Soccer Saturday - Indy Eleven for 09-09-23

(00:00 – 1:06) - The Intro Segment of the first playoff addition of Soccer Saturday is just a quick tease of the jam packed upcoming show.     (4:06 – 15:00) - Head Coach of the Indy Eleven, Mark Lowry is on for his weekly spot as he prepares to hopefully lead the team to a victory in their first playoff game on Sunday. Coach gives a quick recap on the team’s game against San Antonio FC last week. The team appealed a yellow card that Solomon Asante was given in their last game, but it was denied. Coach then gives some bits and pieces about how he intends to tackle the playoff matchup against Charleston on Sunday.     (18:00 – 27:09) - Solomon Asante makes another appearance on the show this week. He has been finding the back of the net more often since August, Asante thinks that the team has just been stepping up and realizing the importance of their individual role to the team. Asante was the only player to participate in all 34 regular season matches this season.      (30:09 – 42:31) - Former Indy Eleven player AJ Cochran is on the program now as a member of the Charleston Battery. He explains to Rakestraw that the decision to leave was in order to be closer to his wifes family. Cochran gives props to his Charleston teammates for getting the team this far in the season. He breaks down what was succesful about their game plan this season to get to the playoffs. Cochran has played out of his comfort zone this past year and finds it rewarding.     (45:31 – ) - The show closes out with USL Tactics John Morissey joining Greg Rakestraw to breakdown the Eleven’s Sunday playoff match along with what the Eleven did right to make the playoffs this season. Morissey notes that the team really managed to maintain playoff form even through a list of injuries. He speculates that Indy’s coach Mark Lowry may have preferred to play Memphis this weekend for a slight advantage in the first round. Morissey talks about Indy’s potential opponents should they advance past the quarterfinal round.

21 Okt 202356min

(00:00 – 3:48) - The Indy Eleven’s first playoff appearance since 2019 begins next week. Knocked FC Tulsa out of a playoff spot last week with a 2 – 1 win. Tonight they will face San Antonio FC. The game will be broadcast on MyIndy TV 23.    (6:48 – 18:14) - Indy Eleven head coach Mark Lowry returns for his weekly interview. The win last week was a confidence building win for the Indy Eleven according to Lowry. Rakestraw asks what it is about Coach Lowry and his players that keep them locked in through out the season and what it is like watching certain players grow from the beginning of the year to the end. Finally, what is coach’s gameplan for facing the second ranked western conference team in San Antonio FC tonight.     (21:14 – 37:52) - Sebastian Velasquez is on the show for back-to-back appearances. He had another goal against FC Tulsa. Velasquez give a breakdown of what he and his teammates did right in the team’s win last week. Rakestraw and Velasquez talk about how the current events in Israel right now might be affecting teams in the region that have players from different backgrounds on the same team. Velasquez gives his perspective having been a player in Israel in years past.     (40:52 – 47:51) - A breakdown of the USL playoff picture. Rakestraw begins with what teams didn’t make the cut. Both the Eastern and Western conferences still have one playoff spot remaining. Birmingham and Louisville FC don’t have their seeding set in stone yet and their performances tonight will determine how they and the Indy Eleven enter the playoffs. The Eleven have a chance to enter the playoffs as either the 5th, 6th, or 7th seed. A win tonight gives them at the very least a guaranteed 6th seed spot.    (50:51 – 56:22) - The final segment of the show talks about MLS action and international soccer. Most of the MLS is on an international break right now, save for three games. Inter Miami made a run for it but will not be able to make it into the playoffs this season, despite the help of Messi Magic. A short & sweet Welcome to Rexham recap.

14 Okt 202359min

(00:00 – 2:04) - A quick intro segment congratulating the Indy Eleven on qualifying for the playoffs following their 3-0 win over Detroit City FC last week.     (5:04 – 14:58) - Mark Lowry is back for his weekly segment after not being able to appear last week. Lowry opens with his feelings about the Indy Eleven making the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The return of Douglas Martinez provided a spark to the Eleven’s offense in their last game. How is Lowry going to be preparing his team for the playoffs and what are the expectations for their first matchup? A few players are leaving for international play, which the team can fortunately afford having already earned their playoff spot.    (17:58 – 26:04) - Sebastian Velasquez is featured in a post-game interview. Still riding the wave of energy from just qualifying for the playoffs, he says that the effort the team put into their win helped make a special night for Indy fans. The story of why Velasquez hugged coach Lowry after his goal. Robby Dambrot is second to be interviewed in this segment. He is still taking in his first ever USL playoff appearance. He believes that the Eleven are up there with some of the league’s top teams heading into their final two weeks of the regular season.     (29:04 – 40:41) - Matt Watson, assistant coach of FC Tulsa joins the program. Watson was a former player for the Indy Eleven. His Tulsa team needs a win to make it into the playoffs as they take on the Indy Eleven today. Rakestraw asks Watson about the experience coaching or playing on what is usually a baseball field. Watson breaks down his scouting report of the Eleven’s growth this year with a high roster turnover.     (43:41 – 57:02) - Indianapolis native Perry Kitchen joins the show. The recently retired MLS player makes his first appearance on the show. He discusses the injury that led to his retirement. Rakestraw asks what it is like to have to face this sort of a decision at 30 years old. He will now be entering the mortgage business as his family returns to Indianapolis. Who would he say was the biggest name he played with during his MLS career?

7 Okt 20231h

(00:00 – 03:54) - The Indy Eleven lost their last matchup against Rio Grande Valley FC. A win tonight against Detroit City FC guarantees the team a spot in the playoffs or a win next week against FC Tulsa. This would be the Eleven’s first playoff appearance since 2019. Preview of upcoming guests and future talking points closes out the first segment.    (06:54 – 16:37) - Cam Lindley is taking head-coach Mark Lowry’s place in the second segment of the show. Lindley, a new father, is asked about how his child is doing. Has his game changed at all now that Aodhan Quinn is no longer available on the field? This is Lindley’s second stint with the team, last time was during a pandemic season. He talks about the difference the fans make to a game. Do players watch tape for a team they played just two weeks ago?    (19:37 – 35:07) - IUPUI Women’s head-coach Chris Johnson joins the program to talk about their phenomenal start to the season. Even with the experienced seniors on the team, several freshmen have showed up and taken starting spots. Given that the women's team plays twice a week they have very short prep time for games. Coach and Rakestraw highlight several players in the program across the interview. Milwaukee is a big spot on the team’s calendar, what is the team doing to prepare for that big of a matchup at this point in the season.    (38:07 – 50:43) - Jordan Dickey, a former intern for the Indy Eleven is on the show and talks about the National Power Soccer team, which is a soccer league designed for people with disabilities who play in wheelchairs. They are playing in Australia soon as a part of the Power Soccer World Cup. Jordan was introduced to the sport by a teammate, who would eventually become his wife, and has been playing since he was 10 after being forced to go by his parents. Four of the players on the National Team are from Indiana.    (53:43 – 56:50) - A catchup on Messi Magic, as in none occurred because he was sitting out. Inter Miami has five matches left to make the MLS playoffs. They play NY FC/SC tonight as they attempt to close in on the final spot for the post-season. A lightning-fast Premiere League look around the league.

30 Sep 202359min

(00:00 – 3:21) - The Indy Eleven walked off the pitch with a tie against Phoenix Rising FC last week. It was a tie that felt like a win and at least got the club one point in the standings. Preview of USL matchups happening Saturday night as the Eleven do not play until Sunday.     (6:21 – 19:16) - It is time for Mark Lowry’s weekly appearance on the program. Lowry was not on the show last week due to the time zone shift in Phoenix and the business of the team’s schedule. Lowry was impressed with the team’s performance against Phoenix. Rising has been a solid team at home this past season so the Eleven’s ability to slow the game down and play at their own pace was needed. Lowry is most concerned about the opposing team’s coach in their Sunday matchup against the Rio Grande Valley Toros. He says that their coach is a constant adjustor who doesn’t play a team the same way game after game, and it will require frequent adjusting.    (22:16 – 31:06) - Sid Van Drunen is on the show for segment three. The IUPUI Jaguars head coach talks about the start to the soccer season for the team. How has the transfer portal affected teams like IUPUI on a season-to-season basis. Drunen has a former Indy Eleven player on the Jag’s roster this season. The Jag’s have an opportunity to get their season off to a 3 – 0 start pending the result of their game with Oakland today.     (34:06 – 48:50) - Kyle McCarthy of the New England Soccer Journal joins the show. They talk about the resignation of Bruce Arena as the New England Revolution’s head coach. This follows him being placed on administrative leave after making insensitive remarks on July 30th. McCarthy believes there is a chance the exact details of what were said are never known due to the legal process keeping people from being able to openly discuss what exactly he said. Richie Williams was then named and unnamed interim head coach in quick fashion, most players seemed to not want Williams as coach.     (51:50 – 56:45) - The show closes out with a Champion’s League recap and list of upcoming matches this weekend. Welcome To Rexham review with two new episodes debuting over the past week.

23 Sep 202359min

(00:00 – 6:58) - It’s the second straight Saturday with no game for the Indy Eleven. They lost to New Mexico United on Friday, 3 – 2. This loss also came with the unfortunate news of an injured Eleven player. Future Eleven matchups, and a preview of international soccer. Indy’s next matchup is going to be a first after six years in the league. They play Phoenix next Wednesday.     (9:58 – 26:49) - Younes Boudadi joins the show in place of Coach Mark Lowry. Lowry is busy traveling with the team on the road following a late start last night. Boudadi could not join the team in New Mexico as he hit a league limit on yellow cards and was forced to sit out a game. Boudadi is staying in Indianapolis to give himself a full break and recover when it is time to return to play. He also gives an update on a shoulder injury that occurred earlier in the season, he has been playing through it with the intent of getting surgery after the season ends.     (29:49 – 44:54) - The Phoenix head-coach and former player of the Indy Eleven Juan Guerra joins the show. Guerra had a major roster overhaul in the offseason, he goes over the challenges the come with building a new, young roster. Danny Trejo is the leading scorer for Phoenix with 15 goals this season, Guerra details how Trejo has managed to stay offensively intact this year. He also explains that overall teamwork this year has led to a team with the third most goals in the USL. How does the temperature of Phoenix hurt/help the team?     (47:54 – 52:21) - Messi Magic is back from Argentina, but he will not be playing in Atlanta today. Messi revealed on his Instagram that he ordered a pizza in Miami, so people know he didn’t make the trip. Messi may not only need a break at 36 years old, but also could want to avoid playing on turf. Next Sunday Miami vs. Orlando will be on national television on FS1. The U.S. Men’s National Team beat Oman and Uzbekistan in the past couple of weeks.    (55:21 – 56:20) - Quick sign off with previews of the Premiere League Matchups this week and the return of “Welcome to Wrexham”

16 Sep 20231h

(00:00 – 2:12) - Soccer Saturday opens with a recap of the Indy Eleven’s Road trip where they won 2 and drew 1. They now look forward to today’s game against Miami FC at home for the “All Things Indiana” game. Plus, some international, U.S., and college soccer news to get to later in the program.    (5:12 – 19:57) - Mark Lowry, head coach of the Indy Eleven joins host Greg Rakestraw to talk about the Eleven’s potential sweep of Miami FC this season. Discussion over Tim Trilk, the backup goalkeeper who was just named player of the month for the Eleven. Trilk was Indy’s only healthy goalkeeper until they acquired Eric Walker on loan from St. Louis. What is team training going to look like with a 13-day break in September?    (22:57 – 28:34) - Segment three features a post-game interview with Sebastian Guenzatti. He speaks to the comeback victory in the second half and how subs brought the game home. Guenzatti gives extensive detail on his game winning goal.     (31:34 – 43:47) - John Morrissey of USL Tactics joins the program. He talks about the high expectations and the challenge of putting so many high-profile players together on one team, like the Indy Eleven have. Morrissey says that might have been what gave the Eleven a rough start this season, but the team is now utilizing the roster to its full effect. As the playoff loom around the corner what are some of the things that the Eleven need to sure up? The Eleven and Tampa Bay Rowdies are probably the two strongest teams in the Eastern Conference according to Morrissey.    (46:47 - 57:08) - Rakestraw closes out the show with some international football talk as he breaks down the groups for Champions League Play. Manchester City is running rampant through the Premiere League again already this season. Finally, a rundown of U.S. Men’s National team upcoming friendlies and another update on Messi Mania.

2 Sep 202359min