Boys in Blue Looking for Fifth Straight Win at The Mike
#INDvNM Preview
Indy Eleven vs. New Mexico United
Saturday, May 28, 2022 – 4:00 p.m. ET
IUPUI Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
FOLLOW LIVE
Local TV: MyINDY-TV 23
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 94.3 FM / exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers
Live stats: #INDvNM MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS
Indy Eleven: 5W-3L-2D (+3 GD), 17 pts.; 7th in Eastern Conference
New Mexico United: 4W-2L-4D (+10 GD), 16 pts.; 6th in Western Conference
COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK SPORTS MEDICINE INDY ELEVEN INJURY REPORT
OUT: MF Ayoze (R hamstring strain), FW Aris Briggs (shin contusion), MF Bryam Rebellon (R quadriceps strain)
QUESTIONABLE: none
DISCIPLINE REPORT
IND: none
NM: none
Indy Eleven closes out a run of six home games in seven matches with a rare matinee at Carroll Stadium against its practical mirror image from the Western Conference in New Mexico United. Both teams enter Saturday’s match on hot streaks, the Boys in Blue winning five of their last six and the Black-and-Yellow going unbeaten in their last four outings, including two wins on the trot.
After enjoying plenty of home cooking since the beginning of April, Indy Eleven will embark on a June-long, four-game road trip before returning to “The Mike” on July 2. Indy Eleven will look to stay unbeaten in league play at Carroll Stadium, where its 4W-0L-1D mark in Championship action includes four straight victories.
The team’s attacking success so far this season has come by committee, and lately it’s been forward Jonas Fjeldberg’s turn as the Norwegian became the second Boy in Blue to score in consecutive games with his insurance tally last weekend against New York Red Bulls II. Fans should also expect to see forward Solomon Asante injected into the proceedings once again, as the two-time USL Championship MVP dipped his toes in for the final 11 minutes of last weekend’s match to make his official debut for the Boys in Blue.
On the other end of the pitch, Indy Eleven has collected two shutouts in its last three games – although both of those were notched by recently-departed goalkeeper Elliot Panicco, who was recalled by MLS’ Nashville SC on Tuesday. While the NSC-to-Indy goalkeeper pipeline continued on with the loan acquisition of Bryan Meredith on Thursday, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether it will be the longtime MLS veteran Meredith or the Eleven incumbent Tim Trilk stepping between the posts on Saturday afternoon.
New Mexico United enters the weekend on short rest after having its previously scheduled rivalry row with Phoenix Rising FC postponed from last Saturday to this past Tuesday due to COVID close-contact protocols. However, the wait was worth it for the side from Albuquerque, which dominated the hand-cuffed Rising roster 7-0 for a three-point result that lifted the squad from 11th to 6th place on the West table.
Like Indy Eleven, United’s offensive output has also been spread well spread out, with defender Harry Swartz (4 goals), familiar foe Neco Brett (4 goals) and midfielders Justin Portillo (2 goals, 3 assists) and Daniel Bruce (1 goal, 3 assists), standing out. New Mexico is also facing a goalkeeper revolving door after the now permanent departure of long-time staple Cody Mizell to MLS’ New York City FC, but Alex Tambakis has filled in more than admirably by posting three shutouts and conceding only four times in his six starts thus far. United’s seven goals allowed are tied for the fewest in the Championship thus far, but that unit will be put to the test as the Boys in Blue are looking to score in their ninth straight outing on Saturday.
LAST TIME OUT
Indy Eleven 2 : 0 New York Red Bulls II
Sat., May 21 | Recap & Highlights | Stats
Indy Eleven pushed its undefeated streak at Carroll Stadium to eight consecutive matches dating to the end of the 2021 season, as the Boys in Blue easily defeated New York Red Bulls II 2-0. A long throw in by captain Neveal Hackshaw forced an own goal off the head of Juan Castillo in the 30th minute to open the scoring, while Jonas Fjeldberg converted in the 43rd to put IXI up 2-0. In what would be his final Eleven appearance, Elliot Panicco saved four shots en route to his and the squad’s second clean sheet of the season.
New Mexico United 7 : 0 Phoenix Rising FC
Tues., May 24 | Stats
New Mexico United emphatically topped Phoenix Rising on Tuesday night, finishing with seven goals en route to the most emphatic victory in the club’s history. Albuquerque-native Cristian Nava scored his first professional goal and registered an assist, while Justin Portillo scored two goals – his first two for United – from the penalty spot and assisted another. Also contributing to the record scoring haul for United were Chris Wehan, Harry Swartz, and Daniel Bruce, while Phoenix’s Darnell King scored an own goal.
SERIES VS. NEW MEXICO UNITED
First ever meeting
Saturday marks the debut matchup between Indy Eleven and New Mexico United. Despite New Mexico United and Indy Eleven both joining the USL Championship in 2018, strict intra-conference scheduling (2018-19) and COVID-related scheduling practices (2020) prevented even the possibility of a regular season head-to-head until 2021, when the schedule makers decided it wasn’t in the cards. New Mexico United will be the fourth of eight new opponents for Indy Eleven in 2022. The Boys in Blue are undefeated in the previous three matches against first-time opponents in 2022, a group that includes:
vs. LA Galaxy II (1-1 D on 4/02)
at Rio Grande Valley FC (2-1 W on 4/09)
vs. Orange County SC (3-1 W 4/30)
vs. New Mexico United (5/28)
at Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC (6/18)
at San Diego Loyal (6/25)
vs. San Antonio FC (8/27)
at Monterey Bay F.C. (9/17)
ELEVEN PLAYER TO WATCH: MF NOAH POWDER
Powder will be no stranger to lining up against New Mexico after spending the last three seasons with Real Monarchs SLC. While the New Jersey native and Trinidad and Tobago international was billed as a swashbuckling outside back entering the season, Mark Lowry has decided to utilize Powder more up the field in a wide midfield role that still takes advantage of his willingness to defend in the team’s high pressure scheme while accentuating his aggression and effectiveness in attack (see his assist to set up Jonas Fjeldberg last Saturday as Exhibit A).
That assist, coupled with his goal against Orange County SC on April 30, makes Powder one of four players on the squad to register at least one goal and one assist through the team’s first 10 outings. With New Mexico coming in as one of the hardest teams to break down in the entirety of the Championship, using Powder’s sideline-hugging width and plentiful runs into the final third will be crucial to Indy stretching United out and finding gaps to attack through.
