Soccer Saturday - INDY ELEVEN for 12/25/21

(0:00-7:34) Greg Rakestraw is back on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan for this year's edition of the "Best of Soccer Saturday" for 2021. Greg dives into the eleven best things about 2021 starting with the Eleven's win over Louisville for the first time in three years by breaking down the matchups between the two teams this season.

(10:35-20:44) In the second segment of this edition of best of 2021, Rakestraw touches on the fan experience at Indy Eleven games and the return to the Mike, a.k.a IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, on the campus of IUPUI. Greg and Brad Hauter reminisce about the return to the "spiritual home" of the Eleven and how different it was compared to playing at Lucas Oil Stadium. More importantly, the fans were back in the stands for Eleven games heightening the experience at the Mike so much more. To round out the segment, the Indy Eleven will have a women's team in the W League, sponsored by the USL.

(23:45-33:41) Greg gives some love to Manuel Arteaga, Nicky Law and Jared Timmer who made their debut with the club in 2021 and will be back in 2022. Rakestraw and Hauter provide some highlights from these three players and talk about what they each brought to the pitch this season. Arteaga was the goal leader for Indy in 2021 and both Law and Timmer were near the top of the club in terms of matches and minutes played.

(36:42-44:05) Rakestraw and Hauter, two members of the Indy Eleven Century Club, a group of dedicated supporters to the club who have spent 100 matches or more with the club. Two new members were added to the group this season.

(47:06-56:51) It wouldn't be a best of without touching on the Indy Eleven Academy's win in the first ever USL Academy Playoff Championship. Greg and Brad touch on how important a healthy youth system is for the club and why winning a championship on any level is infectious. The pair ends this edition of Best XI for 2021 with the only logical place to finish, the naming of Mark Lowry as the next head coach of the Indy Eleven.