Six Different Players Tally in Hour-long Contest to Start Eight-game Exhibition Slate
February 9, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release
WESTFIELD, Ind. - Indy Eleven made an impressive preseason debut under Head Coach Mark Lowry, with six different players tallying in a 7-0 exhibition victory over the Marian University Knights. The 60-minute affair took place at the Grand Park Event Center, where the Boys in Blue are headquartered for their 2022 preseason across the next month, leading up to their USL Championship Regular Season opener on March 11 at Loudoun United FC.
Last year's leading scorer for Indiana's Team, forward Manuel Arteaga, was active in the early going, drawing a foul 25 yards out just 90 seconds in to set up his own free kick that forced a diving save by the Knights 'keeper. Three minutes later the Venezuelan would tap in from the doorstep on a play set up by midfielder Nicky Law's back post cross that was headed across frame by Stefano Pinho. Law nearly had a goal of his own a minute later, but his shot was repelled by a fine kick save by Marian's netminder off his line.
In the 14th minute, midfielder Raul Aguilera's probing through ball down the right flank set up Indy's first half guest midfielder for a cross that found Pinho at the back post, but another kick save kept him off the board. Two minutes later it was another crafty long ball - this time a diagonal by Arteaga - that set up the trialist midfielder behind the backline, and his sturdy finish from ten yards doubled the Eleven advantage.
Quality chances in the subsequent minutes by defender Noah Powder and Pinho missed the target, while midfielder Sam Brown saw his swerving shot from 30 yards parried away. In the 26th minute some nice build-up play down the right flank helped Arteaga set up another trialist for a goal, his cutback from the endline finding the guest defender inside the six where his redirect made it through traffic for Indy's third.
Said guest defender, Pinho and Aguilera were the only lineup holdovers to begin the second half hour for Lowry's squad, which again came out the aggressor and held play primarily in the Knights' half of the field. It was Pinho nearly heading home in the 35th minute off defender Alex McQueen's clipped off cross to the six, but the chance flashed just left of target. In the 41st a McQueen pass indeed paid dividends when he found Aris Briggs at the right post, where the forward's close range shot hit the goalkeeper, popped high in the air, and finally spun in to push the Eleven lead to 4-0.
Indy's second half guest goalkeeper was forced into service in the 44th minute, when he did well to bat away a heavy free kick from 25 yards out. Right after, the Boys in Blue went straight down the field to score their fifth, with another nifty dish from McQueen inside the area setting up Pinho, the Brazilian getting on the board via a flicked finish that marked the last touch of his day. In the 51st minute, another of Indy's guest midfielders took advantage of a turnover in the final third and finished from the top of the penalty arc, pushing the lead to 6-0. McQueen finished off his hat trick of helpers in the 57th minute, his cross from the right finding Briggs for a headed finish at the far post to end the scoring at 7-0.
Today's contest was the first of eight planned exhibition contests for Indiana's Team this preseason, which will continue against another local collegiate outfit, the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds, this Saturday, Feb. 12, at Grand Park.
2022 Spring Preseason Exhibition
Indy Eleven 7 : 0 Marian University
Wednesday, February 9, 2021 - 11:00 a.m. ET
Grand Park Events Center - Westfield, Ind.
Scoring Summary:
IND- Manuel Arteaga (Stefano Pinho) 5'
IND - Guest Midfielder #1 (Manuel Arteaga) 16'
IND - Guest Defender (Manuel Arteaga) 26'
IND - Aris Briggs (Alex McQueen) 41'
IND - Stefano Pinho (Alex McQueen) 45'
IND - Guest Midfielder #4 (unassisted) 51'
IND - Aris Briggs (Alex McQueen) 57'
Disciplinary Summary:
none
Indy Eleven 1st half (1'-30') lineup (4-4-2): Guest GK #1; Noah Powder, Jared Timmer, Karl Ouimette, Guest DF; Nicky Law, Sam Brown, Guest MF #1, Raul Aguilera; Manuel Arteaga, Stefano Pinho
Indy Eleven 2nd half (31'-60') lineup (4-4-2): Guest GK #2; Guest DF #1, AJ Cochran, Mechack Jerome, Alex McQueen; Guest MF #2, Neveal Hackshaw, Guest MF #3, Raul Aguilera (Guest MF #4, 45'); Aris Briggs, Stefano Pinho (Manuel Arteaga 45')
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