#INDvHFD Preview
Indy Eleven vs Hartford Athletic
Saturday, May 18, 2024 – 7 p.m. ET
Michael A. Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Indiana
Hometown Heroes Night
Follow Live
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Television: WNDY
Spanish Radio: Exitos Radio 94.3 FM & exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvHFD MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 4-4-2, 14 pts (-1); 4th Eastern Conference
Hartford Athletic: 3-5-0, 9 pts (-9); 9th Eastern Conference
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to The Mike Saturday to host Eastern Conference opponent Hartford Athletic. Indy is looking to extend its six-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, with four coming in USL Championship action.
The Boys in Blue are coming off a 3-1 win over Miami FC last Sunday. Indy sits at 4-4-2 in the Eastern Conference and is in fourth place. Hartford is 3-5-0 in 2024 and dropped a 2-0 contest to Colorado Springs its last time out. They sit ninth in the Eastern Conference.
| IND | HFD | |
| 10 | Games | 8 |
| 17 | Goals | 7 |
| 18 | Goals Conceded | 16 |
| 11 | Assists | 5 |
| 41 | SOT | 39 |
| 43 | Shots Faced | 42 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 2 |
SERIES VS. HARTFORD
Saturday marks the eighth meeting all-time between the sides, with Indy leading the series 4-2-1. This is the first of two meetings this season, with the return trip taking place September 7.
Indy leads 4-2-1 | GF 11, GA 6
Recent Meetings
June 24, 2023 | W, 2-0 | Away
June 10, 2023 | D, 1-1 | Home
Aug. 13, 2022 | L, 2-1 | Away
April 30, 2022 | W, 1-0 | Home
July 29, 2020 | W, 4-1 | Home
#GOALS
The Boys in Blue have scored in 10 straight USLC matches to open the 2024 season, bringing their total to 17 goals (T3 USL). The streak is the longest to open a USLC campaign (6 in 2019) and longer than any streak during the 2023 season (5 – 2x). It is the longest run overall within the same USLC season for the club since a 12-game streak in 2022. In total, Indy has scored in 13 straight regular USLC season matches dating back to Sept. 30, 2023, the longest streak since joining the league for the 2018 season.
THE [NEW] GAFFER
2024 is Indy’s first season under head coach Sean McAuley, who previously served as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others.
McAuley got his first career win in the USL Championship on March 16, 2024, a 2-1 defeat of Memphis 901 FC. His USLC record sits at 4-4-2, and he is 6-4-2 overall.
STREAKING
The Boys in Blue are currently riding a six-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, which includes a four-game streak in USL Championship action. Indy has outscored its opponents 10-3 in those matches, while posting three clean sheets.
4.17 | Chicago Fire FC II* | W, 1-0
4.20 | at Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC | D, 1-1
4.27 | North Carolina FC | W, 2-1
5.4 | at Monterey Bay F.C. | W, 1-0
5.8 | San Antonio FC* | W, 2-0
5.12 | at Miami FC | W, 3-1
*denotes U.S. Open Cup match
The Boys in Blue’s longest unbeaten streak in 2023 ended at six matches (8.9-9.2) with victories over Birmingham, Miami (2x), El Paso and Loudoun and a tie at Memphis.
TOTW x3
Aedan Stanley was named the USL Championship Player of the week following his first career two-assist match in the 3-1 win over his former club, Miami. Stanley was joined on the team of the week by Adrian Diz Pe and Augi Williams.
TOTW REGULARS
Jack Blake earned his fourth USL Championship Team of the Week honor of the 2024 season following Indy Eleven’s 1-0 win over Monterey Bay F.C. Blake is tied for the Indy Eleven lead with four goals in 10 matches, already besting his season total (3) from 2023.
Indy opened the season with back-to-back weeks with two players on the USL Championship Team of the Week. Blake and Younes Boudadi were honored after the week one match at Oakland, while Blake repeated alongside Aedan Stanley after the win over Memphis week two. Both Callum Chapman-Page (week 8) and Adrian Diz Pe (week 9) have earned bench honors.
TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (T6th, 72) and Augi Williams (9th, 70) serve as the only pair of active teammates in the USL Championship’s top 10 for all-time regular season goals.
ALLOW ME TO ASSIST YOU
Aedan Stanley has a league-best five assists after a pair in the 3-1 win over Miami.
FAMILIAR FOE
Boys in Blue Younes Boudadi (2021, 2022) and Yannik Oettl (2022) both spent time with the opposition during their USL Championship careers, while Hartford’s Rece Buckmaster played in the Circle City in (2021).
LAST TIME OUT
MIAMI (Sunday, May 12, 2024) – Indy Eleven went on the road and picked up three points with a 3-1 victory over USL Championship Eastern Conference opponent Miami FC.
In the waning minutes of the first half, Indy’s season assist leader Aedan Stanley lined up for a corner that found the head of Adrian Diz Pe. The assist was Stanley’s fourth of the season and the tally was the first of 2024 for Diz Pe.
The visitors had an 8-1 advantage in shots in the first frame and garnered four corners to Miami’s zero.
It didn’t take long for Miami to grab the equalizer in the second frame, as Luisinho registered a 57th-minute goal to pull the game level.
The remainder of the second half saw Augi Williams take over for the Boys in Blue after converting on a penalty in the 67th minute, drawn by Younes Boudadi, for the eventual match winner. A 70th-minute insurance goal for Williams came from who other than Stanley, tying Willams for a team-high four goals in 2024 and a fifth assist for Stanley. Stanley’s five assists are the most for a player in the league.
Indy finished with the 17-8 advantage in shots, including 6-2 on frame. Williams led the team with nine shots, three on frame, while Martinez had three and Blake had two. Defensively, Diz Pe won three tackles, had three interceptions and added a pair of clearances. Yannik Oettl had one save.
Scoring Summary
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (Aedan Stanley) 41’
MIA – Luisinho 57’
IND – Augi Williams (penalty) 67’
IND – Augi Williams (Aedan Stanley) 70’
Discipline Summary
IND – Tyler Gibson (caution) 3’
MIA – Nicolas Cardona (caution) 19’
MIA – Frank Lopez (caution) 31’
MIA – Alejandro Mitrano (caution) 45+1’
IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 61’
IND – Augi Williams (caution) 90+2’
