Indy 11 Women beat Louisville II for 1st / Indy 11 Men tonight 9 pm
Our Indy 11 women took over sole possession of first place after an impressive 3-1 win over Racing Louisville Fri night. The 11 are off to a great start with 6 wins and 2 ties on the season for tops in the league. (story below) To learn more about the newest edition of Indiana’s Team representing the women’s game, visit indyeleven.com/wleague. On the men’s side they will next play in Colorado tonight at 9 pm on MyIndyTV 23/ESPN+. The boys in blue return home Sat, July 2 at 7:30 pm with a fire-works display after – so make your plans to be there- tix are just $15 @ indyeleven.com/tickets.
2026 World Cup Cities Announced
The 2026 World Cup Cities have been announced and the expected cities were selected (video). Los Angeles, San Fran, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, New York, Boston, Philly, Atlanta & Miami. I guess the Midwest doesn’t matter in the World Cup. And NO KANSAS IS NOT THE MIDWEST. Cincy was, maybe Nashville – but not Kansas City which is 8 daggum hours away from us. I plan to follow the US team anyway – but Chicago’s mayor refusing to play FIFAs game and pony up the resources needed – has left the Midwest with NO GAMES. Thanks for nothing CHICAGO!! I am figuring the US will play in NY/NJ, Philly and perhaps Boston – so look out friends in those areas – The Ole Ballcoach is coming!
US Ties El Salvador 1-1 in SlopFest
Not 100% sure what learned from the slopfest in El Salvador other than this US team has guts and spirit – and they won’t be bossed around. The US found a way to tie the game late with a huge header by Seattle forward Jordan Morris (gooooall) to tie it at 1-1 (highlights) of a fantastic pass from Eric De La Torre in the 90th minute. (Highlights). I thought the boys showed some real heart in the worst possible field conditions (welcome to CONCACAF), Musah was the Man of the Match as he just played his heart out and was all over the field. I thought the Captain Pulisic was good – but obviously he’s not a mudder – though he did not back down and the team followed his lead as McKennie, Adams (shown body slamming a player) and the center backs played this game like a WWE match. I was proud of the way they stood up and wouldn’t back down to El Salvador’s ridiculous rough play and the horrific referring on the night. I thought VAR would have overturned multiple calls and would have possibly given the US a PK along the way. GK Ethan Horvath stood and watched as a screamer beat him near post – HORRIFIC. He has played his way into 4th slot on the GK list at this point. No way Turner gives up that goal – so we should have won the game rather than tie it. I also though Haji Wright was not even on the field – unfortunate that his go was in the mud but he did not play well. Everyone else was fine – and in the long run a young squad has more faith they can comeback in a tough setting against the odds.
MLS Moves Games to Apple TV
MLS has signed a huge 2.5 billion dollar deal for 10 years with Apple TV to be their streaming home of all MLS games – replacing ESPN+. Evidently ESPN and Fox and other TV networks are still bidding for TV rights to the games on a national basis – but all local coverage will be replaced with Apple+.
Carmel FC Coaches Game
Coach Best is Doing some Goalkeeper Training this Summer – reach out if interested in small group training at inexpensive prices. shanebestsoccer@gmail.com or 317-748-7174.
2022 Midwest Regional Championships @ Grand Park
June 24 – June 29, 2022 Westfield, Indiana
The 2022 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships takes place June 24 – June 29 in Westfield, Indiana. The event will feature Boys and Girls teams in the 13U through 19U age groups who will compete for a regional championship and a spot at the 2022 US Youth Soccer National Championships. (Schedule)• Preliminary Round – Fri, June 24 // Saturday, June 25 // Sunday, June 26 •
Semifinals – Tuesday, June 28
Finals – Wednesday, June 29BIG GAMES ON TV
Sat, June 18
3 pm ABC Seattle Sounders vs LAFC
5 pm ESPN LA Galaxy vs Portland
7:30 pm ESPN+ Philly vs Cincy
8 pm ESPN+ Chicago Fire vs DC United
8:30 pm TUDN USA U20 vs St. Kitts
8:30 pm Para+ KC vs Chicago NWSL
9 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Colorado
10:30 Para+ Seattle Reign vs Angel City NWSL
Sun, June 19
3 pm ESPN2 Atlanta United vs Inter Miami
3:30 pm Para+ Portland Thorns vs Orlando Pride NWSL
4 ppm Para + NY/NJ Gotham vs San Diego Wave
5 pm Para + NC Courage vs Houston Dash
6 pm Fox Sport 1 Nashville vs Sporting KC
6 pm ESPN+ San Diego Loyal vs Las Vegas Lights USL
Tues, June 21
10:30 pm ESPN+ LA Galaxy vs Sacramento US Open Cup
Weds, June 22
8:30 pm ESPN+ NY Red Bulls vs NYCFC US Open
8:30 pm ESPN+ Sporting KC vs Union Omaha US Open
8:30 pm TUDN USA U20 vs Cuba U20
Fri, June 24
7:30 pm ESPN+ Cincy vs Orlando City
Sat, June 25
3 pm ABC Seattle Sounders vs Sporting KC
3:10 pm fubo tv France vs Cameroon women
5 pm ESPN DC United vs Nashville FC
7:30 pm Fox Sport 1 USA Women vs Colombia
7:30 pm ESPN+ CF Montreal vs Charlotte
8 pm TUDN Chicago Fire vs Houston Dynamo
Sun, June 26
3 pm ABC LAFC vs NY Red Bulls
6 pm Fox Sport 1 Philly vs NYCFC
6 pm ESPN+ San Diego Loyal vs Las Vegas Lights USL
Tues, June 28
10 pm ESPN USA Women vs Colombia
Wed, June 29
7 pm ESPN+ Orlando City vs Nashville US Open Cup
10:30 pm FS1 LAFC vs Dallas
10 pm ESPN+ Seattle vs CF Montreal
Thur, June 30
7 pm ESPN+ NY Rd Bulls vs Atlanta United
Frir, July 1
8:30 pm Para+ Houston vsKC NWSL
10:30 Para+ Angel City vs Portland NWSL
Sat, July 2
7 pm Para+ NY Gotham vs Chicago NWSL
7:30 pm ESPN+ Toronto vs Seattle
7:30 pm TV23 Indy 11 vs Miami FC (fireworks)
Mon, July 4
10 pm ESPN USA Women vs Haiti CONCACAF
Thur, July 7
10 pm ESPN USA Women vs Jamaica
Sun, July 10
10 pm ESPN USA Women vs Mexico
Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw
2022 Midwest Regional Championships @ Grand Park
June 24 – June 29, 2022 Westfield, Indiana
The 2022 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships takes place June 24 – June 29 in Westfield, Indiana. The event will feature Boys and Girls teams in the 13U through 19U age groups who will compete for a regional championship and a spot at the 2022 US Youth Soccer National Championships. (Schedule)
• Preliminary Round – Friday, June 24 // Saturday, June 25 // Sunday, June 26
• Semifinals – Tuesday, June 28
• Finals – Wednesday, June 29
Indy 11
Indy 11 Women Take on Racing Louisville 2
Indy 11 travel to Colorado for 9 pm game on ESPN+
USA
90 Second Hightlights
USMNT showed mentality needed for World Cup on muddy night in El Salvador Kyle Bonagura
USA vs. El Salvador, 2022 Concacaf Nations League: What we learned
Stock Up or Stock Down For US Players – Mat Doyle
USMNT showed mentality needed for World Cup on muddy night in El Salvador Kyle Bonagura
CONCACAF Nations League 2022-23: All you need to know Dale Johnson
World Cup 2026 host cities confirmed: What you need to know about the 16 venues
How will the 2026 World Cup actually work?
FIFA announces 2026 Men’s World Cup host cities By Donald Wine II
USA Women
The USWNT Concacaf roster
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).
Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit).
Midfielders: Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit).
Forwards: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC).
Rapinoe, Morgan return to USWNT roster
Why NWSL’s 2022 rookies are the best the league has ever had
USWNT star Tobin Heath joins OL Reign
MLS
Analysis: The pros, cons, and unknows of the MLS deal with Apple TV
Juve legendary defender Giorgio Chiellini Joins LAFC –The 18
MLS’ $2.5 Billion Apple TV Deal: Game-Changer or Disappointment?
Sky transformed English soccer. Will Apple’s $2.5bn deal do the same for MLS?
Goalkeeping
Best Saves Nations League Last Week
What a Save by American Sean Johnson vs Uruguay
Real’s Courtois Record 9 Saves in Champions League Final
Former Indy 11 & Carmel FC GK Coach Jordan Farr USL Save of Week Candidate
Gigi Buffons Reaction is Classic
Thoughts on Austrailian GK throwing Peru’s GK Waterbottle w/shooter tendencies in stands?
Dancing Austrailian GK Andrew Redmane Helps them Advance in Shootout
EPL
Premier League 2022-23 fixtures: Can’t-miss storylines, games
Premier League 2022-23 fixtures: Storylines and games you can’t miss James Olley
All ‘Big Six’ fixtures in the 2022-23 Premier League schedule
Sources: Mane agrees to join Bayern in €41m deal
WORLD
Bundesliga 2022-23 fixtures live on ESPN+ ESPN
Mexico fans want Tata Martino fired, but time is running out for coach change Cesar Hernandez
Australian hero keeper says water-bottle act was ‘kill or be killed’
======================RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ======================
Heading over to the Field House at Badger Field for Training? Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ
Save 20% on your order
(mention the ole ballcoach)
Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more. Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290 M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday. Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!
=====================RackZ BAR BBQ ======Save 20% ======================
Indy Eleven ended their two-game week with a 3-1 victory in front of a sold-out crowd at Grand Park in a pivotal showdown against second-place Racing Louisville FC. Two goals from forward Maddy Williams and a goal from forward Katie Soderstrom moves their record to six wins, 0 losses and two draws, crowning them the queens of the Great Lakes Division. There were many goal-scoring opportunities from both sides, as Louisville had a chance from the corner in the fifth minute before it was blocked just inside the opposing half. Williams unleashed forward Rachel McCarthy on a breakaway two minutes later as she attempted to beat the goalie, but she was stopped. Scoring the first goal in the 28th minute, forward Maddy Willams provided her veteran presence when midfielder Addie Chester delivered her a pass over the top, which Williams tucked into the far bottom corner. Williams’ goal would hold for the remainder of the half putting Indiana’s Team ahead at halftime.
“We talked before the game that we were probably going to get in on the counter-attack and that was exactly what happened,” Williams said. “Addie picked her head up and played a great ball and behind and really just caught them off guard.”The second half saw a spark for Indiana’s team as in the 57th minute a free-kick from midfielder Grace Bahr sailed into the box, where Williams fired the loose ball into the net, tallying her second goal of the game. With the goal, she now ties Soderstrom as Indy’s leading goal-scorer and one of the USL W-League’s top scorers. “The goal was on the corner. I think we all kind of felt like we had another one in us,” Williams said. “And that corner I think was just kind of a big mess in the box and landed right on my feet luckily.” The celebration did not end there, as Soderstrom’s stray shot went under the Louisville defense and resulted in a goal, putting Indy up three to nil in the 61st minute of the game. Louisville’s Emily Madril silenced the momentum of the Girls in Blue with her penalty kick into the bottom corner after the referee called a handball on Robyn McCarthy, putting Louisville on the leaderboard. The silence however was short-lived, as the Girls in Blue gathered the hard-fought victory, putting them at the top of the Great Lakes Division. “It’s a fierce rivalry; we’re competitors in nature. We knew it was gonna be a dogfight and it was a dogfight,” Assistant Coach Brandon Kim said. “But huge credit to the players, they fought, scratched and clawed their way to victory again.” Indy Eleven will embark on their final road trip of the season by making two stops in Michigan, first to take on Kalamazoo FC on Tuesday, June 21 at 7 PM followed by a trip to the east to take on Detroit City FC on Friday, July 1 at 7:30 PM. To learn more about the newest edition of Indiana’s Team representing the women’s game, visit indyeleven.com/wleague.
2022 USL W League Regular Season – Matchday 8
Indy Eleven 3 : 1 Racing Louisville FC
Friday, June 17, 2022 – 7:00 p.m.
Grand Park Events Center – Westfield, Ind.
Scoring Summary:
IND – Maddy Williams (Addie Chester) 28’
IND – Maddy Williams (Grace Bahr) 57’
IND – Katie Soderstrom (unassisted) 61’
Disciplinary Summary:
IND – Rachel McCarthy (yellow card) 45’
Indy Eleven lineup: 1-Mackenzie Wood (GK), 5-Grace Bahr), 6-Julia Leonard, 9-Katie Soderstrom, 12-Maddy Williams (18- Abby Isger 81’) , 16-Addie Chester (13-Jenna Chatterton, 61’), 21- Karsyn Cherry, 22-Greta Kraszula, 23-Robyn McCarthy, 24-Rachel McCarthy (10-Milica Bulatovic 61’), 26-Ella Rogers
IND substitutes: 15-Isidora Gajdobranski, 30- Kate Philips
Racing Louisville FC lineup: 8-Macy Enneking (GK), 3-Sam Cary, 4-Ashley Cathro, 6- Sarah Hernandez, 14-Ella Sanchez, 15-Itala Gemeli, 18- Autumn Weeks (25-Isabella Beltic 71’), 19-Allison Whitfield, 22- Emily Madril, 23-Allison Schlegel, 24-Clara Robbins
LOU substitutes: 1-Shelby Smith, 12-Kendra Pasquale, 13-Katie Erwin, 16-Audrey King, 21-Kayla Rowlett, 27-Allie George
League Leading Indy 11 Women Face Racing Louisville for First Place 7 pm at Grand Park Events Center
The first half of Indy Eleven’s two-game week began with a trip to the Kentucky region to face Kings Hammer FC. Tuesday’s match for the Girls in Blue resulted in a 1-1 draw thanks to a lone goal from Katie Soderstrom. Battling a heatwave that brought extremely high temperatures to the Midwest, Head Coach Paul Dolinsky said the girls did not appear to be themselves. He said the team did not have the extra energy and punch they are accustomed to every game. “The game was played at an incredibly slow pace for various reasons. We are not a slow pace playing team,” Dolinsky said. “The fact that it was as hot as it was definitely made the game less interesting than they usually are.” A goal from Kings Hammer put the team up 1-nil in the opening two minutes of the contest. However, This did not deter Indy Eleven, as forward Katie Soderstrom’s lone goal in the 19th minute tied the game at halftime and eventually brought the game to a close. Soderstrom said that it was not the team’s finest performance, but she believes they battled hard and are looking forward to improving ahead of Friday’s match. “It was definitely a hard, hard-fought battle but it wasn’t our best performance as a whole,” Soderstrom said. “But we definitely showed a lot of grit and effort and to come back from being behind so early on.” Soderstrom’s goal on Tuesday was her sixth of the season, making her the Indy Eleven’s goal leader as well as one of the league’s top goal scorers. With a hand in half of Indy’s 17 goals thus far, Dolinsky believes she is one of the main components of the team’s success. “With her ability to get behind defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities to score goals herself, she’s a massive impact on any team she plays for,” Dolinsky said.Soderstrom said having the accolade is really exciting but credits her teammates for helping put her in this position. “It comes from great play for my teammates and them setting me up,” Soderstrom said. “I’m just trying to do my part to help us win games. But, it’s all on them for putting me in those positions to succeed.” The second part of Indy Eleven’s two-game week will conclude on Friday with a home match against Racing Louisville FC. The squad had their first taste of the Lousiville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest rivalry at Racing Lousiville on May 20, dishing up a 2-0 win. With five wins and two draws, Indy Eleven sits atop of the W League’s Great Lakes Division standings, while Louisville sits in the second place with five wins, one loss and two draws. Dolinsky acknowledged that Friday’s game is going to be pivotal, but he wants his girls to be ready for the battle. “We need to go into that game understanding that it is a game with two teams at the top of the table and as well as the rivalry game and try to beat a team twice in succession,” Dolinsky said. Tickets for that contest are available at indyeleven.com/wleague-tickets for only $8. To learn more about the newest edition of Indiana’s Team representing the women’s game, visit indyeleven.com/wleague.
USMNT showed mentality needed for World Cup to salvage draw on muddy night in El Salvador
Jun 15, 2022Kyle BonaguraESPN Staff Writer
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Any hope the United States men’s national team had of using Tuesday’s CONCACAF Nations League game against El Salvador as a quasi-dress rehearsal for the FIFA World Cup faded away when the team arrived at Cuscatlan Stadium for training Monday night.They were aware the forecast called for rain, but minutes into the first warm-up drill, it became clear the field wasn’t going to hold up. Even light jogging left mud tracks in the previously undisturbed grass, and that was before the rain really started to come down.”We saw the conditions, saw how it was gradually getting worse and knew at game time it wasn’t going to be good,” USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said. “I can only say that I’m really proud of the guys, the way they embraced that.”
– CONCACAF Nations League: Standings | Schedule | Stats
– Soccer on ESPN+: FC Daily | Futbol Americas
– Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access
It wasn’t exactly an ideal scenario for a team fully focused on preparing for a tournament in Qatar, where the annual average precipitation is roughly 3 inches. Instead, the team received a final dose of CONCACAF madness, where skill and precision were trumped by grit and emotion in a 1-1 draw.
A Jordan Morris header in the first of six minutes of stoppage time rescued the result for the U.S. — extending its unbeaten streak against El Salvador to 20 games — but not before each team was issued a red card, El Salvador employed an array of time-wasting tactics, and chaos reigned supreme.
It was clear from the opening kickoff that neither team was going to attempt to build much from the back, instead opting to bypass the sloppy terrain with long balls.
“We thought after the warm-up that it would best suit us to play long,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “I think with Haji [Wright] in the game, it suits him as well to hold the ball up, link up play like that.”
EDITOR’S PICKS
CONCACAF Nations League 2022-23: All you need to know
8dDale Johnson
Who is the USMNT’s GOAT?
8dKyle Bonagura and Austin Lindberg
It didn’t work. For Wright, the game was supposed to be his big audition. Starting between Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, a convincing performance could have made an impact on his World Cup roster chances or perhaps even earn consideration for a meaningful role. Instead, his involvement was minimal and he was subbed for Jesus Ferreira at halftime.”It’s always difficult when players get an opportunity and don’t fully capitalize on it,” Berhalter said. “It’s not nice for a coach. It’s not nice for the player. It’s not nice for the group. We were all rooting for Haji to be a force. We purposely played more direct in the first half because we thought he could be the force that would unsettle them. And it just wasn’t his night tonight.”It doesn’t rule him out for anything in the future. We don’t work like that. Now it’s about him going back to his club and continuing to score goals and do his thing. It was an unlucky night for him tonight, for sure.”Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath had a similar opportunity. He made his first start in a U.S. shirt in more than a year but was caught out of position on Alex Larin’s 35th-minute goal. Beyond that moment, Horvath wasn’t really tested and will head back to Europe no closer to earning a place in Qatar.After a steady rain during the first half, it dissipated in the second, which, coupled with El Salvador’s lack of defensive pressure in midfield, led to a shift in approach. The U.S. limited the long balls — choosing to build out its attack — and the initial results were encouraging. Yunus Musah was particularly impressive on the ball, as one of the few players who seemed unencumbered by the conditions.”It was definitely fun,” Musah said. “When we came out of halftime for the second half, I just told Tim [Weah] that, ‘Yo, let’s just enjoy this. There’s not many matches that are like this, so let’s just enjoy it.’ And, yeah, we definitely did.”One passing sequence Musah was involved with led to the game’s best chance, but his shot was saved from nearly point-blank range. Being more clinical in front of goal, he said, is something he plans to work on and thinks can take him to another level as a player.”I was a little bit hesitant thinking about his skill set and how that was going to work today, but he took advantage of the dribble for sure,” Berhalter said. “Under poor field conditions, sometimes that can slow you down, and he was tremendous today. If there was a man of the match, we’d probably give it to him.”Paul Arriola replaced Weah on the right wing on the hour mark but lasted just nine minutes before being sent off with a straight red card for a slide tackle in the El Salvador box. That’s when the game truly went off the rails. A fight nearly broke out when Adams earned a yellow card after tossing an opponent to the ground in the 76th minute before El Salvador’s Ronald Rodriguez was sent off in the 79th minute when he took down Musah, who was in on goal.With the teams playing 10 vs. 10, an already discombobulated game veered even further away from the norm. The U.S. was desperate to score a goal, while El Salvador took every opportunity to preserve the win, which would have been its second against the United States all-time, and first since 1992.The U.S. could have easily packed it in, too. Had Berhalter removed Pulisic from the game as a means of preservation, few would have taken issue. The idea of the Chelsea star — or anyone else, really — getting injured on a muddy field chasing a result in a Nations League group game was terrifying for many U.S. fans watching at home.Competitive instinct overruled precaution, and the U.S. performance wasn’t lacking for effort. When Luca de la Torre‘s cross found Morris’ head for the tying goal, the celebration spoke volumes. The bench emptied. This mattered.
“One, it was Jordan scoring and I think that, for me at least, this kind of marked his comeback after all over overcoming all the injuries that and really showing the impact that it has on this group,” Adams said. “But also this means a lot to us. We want to win another trophy and as a young group, we don’t get many opportunities to do that. We’re taking it seriously. I think that showed.”If there’s a takeaway for what Tuesday’s game means for the World Cup, it must be about the team’s mentality. From a tactical standpoint, the field and rain made for mostly a pointless exercise, but the team’s ability to respond when faced with difficult circumstances points to a quality that not all teams have.”To see that from this group, to see the resiliency from this young group, the way they fought, we’re really proud of that,” Berhalter said. “Although we didn’t get the win, I think it’s a good takeaway and a good end to the June camp. It really brought the guys together in a good way.”After flying back to Miami early Wednesday morning, the players will go their separate ways, with 2½ months before they reassemble in Europe for the final pair of friendlies ahead of their opening game of the World Cup against Wales on Nov. 21.
Megan Rapinoe among the surprises on U.S. women’s CONCACAF W Championship roster
Kevin Baxter Mon, June 13, 2022, 12:02 PM LA Times
Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates with teammate Alex Morgan after scoring on a penalty shot for the U.S. in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final against the Netherlands. Rapinoe and Morgan will represent the U.S. in the CONCACAF W Championship in July. (Francisco Seco / Associated Press)
U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski on Monday called up a mix of young and veteran players for next month’s CONCACAF W Championship, the qualifier for the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics. And that makes the 23-player roster one full of surprises — both for who made it and who didn’t.Making it were forward Megan Rapinoe and defender Becky Sauerbrunn.Rapinoe’s inclusion was surprising because the 36-year-old hasn’t started for her NWSL club this season, playing just 154 minutes over four games for the OL Reign. And she hasn’t been part of the national team since October.Less surprising was the inclusion of Sauerbrunn, who is a week past her 37th birthday. Although she missed the national team’s April camp because of a knee injury, Sauerbrunn has played in the Portland Thorns’ last six NWSL games. She is also the U.S. captain and leads all active players with 202 international caps.Also returning for the first time since October is Alex Morgan, the NWSL scoring leader with nine goals in as many games for the expansion San Diego Wave. She is the national team’s leading active scorer, ith 115 goals, and she’ll be joined by Wave midfielder Taylor Kornieck, who is looking for her first senior national team cap.Among the missing is Angel City forward Christen Press, who hasn’t played with the national team since last summer’s Tokyo Olympics. She left Angel City’s match in Louisville on Saturday with a knee injury, but Andonovski said she wouldn’t have beaten out Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith — whom he called the two most exciting players in NWSL — even if she was healthy.“She’s performing well. But it’s not just her now. It’s her competing with the players that are in front of her,” he said. “It’s not easy to be a forward in United States. The competition has just gotten bigger and bigger.”Eight other regulars were not available because of injury or maternity leaves, among them Abby Dahlkemper Catarina Macario, Sam Mewis, Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz.The coach said Rapinoe, third among active players with 187 caps, was included largely because her experience will be valuable on a team that features 10 players under the age of 26 and eight players with fewer than 10 caps.“She is very important for this group,” Andonovski said. “Her winning mentality, her knowledge and understanding is very valuable for the group.”Alyssa Naeher, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett, Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan, all members of the World Cup-winning team in 2019, were included as well.“They’re on the team, first and foremost, because they can perform,” Andonovski said. “Their experience is a bonus.”
The U.S. will play friendlies against Colombia on June 25 in suburban Denver and on June 28 outside Salt Lake City before flying to Monterrey, Mexico, for the eight-team CONCACAF tournament, which kicks off July 4. The U.S. will play Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico in group competition. Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada, the reigning Olympic champion, will play in the other group.The top two teams in each group will earn berths in next summer’s expanded World Cup field, as well as spots in the tournament semifinals. The W Championship winner earns an automatic berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The second- and third-place finishers will meet in a September playoff with another Olympic invitation at stake.The last time the U.S. played in a World Cup qualifying tournament in Mexico, in 2010, the Americans suffered their only loss against Mexico, which forced them to win a two-leg playoff with Italy to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
#COSvIND Preview
Indy Eleven vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Saturday, June 18, 2022 – 9:00 p.m. ET Weidner Field – Colorado Springs, Col.
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe) In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers Live stats: #COLvIND MatchCenter on USLChampionship.com
2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON RECORDS
Indy Eleven: 6W-4L-3D (+3 GD), 21 pts.; 7th in Eastern Conference
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: 10W-2L-0D (+14 GD), 30 pts.; 1st in Western Conference
Indy Eleven are set for the third of a four-match, month-long road trip Saturday night in the Rocky Mountains, as the Boys in Blue face the Western Conference-leading Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Indy is coming off of a 1-1 draw at The Miami FC last Wednesday, while Colorado Springs defeated LA Galaxy II 3-1 on Saturday. Saturday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between the Eleven and the Switchbacks. Despite Colorado Springs joining USL Championship in 2014 and Indy joining in 2018, the two teams have yet to play, in part due to scheduling changes made during the Covid-19 pandemic. The match is the fifth of eight against first-time opponents for the Boys in Blue this season, with Indy holding a 2W-1L-1D record in these matches so far. The Eleven drew 1-1 with LA Galaxy II on Apr. 2, defeated Rio Grande Valley FC 2-1 on Apr. 9, won 2-1 over Orange County SC on Apr. 30 and lost 2-1 to New Mexico United on May 28 in the previous four matches against new foes this season. The team will follow up their first-time match against Colorado Springs by facing San Diego Loyal on June 25, San Antonio FC on Aug. 27 and Monterey Bay F.C. on Sept. 17. After a nearly three-hour lightning delay in last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at The Miami FC, the weather could play a factor again this week for the Boys in Blue. Possible showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Saturday night in Colorado Springs, something the Eleven are no strangers to playing in after the downpour in South Florida last time out. Tim Trilk returned to goal for Indy Eleven in Miami, allowing one goal immediately after play resumed following the weather delay. The third-year pro would keep the opponents off the scoreboard for the remainder of the match. Stefano Pinho scored the equalizer last week, his third consecutive match with a goal. The draw also marked a club record for the Eleven, being the eleventh-consecutive match in which the team scored at least one goal, the most in a row in team history. This mark beats out a 9-game run across July and August last year. Indy also scored in 10 straight games including postseason play spanning the 2019-20 seasons. After scoring multiple goals in only 8 of 32 games in 2021 (and none in its last 12 games), Indy has already done so in 5 of its 13 games so far this season. Switchbacks FC sit atop the Western Conference, having won all but two matches all season, while Indy holds onto the 7th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Colorado Springs have been among the most formidable teams in the league all season, but have hit their stride in the last few weeks, winning five of six matches with a plus-nine goal differential in that time.
LAST TIME OUT
The Miami FC 1 : 1 Indy Eleven
Wed., June 8 | Recap & Highlights | Stats
Indy Eleven needed nearly four-and-a-half hours to win a hard-earned point on the road from a 1-1 draw at The Miami FC at a rain-soaked Riccardo Silva Stadium on the campus of Florida International University. Indy forward Stefano Pinho’s goal in the 55th minute countered Christian Sorto’s 15th minute goal that came mere seconds after the game restarted following a two-and-a-half-hour delay for thunderstorms in the Miami metro area.
The result from the first meeting of the former NASL rivals since 2017 kept Indy Eleven (6W-4L-3D) and Miami (5W-4L-6D) even on the Eastern Conference table now on 21 points and in a tie for seventh place. Pinho’s team-high seventh goal pushed his scoring streak to three games and also improved Indy Eleven’s scoring streak to a club-record 11 games.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3 : 1 LA Galaxy II
Sat., June 11 | Stats
After going down 1-0 early, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 road victory over LA Galaxy II in Southern California. Colorado Springs has won five of its last six matches dating back to a 2-0 win over FC Tulsa on Apr. 23, outscoring opponents by nine goals in that time.
SERIES VS. COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC
Saturday is the first-ever meeting between Indy Eleven and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC will be the fifth of eight new opponents this season for Indy Eleven, due in large part to USL expansion and scheduling conflicts created during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic-altered seasons. The Boys in Blue are 2W-1L-1D in four matches with first-time opponents this season:
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 (2-1 L 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)
The Eleven also meet two opponents for the first time in USL Championship competition, which the team has previously faced in other competition in The Miami FC (1-1 D on 6/08), who Indy faced in NASL, and Detroit City FC (7/09), who the team saw in a friendly.
ELEVEN PLAYER TO WATCH: F Stefano Pinho
Stefano Pinho has been outstanding for the Boys in Blue all season long but has found his stride in the team’s most recent fixtures. Pinho is the only player on the team to score in three consecutive matches this season, doing so in the team’s three most recent games against New Mexico United, Charleston Battery and The Miami FC. The Brazilian is tied for third in scoring in USL Championship with seven goals and should have an excellent opportunity to extend his scoring streak to four games on Saturday.
The Ole BallCoach 