#INDvSPR Gameday Preview
Indy Eleven vs. Swope Park Rangers
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 – 7:00 P.M. ET
Lucas Oil 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 1590 AM
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Honda
Setting the Table:
Indy Eleven: 18W-9L-6D, 60 pts., 3rd in Eastern Conference
Swope Park Rangers: 6W-19L-8D, 26 pts., 18th in Eastern Conference
Click here for the full USL Championship standings
First 2019 Meeting:
Swope Park Rangers 1 : 3 Indy Eleven | Saturday, April 15
Indy Eleven seized three points on the road against Swope Park Rangers on April 15. Forward Dane Kelly opened the scoring the second minute of play before assisting former striking partner Thomas Enevoldsen, who doubled the lead four minutes later. A goal from Swope’s Wilson Harris in the 26th minute narrowed the gap, but a second strike from Kelly sealed the deal in the 53rd minute, scoring his brace in the 3-1 win.
#SPRvIND: Highlights | Recap | Stats
Last Time Out:
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 : 1 Indy Eleven | Saturday, October 12
Indy Eleven secured a point in its final regular season away fixture via a 1-1 draw at Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday. The Boys in Blue conceded first from a penalty in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time by way of Rowdies leading goal scorer Sebastian Guenzatti. A single-goal lead wasn’t enough to fend off Indy’s tenacious attack, as a string of passes up the pitch opened space for forward Dane Kelly to net the equalizer inside Tampa’s penalty area in the 72nd minute.
#TBRvIND: Highlights | Recap | Stats
Louisville City FC 8 : 3 Swope Park Rangers | Saturday, October 12
Swope Park Rangers kicked off its two-game away trip falling 8-3 at Louisville City FC over the weekend. Swope jumped out to a 3-nil lead in the first 34 minutes of the match with goals from Ze Perdo, Gianluca Busio and Ethan Vanacore-Decker. However, Louisville City sparked its comeback just two minutes after Swope netted its third, drawing level by the end of the first half and posting another five before the final whistle. Swope is the second club to concede eight goals in a single game this season, with New York Red Bulls II having pulled away with an 8-1 win against Atlanta United FC 2 on July 13.
#LOUvSPR: Highlights | Recap | Stats
#INDvSPR Storylines
- Indy Eleven remain undefeated against Swope Park Rangers holding a 2W-0L-1D record in three meetings from 2017-19. Only one of the three fixtures between the clubs has been in regular season play and the other two fixtures coming as pre-season friendlies in 2017 and 2018.
- While the #1 and #2 spots in the Eastern Conference are out of reach for Indy Eleven, the squad is in the driver’s seat when it comes to earning a home game in its USL Championship Playoffs opener as the conference’s #3 or #4 seed. A win or draw Wednesday against SPR will secure a coveted home contest in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
- Wednesday marks the final game of what has been the most successful regular season in Indy Eleven’s six-year history. Heading into the midweek contest, Indy Eleven has set regular season club records in overall wins (18), road wins (6), standings points (60) and shutouts (13), and a 13th home win Wednesday would also equal a team best set in 2016.
- Indy Eleven’s home record currently sits at 12W-0L-4D (40 points) on the season. A win Saturday would set a new record for most points accrued at home in a season at 43 points, eclipsing the club’s previous record set in 2016 (13W-0L-3D [42 pts.]).
- Speaking of the 2016 campaign, the Boys in Blue will look to match another impressive feat they accomplished that year – finishing the season undefeated at home. Indy Eleven has collected 12 wins and four draws at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2019, and a seventh straight win at the corner of South & Capitol Streets or a draw would extend its club record home undefeated streak to 25 games – which would equal Pittsburgh’s concurrent stretch as the fourth longest in USL Championship history.
- Excellent defense at home has spurred Indiana’s Team to success. The Boys in Blue have allowed five goals in 16 matches at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2019, recording 11 shutouts on home turf in the process.
- Overall, Indy’s defense has excelled this year. Indy Eleven is third in the Eastern Conference and tied fourth across the league for clean sheets recorded with 13. The club has conceded the second fewest goals in the East and USL Championship (28), trailing only Tampa Bay Rowdies (26).
- Defense has been a struggle for Swope Park in 2019, as the side has the third worst defense in the league and second worst in the East, allowing 78 goals. Only two other clubs have conceded more goals: Hartford Athletic (79) and Tacoma Defiance (80).
- Swope goalkeeper Eric Dick will return to Indianapolis for the first time since completing his collegiate career with Butler University (2013-17). Dick made 71 appearances and recorded 28 clean sheets with the Bulldogs before being selected 13th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Swope’s MLS affiliate, Sporting Kansas City. The 25-year-old has made nine appearances for Swope, allowing 17 goals and recording two clean sheets.
Indy Eleven Player to Watch | DF Paddy Barrett
A staple in the Indy backline, defender Paddy Barrett has been a key benefactor in Indy Eleven’s stifling defense. The Irishmen marshalled the center of Indy’s defending third last Saturday at Tampa Bay Rowdies, winning five duels, posting a team-high four tackles on the evening and a made a crucial goal-line clearance off his chest in the 36th minute.
In fact, Barrett has been a consistent performer for Indy all year. The 26-year-old leads Indy’s defensive efforts in clearances (90) and blocks (20), and ranks top five in the team’s interceptions and tackles won throughout the season.
Barrett captains a defense that has only allowed five goals in 16 home games. The center back has also contributed to the 11 clean sheets Indy Eleven have recorded inside Lucas Oil Stadium in the 2019 campaign. His side takes on Swope Park Rangers next in the final game of the 2019 USL Championship regular season, who have scored 10 goals in their last five matches.
Swope Park Rangers Player to Watch | MF Felipe Hernandez
The man tasked with breaking down a seemingly impermeable Indy Eleven home defense will be midfielder Felipe Hernandez. Though just 21-years old, Hernandez has spent the last five years working his way up through the Sporting Kansas City system, breaking through the youth academy and recently earning a spot on the parent club’s first-team roster.
In his 29 appearances this season, 27 of which have been starts, Hernandez has scored eight goals, recorded five assists and created 44 chances. The Colombian tally ranks as the second highest in goals scored and assisted on Swope’s roster, while his 44 chances created are the most on the team. Expect his creativity to come through the middle of the pitch as he tries to navigate his way through the middle and final thirds of the park in hopes of scoring or creating for Swope Park.
Indy Eleven will close out its record-setting regular season this Wednesday, Oct. 16, when it plays host to Swope Park Rangers at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the Fan Appreciation Night celebration, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, are available starting at $15 at www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100.
#INDvSPR Gameday Preview
Indy Eleven vs. Swope Park Rangers
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 – 7:00 P.M. ET
Lucas Oil 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 1590 AM
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Honda
Setting the Table:
Indy Eleven: 18W-9L-6D, 60 pts., 3rd in Eastern Conference
Swope Park Rangers: 6W-19L-8D, 26 pts., 18th in Eastern Conference
Click here for the full USL Championship standings
First 2019 Meeting:
Swope Park Rangers 1 : 3 Indy Eleven | Saturday, April 15
Indy Eleven seized three points on the road against Swope Park Rangers on April 15. Forward Dane Kelly opened the scoring the second minute of play before assisting former striking partner Thomas Enevoldsen, who doubled the lead four minutes later. A goal from Swope’s Wilson Harris in the 26th minute narrowed the gap, but a second strike from Kelly sealed the deal in the 53rd minute, scoring his brace in the 3-1 win.
#SPRvIND: Highlights | Recap | Stats
Last Time Out:
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 : 1 Indy Eleven | Saturday, October 12
Indy Eleven secured a point in its final regular season away fixture via a 1-1 draw at Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday. The Boys in Blue conceded first from a penalty in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time by way of Rowdies leading goal scorer Sebastian Guenzatti. A single-goal lead wasn’t enough to fend off Indy’s tenacious attack, as a string of passes up the pitch opened space for forward Dane Kelly to net the equalizer inside Tampa’s penalty area in the 72nd minute.
#TBRvIND: Highlights | Recap | Stats
Louisville City FC 8 : 3 Swope Park Rangers | Saturday, October 12
Swope Park Rangers kicked off its two-game away trip falling 8-3 at Louisville City FC over the weekend. Swope jumped out to a 3-nil lead in the first 34 minutes of the match with goals from Ze Perdo, Gianluca Busio and Ethan Vanacore-Decker. However, Louisville City sparked its comeback just two minutes after Swope netted its third, drawing level by the end of the first half and posting another five before the final whistle. Swope is the second club to concede eight goals in a single game this season, with New York Red Bulls II having pulled away with an 8-1 win against Atlanta United FC 2 on July 13.
#LOUvSPR: Highlights | Recap | Stats
#INDvSPR Storylines
- Indy Eleven remain undefeated against Swope Park Rangers holding a 2W-0L-1D record in three meetings from 2017-19. Only one of the three fixtures between the clubs has been in regular season play and the other two fixtures coming as pre-season friendlies in 2017 and 2018.
- While the #1 and #2 spots in the Eastern Conference are out of reach for Indy Eleven, the squad is in the driver’s seat when it comes to earning a home game in its USL Championship Playoffs opener as the conference’s #3 or #4 seed. A win or draw Wednesday against SPR will secure a coveted home contest in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
- Wednesday marks the final game of what has been the most successful regular season in Indy Eleven’s six-year history. Heading into the midweek contest, Indy Eleven has set regular season club records in overall wins (18), road wins (6), standings points (60) and shutouts (13), and a 13th home win Wednesday would also equal a team best set in 2016.
- Indy Eleven’s home record currently sits at 12W-0L-4D (40 points) on the season. A win Saturday would set a new record for most points accrued at home in a season at 43 points, eclipsing the club’s previous record set in 2016 (13W-0L-3D [42 pts.]).
- Speaking of the 2016 campaign, the Boys in Blue will look to match another impressive feat they accomplished that year – finishing the season undefeated at home. Indy Eleven has collected 12 wins and four draws at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2019, and a seventh straight win at the corner of South & Capitol Streets or a draw would extend its club record home undefeated streak to 25 games – which would equal Pittsburgh’s concurrent stretch as the fourth longest in USL Championship history.
- Excellent defense at home has spurred Indiana’s Team to success. The Boys in Blue have allowed five goals in 16 matches at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2019, recording 11 shutouts on home turf in the process.
- Overall, Indy’s defense has excelled this year. Indy Eleven is third in the Eastern Conference and tied fourth across the league for clean sheets recorded with 13. The club has conceded the second fewest goals in the East and USL Championship (28), trailing only Tampa Bay Rowdies (26).
- Defense has been a struggle for Swope Park in 2019, as the side has the third worst defense in the league and second worst in the East, allowing 78 goals. Only two other clubs have conceded more goals: Hartford Athletic (79) and Tacoma Defiance (80).
- Swope goalkeeper Eric Dick will return to Indianapolis for the first time since completing his collegiate career with Butler University (2013-17). Dick made 71 appearances and recorded 28 clean sheets with the Bulldogs before being selected 13th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Swope’s MLS affiliate, Sporting Kansas City. The 25-year-old has made nine appearances for Swope, allowing 17 goals and recording two clean sheets.
Indy Eleven Player to Watch | DF Paddy Barrett
A staple in the Indy backline, defender Paddy Barrett has been a key benefactor in Indy Eleven’s stifling defense. The Irishmen marshalled the center of Indy’s defending third last Saturday at Tampa Bay Rowdies, winning five duels, posting a team-high four tackles on the evening and a made a crucial goal-line clearance off his chest in the 36th minute.
In fact, Barrett has been a consistent performer for Indy all year. The 26-year-old leads Indy’s defensive efforts in clearances (90) and blocks (20), and ranks top five in the team’s interceptions and tackles won throughout the season.
Barrett captains a defense that has only allowed five goals in 16 home games. The center back has also contributed to the 11 clean sheets Indy Eleven have recorded inside Lucas Oil Stadium in the 2019 campaign. His side takes on Swope Park Rangers next in the final game of the 2019 USL Championship regular season, who have scored 10 goals in their last five matches.
Swope Park Rangers Player to Watch | MF Felipe Hernandez
The man tasked with breaking down a seemingly impermeable Indy Eleven home defense will be midfielder Felipe Hernandez. Though just 21-years old, Hernandez has spent the last five years working his way up through the Sporting Kansas City system, breaking through the youth academy and recently earning a spot on the parent club’s first-team roster.
In his 29 appearances this season, 27 of which have been starts, Hernandez has scored eight goals, recorded five assists and created 44 chances. The Colombian tally ranks as the second highest in goals scored and assisted on Swope’s roster, while his 44 chances created are the most on the team. Expect his creativity to come through the middle of the pitch as he tries to navigate his way through the middle and final thirds of the park in hopes of scoring or creating for Swope Park.
Indy Eleven will close out its record-setting regular season this Wednesday, Oct. 16, when it plays host to Swope Park Rangers at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the Fan Appreciation Night celebration, presented by Community Health Network Foundation, are available starting at $15 at www.indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100.
