PREVIEW:

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview
Indy Eleven vs. Jacksonville Armada FC - #INDvJAX
Saturday, July 15, 2017 – 6:30 P.M. EST
Michael Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana

Watch/Listen Live:

• Local/National TV: WISH-TV
• Streaming Video: ESPN3                                   

Follow Live:

• In-game updates: Follow @IndyElevenLive on Twitter
• Official stats: NASL Opta MatchCenter

Match Notes:
Indy Eleven notes
Jacksonville Armada FC notes

CLOSE OUT STRONG

Winning three of their last four matches, Indy Eleven turns to the Spring Season finale against Jacksonville Armada FC on their hottest streak of the season. The six draws and three consecutive losses that Indy battled to start the year has been countered by two straight home wins, a win at North Carolina FC, and a draw against the New York Cosmos.

“Indiana’s Team” will carry ugly memories of their last match against Armada FC, though, after being on the wrong end of a 4-1 beat down at Carroll Stadium on June 10. However, head coach Tim Hankinson stated that although his side remembers the loss too well, they are focused on continuing the momentum they built leading into the showdown.

Read more on what Coach Hank had to say in Saturday night’s program!

WHO TO WATCH INDY ELEVEN EDITION: MF BEN SPEAS

A quiet killer thus far for Indy Eleven, midfielder Ben Speas has been integral in the team’s success since returning from surgery two months ago. Scoring against North Carolina FC at home before netting Indy’s lone goal in the 1-1 draw with New York, Speas has begun to rack up the numbers on the stat sheet having now contributed three goals and one assist in the spring.

Speas joined Indy in the 2017 offseason after time with former NASL foes Minnesota United. Settling in with an impressive preseason, Speas then suffered a sports hernia that forced him to go under the knife. The procedure left him out for around five weeks, and the Ohio native made his return to the starting lineup on May 20.

WHO TO WATCH JACKSONVILLE ARMADA FC EDITION: FW DEREK GEBHARD

Forward Derek Gebhard has played a significant role in Jacksonville’s recent matches, scoring two goals in his last three matches, and three in his last five in total including one against Indy in Armada FC’s 4-1 win.

Gebhard has tallied four goals total on the year but is catching stride, having earned a start in his last seven appearances. A runner in the box, Gebhard has a tendency to place himself in the right spot at the right time, meaning Indy’s defense will have to keep up the communication as to not allow the forward an opportunity to squeeze in space.

MATCH-UP TO MARK: MF BRAD RING VS. MF J.C. BANKS

Indy’s Brad Ring and Jacksonville’s J.C. Banks will meet once again in the middle of the park on Saturday night. Ring, who has impressed in a deep lying role this season, has been dropping in between the centerback pairing of Colin Falvey and Daniel Keller, at times almost acting like a third centerback, where he will certainly meet a hopeful Banks blitzing into his attacking third.

The Armada FC man has four goals in his 15 appearances this year but will be among the fresher members of the Floridian “Boys in Blue,” as he featured for only 25 minutes in the club’s midweek 1-1 draw against Puerto Rico FC. It will be a battle of midfield generals when the pair clash again.