Indy Eleven- Soccer Saturday 3/8/25

(0:00-5:20) Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. Greg opens the show by setting the agenda for the show and lays out the new editions to the Indy Eleven for next season. The Indy Eleven Academy team took home a championship last weekend at the USL Academy League Playoffs and the University of Indianapolis saw there season come to a close this week. (8:20-21:25) Head coach of the Indy Eleven Mark Lowry joins the show in the second segment to talk about more additions to the Indy Eleven roster. But first, Mark and Greg talk about the Indy Eleven Academy team lifting a trophy last week in Florida. Then, the head coach dives into the roster decisions that were made this week for the organization including a player that will be staying in Indianapolis for a second season in AJ Cochran. Greg asked Mark how difficult it is to evaluate talent in the United States due to the fact that the college system supplies players alongside the junior and academy programs around the country, and coach describes the game of Alex McQueen, another pick up for the Eleven. Head coach Lowry ends the conversation by laying out how many players they'd like to have under contract before the holiday break. (24:26-36:35) The Indy Eleven Academy team - or the "Baby Boys in Blue" - brought home a trophy and Diego Sanchez, a member of that team, joins the show to talk about last weekend's championship run. Sanchez describes what it was like to win a trophy as well as the fans that met them at the airport when they returned from the tournament. Diego spent time training with the senior team and Greg asks him about the advantages of getting to spend several months with the top team before coming back to the Eleven youth team. To finish out the segment, Greg touches on the rest of the Academy team, several awards that Eleven players received last weekend and an update on the U.S. Men's National Team. (39:35-47:43) Another player joins the show with Greg Rakestraw. Bryam Rebellon calls in to talk about, first and foremost, how he ended up with a wife from Indianapolis considering his travels playing professional soccer for over a decade. Rebellon touches on what it means to be in Indianapolis and what he's expecting as an Indy Eleven player and playing in a colder climate in Indianapolis. Finally, Rebellon talks about what fans should expect from a Mark Lowry coached team next season. (50:44-57:01) To finish another edition of Soccer Saturday, Greg Rakestraw runs through some Champions League results, MLS Cup Final and the rest of the action around Europe.

11 Dec 20211h

(0:00-5:07) - Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5/107.5 the Fan. He opens the show with an update on the 2022 Indy Eleven roster and a group of players making the jump from El Paso to Indianapolis for next season. Then, Greg lays out the players who likely won't return to the Eleven next season before getting you set up for the rest of this edition of Soccer Saturday. (8:08-23:59) - Indy Eleven head coach Mark Lowry joins the program to talk all things Eleven. The coach talks about the roster moves made earlier this week and what he likes about the players that will wear an Eleven jersey in 2022. As is the case for all professional sports teams and especially USL teams, players come and go, Greg and Coach Lowry talk about the players who represented Indy this season that will move on from their time in Indianapolis. Finally, Greg and Mark touch on the USL Championship final between Tampa Bay and Orange County before Greg provides an update on teams who aren't playing in the 2022 season and 2021 USL awards. (27:00-39:32) The Indy Eleven Academy team is rolling and their head coach, Kiki Wallace, joins the program to talk about the USL Academy Playoffs currently taking place, what the next steps might be for the young players on his team and the array of young talent around the state of Indiana. Then, Greg and Kiki return to the Eleven's matchups this weekend at USL Academy Playoffs. Finally, Kiki touches on the opportunity to play against the Mexican National Team when they made a trip to the states and prepared for games against the US Men's National Team and Canada. (42:32-52:03) The final interview of this edition of Soccer Saturday features John Higgins, the University of Indianapolis men's soccer head coach, as UIndy is one win away from being a national semifinalist. Coach touches on his team this season as well as the Greyhounds game on Saturday Night at Key Stadium against Fort Hays State. He provides an in-depth scouting report ahead of the Regional Final and keys to a win for UIndy. To finish the segment, Greg wraps up the segment with a look around the Hoosier state college soccer landscape. (55:04-57:34) Greg Rakestraw finishes up another edition of Soccer Saturday by talking Premier League, Champions League and international soccer.

4 Dec 20211h

(00:00-08:41) - Greg Rakestraw is back with another edition of Soccer Saturday and opens the show by recapping last week's show, touches on the concept of today's show, and catches you up on what is happening in the USL Championship. (11:43-25:03) - As tradition continues around Thanksgiving, Greg brings back a conversation he had with an author. The first interview Rake replays is his conversation with author Roger Bennett of Reborn in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to His Chosen Home. Bennett explains the feedback that he has received since his book was published on June 29th of this year, jokes about how he had to write a book about England to end their curse for the UEFA European Championship, and tells some backstories from England and his time in the USA. (28:04-37:23) - Author of Secrets Of Success: Insights From Megan Rapinoe's World-Class Soccer Career in Meg Linehan was the second conversation that Rake replays on today's show. Linehan shared what she learned about Megan Rapinoe while she was researching her before putting the book together, how much longer she thinks Rapinoe will be professionally be playing soccer, and updated you on how the new expansion team in Racing Louisville FC is coming along. (40:25-51:34) - The final best-of interview author edition of Soccer Saturday is author Rob Goldman of The Sisterhood: The 99ers and the Rise of US Women's Soccer from a couple weeks ago where he explained why right now was the write time to write a book about the 1999 World Cup team, what it was like talking with Tony Dicicco in the latter stages of his life, and which player on the team that isn't talked about enough from that team. (54:35-57:19) - Today's show concludes with Rake teasing some Indy Eleven conversations that he will be having next week and quickly previews all the latest local soccer matches that are coming up within the next week.

27 Nov 20211h

(00:00-09:06) - Greg Rakestraw is back with another version of Soccer Saturday and opens today's show by previewing the show, the new guests and talks about the new hire for Indy Eleven in Head Coach Mark Lowry. (12:06-26:11) - Newly hired head coach of the Indy Eleven Mark Lowry joins Greg to talk about why he decided to take this job and leave El Paso, discusses his thoughts on his new players and on his new community. (29:11-38:52) - Former Butler Player and current Indy Eleven Player Jared Timmer joins the show to talk about returning for a second season, thoughts on playing for a new head coach and what his offseason plans are. (41:52-51:33) - The Head Coach of the Indiana Soccer Team Todd Yeagley joins the show to talk about returning to the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd time in 2021 after a delayed last season. The Hoosiers lost in the National Championship game back in the Spring. He talks about what to expect in their first round matchup and also looks back at the season. (54:33-55:28) - Rake closes out today's edition of Soccer Saturday by thanking today's guests.

20 Nov 20211h

(00:00-04:07) - Greg Rakestraw is back with another version of Soccer Saturday and opens today's show by recapping last night's United States Men's National Team victory over Mexico, reminds you about what the criterion is for each country to make the World Cup, and previews today's guest lineup. (07:10-19:38) - Goalkeeper of the Indy Eleven in Jordan Farr joins Rake on Soccer Saturday this week to explain how everything went down with him going on loan to San Antonio FC, if he knows all the names of the players in the locker room, and what it's like looking down at his San Antonio FC uniform and not seeing the Indy Eleven logo. (22:39-35:16) - Lead analyst of the USL Championship and a good friend of the show in Devon Kerr joins Greg Rakestraw on today's installment of Soccer Saturday to detail the fallout of Phoenix Rising throughout the course of the season, how weird it is seeing Jordan Farr between the goal posts for San Antonio FC, and gives his opinion on who has the best chance at beating the Tampa Bay Rowdies. (38:17-50:16) - The final guest on today's show is author Rob Goldman of The Sisterhood: The 99ers and the Rise of US Women's Soccer to explain why right now was the write time to write a book about the 1999 World Cup team, what it was like talking with Tony Dicicco in the latter stages of his life, and which player on the team that isn't talked about enough from that team. (53:17-57:30) - Rake closes out today's edition of Soccer Saturday by thanking today's guests, takes a look at where the collegiate soccer divisions are at in their season along with some notes, and previews what will be coming your way on the show next week.

13 Nov 20211h

(00:00-05:50) - The first off-season edition of Soccer Saturday with Greg Rakestraw is underway where he breaks down Jordan Farr's playing situation with San Antonio FC and previews the conversations that he will have today with guests Mike Watts, Carlos Zavaleta, and John Higgins. (08:52-22:59) - Voice of the USL Championship in Mike Watts joins Rake on Soccer Saturday this week to give a breakdown of the teams that are competing in the USL Playoffs, where the Indy Eleven is currently at heading into 2022, and calls the Indy Eleven head coaching job as one of the top jobs in the entire USL. (26:00-38:32) - The father or Eriq Zavaleta in Carlos Zavaleta joins Greg Raketraw on Soccer Saturday following his Brebeuf Jesuit Braves first ever IHSAA state title in soccer to explains what being at Brebeuf Jesuit special in comparison to coaching club soccer, how soccer ended up leading him from El Salvador to the United States, and when he realized that his son Eriq would have the ability to represent El Salvador's Men's National Team. (41:34-50:39) - Head Coach of the men's soccer team at the University of Indianapolis in John Higgins joins Greg Rakestraw to explain the consistent success his team has had this season, how he balanced seniors returning following last year in connection to bringing in freshman, and the legacy that is building between the Steinwasher family and the the soccer program. (53:40-56:37) - Greg Rakestraw closes out today's show with important news and notes surrounding the roster for the United States Men's National Team and what happened this week in the Premier and Champions League.

6 Nov 202159min

(00:00-03:56) - The final in-season edition of Soccer Saturday with Greg Rakestraw begins with Rake highlighting the current playoff situations in the league, the IHSAA Soccer State Finals that will be going on today, and previews the conversations he will have with today's guests. (06:58-18:16) - Interim Head Coach Max Rogers of the Indy Eleven possibly makes his final appearance on Soccer Saturday with Greg Rakestraw with that title to explain how he has dealt with this week knowing that this is the final week of the season, what to expect tonight from Memphis 901 considering this is their eighth match in the last four weeks, and what the learning process for him has been like going from an assistant coach to the head coach. (21:17-32:41) - With the IHSAA State Finals for soccer going on, Greg Rakestraw is joined by Carmel boys soccer coach Shane Schmidt and takes a look at their opponent in the Noblesbille Millers, if there is an added element to tonight's match with both teams knowing each other very well, and the overall importance of being a balanced soccer team versus having one player who accounts for most of the goals or assists. (35:43-50:24) - Former defender of the Indy Eleven in Nemanja Vukovic joins Greg Rakestraw as the final guest of this week's show to explain how everything went down following the Indy Eleven's decision not to bring him back after the 2019 season, how the transition from player to coach has gone so far, and if he ever saw himself as a coach once his playing career came to a finish. (53:25-56:35) - With the season coming to a close tonight for the Indy Eleven, Greg Rakestraw closes this week's show out with some of the story lines that he will be updating you on throughout the off-season and when training camp for the boys in blue will begin for the 2022 season.

30 Okt 202159min

(00:00-01:57) - Greg Rakestraw is back with another edition of Soccer Saturday and opens up the show with the Indy Eleven officially being eliminated from post-season contention and previews topics that he will cover throughout the show. (04:59-15:08) - Interim Head Coach Max Rogers of the Indy Eleven makes his weekly appearance on Soccer Saturday with Greg Rakestraw to share his excitement on the team putting together a full match against Louisville City last week, how the team has approached this week knowing their season ends the night before Halloween, and breaks down FC Tulsa ahead of their match tonight. (18:09-33:02) - Jeff Rueter from The Athletic makes his second appearance of the season on Soccer Saturday with Greg Rakestraw to explain the confidence meter with United States Men's National Coach Gregg Berhalter, who could possibly replace Berhalter if the USMNT decides to part ways with him, and details what next year for the USL looks like in terms of number of teams. (36:04-48:09) - Brebeuf Jesuit's girls' soccer coach Angela White joins Rake on Soccer Saturday to highlight the injuries her team has while making a run to win the state championship for girls soccer, how the team has been able to adapt the last month of the season for the post-season started, and previews tonight's semi-state match against Evansville Memorial. (51:11-57:21) - Our final guest of today's show is Dave Piercefield from the Central Indiana Honda Dealers to explain why the partnership with the Indy Eleven is such a good relationship, how business is going right now for Honda, and how they were able to stay afloat during the tough times this year.

23 Okt 20211h