Indy Eleven- Soccer Saturday 2/22/25

(0:00-2:51) Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. Greg touches on Indy Eleven preseason action, news around the club and sets the agenda for a jam packed show on Soccer Saturday. (5:52-17:50) The head coach of the Indy Eleven, Mark Lowry, joins the show as he does most Saturdays. Greg and Mark start the discussion with the Eleven's seven-goal performance against Marion University this week and the next steps he wants to see his club take against the University of Indianapolis on Saturday. Then, Mark touches on Bobby Edwards' decision to leave the pitch for the coaching side of things in his mid 20's and what advice he has for any young coach entering the ranks. What's the on-field situation of the goalkeeping position? The coach and Rakestraw touch on that before spending some time discussing more personnel moves for the Eleven before Rakestraw ends the segment with some details on the newest members of the club - both players and coaches. (20:51-36:51) Through the magic of technology, Greg is joined by Jon Busch, the goalkeeper coach of the Scottish club Hibernian, better known as Hibs. Busch and Rakestraw discuss how he ended up there and the connections he had that got him into the European soccer coaching ranks. Jon touches on being thrown into the thick of things in the middle of the season and how he has approached his new position with Hibs. The work has been heavy and the hours have been long, but Jon touches on taking a few moments at each new place to appreciate the situation he is in and capture moments to remember. To end the conversation, Jon touches on what the next few months might look like into the summer months. (39:53-51:31) Duke Lacroix joins the show from the west coast as a current member of the Sacramento Republic and former member of the Indy Eleven. Greg and Duke discuss his now eight-year soccer career and reminisce about what Rakestraw dubs the greatest goal in Indy Eleven history. Duke touches on his involvement with the USL Black Players Alliance, what the group is focused on doing and why it's important. (54:31-57:10) Greg wraps up a busy Saturday morning with his thoughts on the FA Cup.

12 Feb 20221h

(0:00-7:07) Greg Rakestraw is rolling on another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5. Rake opens the show with the weather and how 5 degrees is apparently World Cup Qualifier weather. Then, dives into the Indy Eleven, new personnel added to the squad and sets the agenda for a busy Saturday morning on Indy's weekly soccer show. It was announced earlier this week that the W League team representing the Indy Eleven will be called, you guessed it, Indy Eleven! One badge, one brand regardless of which team is on the pitch between the men's, women's or Academy team. (10:08-21:23) The head coach of the Indy Eleven Mark Lowry joins the show in the second segment to talk about some of the new roster moves the Eleven have made ahead of the 2022 season. Greg and Coach Lowry talk about what positions or skillsets the team is trying to solidify in the next month or so before taking pitch for the beginning of the regular season. Lowry stresses depth, specifically at the goalkeeping position and providing more firepower in the goal-scoring category. Finally, the conversation concludes with how important the preseason games are for the squad and the ludicrous amounts of snow that we got in Indiana this week. Rakestraw finishes up with a update from the FA Cup. (24:24-34:44) Stefano Pinho joins the program after signing with the Indy Eleven earlier this week. The veteran forward was very rudely welcomed by the city's weather this week, but more importantly, Pinho talks about why Indianapolis was the right place to continue his career in the United States and what he remembers about playing here as a part of the visiting team over the years. Finally, Pinho talks about why he wanted to come and play for Mark Lowry. Then, Rakestraw gives some background on the newest forward for the Indy Eleven. (37:45-46:15) Rakestraw turns his attention to CONCACAF and the US Men's National Team. Rakestraw touches on where the US' three qualifying matches took place in the window, specifically the game in St. Paul, Minnesota in freezing temperature that saw several Honduras players leave the field because of the weather. Greg takes a look around the rest of CONCACAF and the upcoming matches in the next qualifying window in March. (49:16-56:50) For the final segment, Rake talks the Indy Eleven. Not the men's or academy team but the women's team that will represent the club in the W League. He breaks down the schedule for the Eleven women's team and the home opener for the squad.

5 Feb 202259min

(0:00-7:54) Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. He dances into the show with the United States' win over El Salvador in World Cup Qualifying in Columbus on Thursday night before setting the agenda for the rest of the show and taking a look at what the USMNT needs to do in order to make it to Qatar at the end of 2022. Finally, Greg provides news and notes surrounding the Indy Eleven. (10:56-20:43) Greg is joined by the Indy Eleven's Alann Torres and the conversation the pair had back in October of 2021. Torres is making the jump straight from the Eleven Academy team to the professional team. Greg and Alann talk about where his dream of becoming a professional soccer player began, where the opportunity to play with the Indy Eleven started and how he's balancing soccer and his course load and academics. Alann touches on which players have really taken him under their wing before Rakestraw finishes the segment with other new additions to the Academy team. (23:45-35:33) From one teenager to another, Greg is joined by Indy Eleven Academy player Palmer Ault and Palmer first talks about why it was so important to him to stick around and play his high school soccer at Noblesville. Palmer touches on how great high school soccer was before talking about graduating early to focus on training and preparing for his time with the Eleven Academy team. Ault is on his way to play for Coach Paul Snape at Butler University in the fall. Greg asks him why he chose Butler for college and then asks him why he went the soccer route rather than following his father who was once Mr. Basketball in the state of Indiana. (38:35-47:13) Greg circles back to the US Men's National Team's win over El Salvador as well as what happened around the rest of the group. Rakestraw previews the rest of the US' upcoming matches including this weekend's match against Canada before transitioning to the news and notes portion of the program. He talks primarily about USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner and his move to Arsenal. (50:14-57:09) To finish a busy Saturday morning, Greg lays out the preseason schedule and regular season schedule for the Indy Eleven.

29 Jan 20221h

(0:00-5:03) Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. Greg opens with January World Cup qualifiers starting in less than a week, as well as a new signing that features an Indy Eleven Academy player skipping college and signing his first professional contract. He then sets the agenda for a busy hour of soccer on Indy's weekly soccer show (8:04-18:21) Greg welcomes Indy Eleven defender Alex McQueen to the program to talk about his upcoming schedule with the Grenada National Team and how he's able to compete with that national team. McQueen touches on why it's the perfect time for him to make the jump from European soccer to the United States and his experiences playing in the fifth league of English soccer. How big of an adjustment is going from natural grass to turf? Greg asks Alex if there will be any adjustment in that category and what he's heard about the soccer and the city in Indianapolis. To finish the segment, Greg gives the back of Alex's player card so you can get to know the new Eleven defender. (21:23-31:23) Another new addition to the Eleven stops by, this time it is defender Mechack Jerome. Greg and Mechack touch on what he remembers about his trips to play in Indy as the opponent and his transition to the city of Indianapolis. The defender has spent the overwhelming majority of the last seven years with new Indy Eleven head coach Mark Lowry and he details what about the coach makes him want to follow him wherever he goes. Jerome is also being reunited with a familiar teammate in Indianapolis. To round out the conversation, Greg and Mechack touch on the Haitian National Team, what he's heard about Indianapolis and Coach Lowry. Once again, Greg gives you the back of Alex's card to give you more information about the center back. (34:26-45:52) It's news and notes time. Greg touches on a pair of US Men's National Team members that are linked to high profile moves on the other side of the pond, as well as the departure of one of the best to ever do it in MLS, Diego Valeri. After nine seasons in Portland, Valeri is headed back to Argentina to finish his professional career. Then, Rakestraw touches on the idea of playing a World Cup qualifier in Columbus and Minnesota during the coldest months of the year. (48:54-56:17) To round out another edition of Soccer Saturday, Greg takes a look around the English Premier League and puts a bow on a packed show.

22 Jan 202259min

(0:00-6:37) Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. Greg opens the show by highlighting the important components of the Indy Eleven schedule in 2022 and the teams that the Eleven will play for the first time this year. He closes the first segment with a reminder about the big international competitions happening this season. (9:38-19:51) As he does most Saturday mornings, Indy Eleven head coach Mark Lowry joins the program for the first time in the new year. Greg and Mark talk about the new personnel on the Eleven Roster, especially the young players on the roster. Mark touches on what Noah Powder will bring to the team as a left back as well as midfielder Raul Aguilera as well as what the next few weeks look like as more players get announced, training camp is on the horizon and the open tryout is right around the corner. (22:52-36:04) Former Indy Eleven player and new Oakland Roots SC head coach Juan Guerra joins the show to chat about his new role as a HC in the USL. Greg asks Guerra what he learned here in Indianapolis that is preparing him for a leadership position like this and what kind of community he is feeling around Oakland already. Juan comments on Eleven head coach Mark Lowry's coaching style and what he expects to see from him as the new head coach of the Boys in Blue. (39:05-44:56) It's news and notes time on Soccer Saturday. Rakestraw updates you on signings and transactions that involve former Indy Eleven players and where they will be playing in 2022. He also touches on MLS Draft news and players that could be bouncing between MLS and the USL this year and a number of other transactions. (47:57-54:38) To wrap up this edition of Soccer Saturday, Rakestraw updates you on the FA Cup and what is going on around the Premier League.

15 Jan 202257min

(00:00-07:03) - Greg Rakestraw is back with the first edition of Soccer Saturday for the year of 2022 and opens the show by discussing the guests that will be featured on today's show, latest news of teams dropping out of the USL, and the new scheduling methodology the USL will be implementing this season. (10:05-22:02) - The latest player to sign with the Indy Eleven in Sam Brown makes his first appearance on Soccer Saturday to share his experience with Real Monarchs this past season, what stood out to him when he played the Indy Eleven last year with Real Monarchs, and explains how he ended up playing college soccer at Harvard. (25:02-36:42) - Former Assistant Coach Phil Presser of the Indy Eleven joins Greg on this week's edition of Soccer Saturday to explain his new role within the organization, what it was like witnessing the academy players hoisting up the championship trophy a couple weeks ago, and shares what he will miss most about working with the Indy Eleven team. (39:44-52:04) - Current goalkeeper at Indiana University in Roman Celentano joins Greg Rakestraw a week before the MLS Draft to discuss what it was like playing in both the fall and spring, what his favorite moment that he will never forget during his time at IU, and explains who he models his game after. (55:05-56:37) - Greg Rakestraw concludes the first edition of the ninth season of Soccer Saturday by previewing some of the topics he plans on covering next week!

8 Jan 202259min

(0:00-7:34) Greg Rakestraw is back on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan for this year's edition of the "Best of Soccer Saturday" for 2021. Greg dives into the eleven best things about 2021 starting with the Eleven's win over Louisville for the first time in three years by breaking down the matchups between the two teams this season. (10:35-20:44) In the second segment of this edition of best of 2021, Rakestraw touches on the fan experience at Indy Eleven games and the return to the Mike, a.k.a IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, on the campus of IUPUI. Greg and Brad Hauter reminisce about the return to the "spiritual home" of the Eleven and how different it was compared to playing at Lucas Oil Stadium. More importantly, the fans were back in the stands for Eleven games heightening the experience at the Mike so much more. To round out the segment, the Indy Eleven will have a women's team in the W League, sponsored by the USL. (23:45-33:41) Greg gives some love to Manuel Arteaga, Nicky Law and Jared Timmer who made their debut with the club in 2021 and will be back in 2022. Rakestraw and Hauter provide some highlights from these three players and talk about what they each brought to the pitch this season. Arteaga was the goal leader for Indy in 2021 and both Law and Timmer were near the top of the club in terms of matches and minutes played. (36:42-44:05) Rakestraw and Hauter, two members of the Indy Eleven Century Club, a group of dedicated supporters to the club who have spent 100 matches or more with the club. Two new members were added to the group this season. (47:06-56:51) It wouldn't be a best of without touching on the Indy Eleven Academy's win in the first ever USL Academy Playoff Championship. Greg and Brad touch on how important a healthy youth system is for the club and why winning a championship on any level is infectious. The pair ends this edition of Best XI for 2021 with the only logical place to finish, the naming of Mark Lowry as the next head coach of the Indy Eleven.

25 Dec 202159min

(0:00-3:31) Greg Rakestraw is back for the final fresh edition of Soccer Saturday in 2021 on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. In a brief open to the show, Greg introduces you to a new name on the Indy Eleven coaching staff, a new head coach in the organization and sets the agenda for the rest of the show. Stay tuned for another busy edition of Soccer Saturday! (6:35-17:07) The newly re-signed AJ Cochran joins Greg in the second segment to talk about returning to the Eleven for a second season. Cochran touches on his health and the injury he suffered way back in August before a rundown of his quickly approaching wedding early in 2022. Cochran describes what to expect from a Mark Lowry coached team, the new personnel he's looking forward to working with this upcoming season and what he thinks his role will be on the team this season. (20:07-32:18) The Indy Eleven are entering the USL W League and named a head coach. Paul Dolinsky, former head coach of the WPSL's Lady Victory FC, was named the head coach along with Grace Bahr who was named the first assistant coach. Paul touches on his arrival to the organization and the core players that the team also announced in forwards Katie Soderstrom and Kristina Lynch and midfielder Molly McLaughlin. Coach Dolinsky and Greg touch on tapping into the talent coming out of college and the players trying to prove themselves for another pro contract down the road. Paul talks about the attention of the USL W League, already hearing from players in Europe and getting to call Grand Park home base for the club. The conversation concludes with Paul's head coach Grace Bahr and what she will bring to the club as a former player and now coach as well as the upcoming open tryout for the team. (35:18-46:07) Another member of the Indy Eleven staff stops by. He was with head coach Mark Lowry in Jacksonville and El Paso and now he is here in Indianapolis. Matt Williams joins the show to talk about working with Lowry and the opportunity to make the move to Indy alongside the head coach. He touches on his role on a Lowry coaching staff and the dynamic between the two. Believe it or not, Greg references Williams' Twitter page and the quote in his bio and how he applies that to the way he approaches coaching the game. Matt and Greg discuss the incoming personnel that Matt has worked with before and how they fit in to the team in Indianapolis as well as what Grand Park allows them to do in terms of training and the quality of the facility. Finally, Greg and Matt talk golf and checking out the other professional sports teams in Matt's time away from the pitch in Indianapolis. (49:08-56:51) Greg Rakestraw wraps up a busy hour with NYC FC who are this year's MLS Cup Champions and first time champions of that trophy before going international to update you on what's happening on the pitch across the pond. Rake touches on the Champions League and college soccer to finish up the last new edition of Soccer Saturday this calendar year.

18 Dec 202159min