PREVIEW:

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview
Indy Eleven vs North Carolina FC - #INDvNCFC
Saturday, September 13, 2017 – 7:00 P.M. EST
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

INDY ELEVEN: 1-1-4, 4 pts.; 8th in Fall Season
(5-9-8, 24 pts.; 6th in NASL - Combined)

North Carolina FC: 2-5-1, 11 pts.; 2nd in Fall Season
(8-8-8, 32 pts.; 3rd in NASL - Combined)

Watch/Listen Live:

• National TV: beIN Sports
• Local TV: MyINDY TV-23
• Streaming Video: beIN Sports Connect ($)

Follow Live:

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

Match Notes:
Indy Eleven notes

GETTING OUR LEGS BACK

A difficult start to September came in the form of Indy Eleven's 2-0 loss to the San Francisco Deltas at home on the 2nd of the month, their first of five games in a packed 30-day schedule.

However, the "Boys in Blue" received some extra recovery time as their Week 6 matchup with Jacksonville Armada FC in the Sunshine State was postponed and rescheduled due to concerns amid Hurricane Irma. With fresh legs and an injury list that is slowly shortening, Indy Eleven will look to catapult off the bottom of the Fall Season table with a result against North Carolina FC in this midweek matchup.

WHO TO WATCH INDY ELEVEN EDITION: FW Eamon Zayed

Forward Eamon Zayed has been one of just a couple options for head coach Tim Hankinson with an injury list piling up over the last few weeks.

Despite not scoring in his last two appearances, Zayed has registered three goals and one assist in six Fall Season matches, netting on the road against FC Edmonton, Miami FC, and most recently, the New York Cosmos.

Often lining up alongside forward David Goldsmith, the pair has been working to replicate the success that fellow attacker Justin Braun and Zayed had both in 2016 and earlier in the season. A true poacher, Zayed has been putting in a shift to stretch the field and give Goldsmith room to run while also putting himself in the best position to get on the end of a cross in the box.

Zayed will look to add to his tally against a North Carolina FC defense that has conceded just four goals in their last four matches.

WHO TO WATCH NORTH CAROLINA FC EDITION: FW Lance Laing

Helping lead the attacking line for North Carolina FC is attacker Lance Laing, who has already matched the highest goal tally of his career (8) with 8+ games left in the Fall Season. 

Laing hasn't had as much luck in front of the net in the Fall Season but has still managed to put up two goals and one assist in six appearances thus far. However, the Jamaican's eight goals and four assists in 20 total league appearances are a large part of why NCFC has climbed near the top of the Combined Season table.

Laing's pace and versatility make him a challenge for either one of the Indy Eleven fullbacks Marco Franco or Nemanja Vukovic, meaning the pair will have to be on their marks to prevent the 29-year-old from sneaking in behind.

MATCH-UP TO MARK: FW Matt Fondy vs DF Colin Falvey

Limiting the opposition's number of chances in front of goal has been one of the bigger struggles for "Indiana's Team" in the last five contests. The defense has allowed two+ goals in all five matches and three goals in four of the five matches.

Defender Colin Falvey will be responsible for holding his line and keeping the defense sharp when NCFC comes to town, though opposition forward Matt Fondy will be sure to test Indy's club captain and add to his five goals in the 2017 campaign.

Operating like Zayed in an advanced role, Fondy's "fox in the box" mentality has seen him put away one goal in the Fall Season but 12 total in an NCFC uniform dating back to the beginning of 2016. The player's physicality both in the air and on the park will test Falvey's and the entire back line's strength midweek.