDY-TV 23

Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click for a free 7-day trial)

Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 94.3 FM

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Honda

2019 Regular Season Records:

Indy Eleven: 19W-9L-6D, 63 pts.

New York Red Bulls II: 17W-11L-6D, 57 pts.

2019 Meetings:

New York Red Bulls II 2 : 1 Indy Eleven | Sunday, April 28

Indy Eleven's early four-game winning streak ended on the road after dropping a second half lead. USL Championship's all-time leading goal scorer Dane Kelly put the Boys in Blue on the scoreboard first in the 13th minute, but a penalty converted by New York's Jared Stroud on the hour mark neutralized Indy's lead. Nine minutes later, forward Tom Barlow added another goal to buffer New York's lead through the remainder of the match.

Indy Eleven 1 : 0 New York Red Bulls II | Wednesday, September 4

Indiana's Team exacted revenge in the second leg of the 2019 season series against New York with a scrappy victory at Lucas Oil Stadium. Red Bulls II defender Janos Loebe's hard deflection off Indy's woodwork in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time kept New York from gaining the high ground. Late-game dramatics proved to be in Indy's favor once again as Dane Kelly's header in the 83rd minute, assisted by midfielder Macauley King, popped over New York 'keeper Evan Louro and into the net, securing the win and keeping Indy's home undefeated streak alive.

Last Time Out:

Indy Eleven 2 : 1 Swope Park Rangers | Wednesday, October 16

Indiana's Team secured a home playoff match for the first time since the 2016 season after defeating Swope Park Rangers 2-1 in both teams' final game of the 2019 USL Championship regular season. Forward Dane Kelly's strike in the 56th minute surged Indy into the lead, only for Swope Park midfielder Wilson Harris to bring the scores back level 71 seconds later. Kelly wasn't finished putting his mark on the game, the Jamaican surging the Boys in Blue back in front in the 67th minute after winning a one-on-one vs. SPR goaltender Eric Dick, the game-winner counting as his 10th finish of the season.

Loudoun United FC 7 : 3 New York Red Bulls II | Saturday, October 19

An intense match that featured 10 goals, three of which came from the penalty spot, saw New York Red Bulls II fall at place Loudoun United. Sixteen minutes in, Red Bulls II was down 2-1 before Loudoun put four back-to-back goals past the New York side. NYRBII pulled two back in the second half, but despite their efforts they now find themselves winless in their last six matches (0W-5L-1D).

#INDvNY Storylines

The all-time series between Indy Eleven and New York Red Bulls II is split evenly at 2W-2L-0D. Not only are the two clubs' records evenly split, but the goal differential is as well, both scoring and conceding six goals against each other.

Fortune appears to favor the home team when Indy Eleven and NYRBII square off against each other. Neither club has been able to topple the other when playing on the opposition's ground.

The Boys in Blue have returned to the USL Championship's postseason for a second consecutive year, this time with the luxury of hosting its opening contest. Indy Eleven made the playoffs following its league debut last season, only to fall 4-1 on the road to the eventual champion, Louisville City FC, at Louisville Slugger Field last Oct. 20.

The only other time Indy Eleven has hosted a home playoff game in club history was at Carroll Stadium back on Nov. 5, 2016, when Sinisa Ubiparipovic's second-half goal gave Indiana's Team a 1-0 victory over FC Edmonton and a ticket to the NASL Championship Final.

Speaking of hosting in Indy, Indiana's Team will also be returning to "The Mike" for the first time since the conclusion of the 2017 NASL season. Michael A. Carroll Stadium played host to the Boys in Blue since their inaugural season in 2014 before relocating to Lucas Oil Stadium prior to the start of the 2018 USL Championship campaign.

The victor of Saturday's contest will move on to face the winner of this weekend's match between #2 seed Nashville SC and #10 Birmingham Legion FC. If Nashville is upset, Indy Eleven would host its Eastern Conference Semifinal game next Saturday, Nov. 2, back at Carroll Stadium.

The Eleven will aim to carry its dominant home form at Lucas Oil Stadium over to "The Mike." The Boys in Blue used a spotless 13W-0L-4T mark at LOS in 2019 to stretch its regular season home undefeated streak to 25 games - eclipsing the previous club record of 23 games set at Carroll Stadium across the 2015-17 seasons.

Defense has spurred Indy's success throughout the 2019 USL Championship regular season. Indy allowed the second fewest goals in the league at 29 goals conceded, trailing only Nashville SC (26). Of Indy's 29 concessions, only six were allowed on home turf, a league-low for the 2019 season.

Midfielder Tyler Pasher and forward Dane Kelly put up double-digit goal tallies this season with 11 and 10 goals, respectively. Both goal scorers are the third and fourth members of Indiana's Team to put up double-digit goals in a single season, sharing the honor with Eleven alumni Eamon Zayed (2016 & '17) and Jack McInerney (2018).

Indy Eleven defender Karl Ouimette has previous history with the Red Bulls franchise, spending the 2015-16 seasons with the MLS side and making six appearances for the Baby Bulls before joining Jacksonville Armada on loan.

While no member of the current roster suited up for the Boys in Blue during the club's four seasons at "The Mike" from 2014-17, seven players did play at the venue on opposing teams back in the day - Ayoze (New York Cosmos), Tyler Gibson (San Antonio Scorpions, Rayo OKC & San Francisco Deltas), Ilija Ilic (Louisville City FC), Karl Ouimette (San Francisco Deltas), Nico Perea (Jacksonville Armada), Eugene Starikov (New York Cosmos) and Matt Watson (North Carolina FC).

Midfielder Tyler Gibson became the first field player in Indy Eleven history to start in every game during a regular season for the Boys in Blue in 2019. The Tennessee native played all but six minutes (3,054) of the campaign, cementing his status as Indy's "Ironman" on the pitch.

Indy Eleven Player to Watch | FW Dane Kelly

Kelly has been a thorn in the side of New York Red Bulls II, finding the back of the net in both legs of the 2019 regular season series. Since notching his fourth goal of the season at New York in Week 8 play, the striker has moved the needle to 10 goals on the season, another of which came against Red Bulls II on September 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Kelly has played key role in Indy's fluid attacking formation over the last month, scoring two goals and registering an assist in his squad's last three matches. After adding a brace to his all-time league-leading goal record (77) in his last appearance against Swope Park Rangers, it looks as though the 28-year-old is heading into the playoffs in dangerous form.

New York Red Bulls II Player to Watch | MF Jared Stroud

The consistent man to mark throughout New York Red Bull II's campaign has been the active midfielder Stroud, as the 23-year-old was the only NYRBII player to have appeared in all 34 regular season match - with all but two appearances coming as a member of the starting XI.

The Chester, N.J., native leads his team in scoring (15) and assists (9), and created the second most chances for his teammates with 90, trailing only midfielder partner Christopher Lema by four. Despite his club's recent dip in form and being winless in their last six matches, Stroud continued to produce from his spot on the left wing. He's scored two goals in the rough six-game losing skid and has found the back of the net against Indy once before back in Week 8. If Red Bulls II are to pull off the upset, they'll look to Stroud to help produce to goals that would make it happen.

Indy Eleven (#3) will begin its postseason run this Saturday, Oct. 26, back at its old home of IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Stadium, with kickoff against New York Red Bulls II (#6) at 7:30 p.m. (live on MyINDY-TV 23 & EPSN+). ‚¬â€¹ Tickets are still available at IndyEleven.com/Tickets or by calling 317-685-1100.

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