Indy Eleven Ends 2016 Regular Season With 2-1 Defeat at Rayo OKC
Nicki Paterson's penalty is offset by goals from Sebastian Velasquez and Moises Hernandez in season finale at Miller Stadium

YUKON, Okla. (Sunday, October 30, 2016) – Indy Eleven rounded out the 2016 regular season in unfortunate fashion with a 2-1 loss at Rayo OKC. Nicki Paterson's penalty in the 52nd minute separated the two sides, but Sebastian Velasquez's equalizer in the 61st minute was added to by Moises Hernandez's 85th minute tally to give the home side all three points.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair as Indy and OKC took turns running at the opposition defense. The first chance of the match came inside the opening three minutes when OKC winger Pecka cut inside and attempted to test Indy 'keeper Keith Cardona, but the Brazilian saw his effort blocked. Just a couple of minutes later, Sebastian Velasquez would attempt a similar effort from the opposite side, but the Eleven defense held firm and blocked the subsequent shot.

PHOTOS: Click to download pictures from #OKCvIND from the NASL’s FTP site

For the "Boys in White," Omar Gordon came closest just before the half hour mark when the Jamaican danced around OKC defender Sebastian Ibeagha and rifled a shot at Rayo 'netminder Bryan Byars, but the 'keeper was well-positioned and produced a solid save to keep things level. The pair went into the break all square after 45 minutes of scoreless action.
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best moments from #OKCvIND on Indy Eleven’s YouTube home
 
As the second half picked up, Indy Eleven stayed on the offense and got their reward just six minutes in thanks to tidy work from Duke Lacroix. After winning the NASL Play of the Week, the Indy Eleven midfielder put on an impressive display and won a penalty for his side after launching a shot at OKC's Yuma only for it to ricochet off the midfielder's arm to result in the chance. Up stepped Nicki Paterson, and after netting twice in his previous three appearances, Paterson added a third by sending the OKC 'keeper Byars the wrong way to separate the two sides.

Rayo would fight back though, and after coming close through small opportunities they would find their equalizer thanks to a left-footed effort from Sebastian Velasquez. Collecting and turning on a dime, the midfielder beat Cardona to his right-hand side to level the scoring and up the atmosphere at Miller Stadium. 

Indy Eleven would respond almost instantly after Lacroix created another quality opportunity, but forward Souleymane Youla could not keep his header down and the chance went begging. All credit to Indiana's Team as they continued their fight on goal, and chances for Jair Reinoso and Omar Gordon would both go wide despite great work from both to open an angle.

The final 15 minutes were hectic, and just as it looked like Indy would take momentum back for good, Rayo OKC found their eventual winner off a corner. Defender Moises Hernandez rose to meet the delivery from Pecka, and though Cardona would nearly get a fingertip to it, his effort would not be enough to keep it out of the back of the net as the home side went ahead.

STATS: Get detailed Opta statistics from #OKCvIND via the NASL MatchCenter 

Final opportunities would fall to Indy's Nicki Paterson and Greg Janicki off a corner, but Rayo would hold the pair off and secure the three points in a 2-1 win despite Indy's hard work.
 
Attention now turns to a chance at history in The Championship semifinal, which Indy Eleven will host on Saturday, November 5 against FC Edmonton at 3 P.M. ET! Tickets for that match are still available at semifinal.indyeleven.com or by calling 317-685-1100 M-F from 9 AM - 5 PM.
 
NASL Fall Season
Rayo OKC  2 : 1  Indy Eleven
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Miller Stadium – Yukon, OK
 
Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 11W-4D-7L, 37 pts., 2^nd place
Overall Season: 15W-10D-7L, 55 pts., 2^nd place
 
Rayo OKC:
Fall Season: 9W-8D-5L, 35 pts., 4^th place
Overall Season: 12W-11D-9L, 47 pts., 4^th place
 
Scoring Summary:
IND - Nicki Paterson (penalty kick) 52'
OKC - Sebastian Velasquez (Marvin Chavez) 61'
OKC - Moises Hernandez (unassisted) 85'
 
Discipline Summary:
IND - Marco Franco (caution) 30'
OKC - Yuma (caution) 54'
OKC - Marvin Chavez (caution) 71'
OKC - Pecka (caution) 88'
 
Indy Eleven line-up (4-4-2, L-->R):  Keith Cardona; Neil Shaffer, Greg Janicki, Daniel Keller, Marco Franco (Nemanja Vukovic 56'); Omar Gordon, Nicki Paterson, Duke Lacroix, Don Smart (Gerardo Torrado 62'); Jair Reinoso, Souleymane Youla
 
Indy Eleven bench: Jon Busch (GK); Colin Falvey, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Justin Braun, Eamon Zayed
 
Rayo OKC (4-2-3-1): Bryan Byars (GK); Moises Hernandez, Sebastian Ibeagha, Rauwshan McKenzie (Jarad Van Schaik 46'), Kosuke Kimura; Yuma, Derek Boateng (Tyler Gibson 9'); Pecka, Sebastian Velasquez, Marvin Chavez; Devon Sandoval
 
Rayo OKC bench: Daniel Fernandes (GK), Michel, Richard Menjivar, Billy Forbes, Georgios Samaras