Soccer Saturday - INDY ELEVEN for 03/12/22

(0:00-4:19) It is finally here! The Indy Eleven season is upon us and Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. With just hours left before match time, Greg sets the agenda for a traditional, opening day version of the show. It's a loaded Saturday morning with the head coach of the Indy Eleven, the captain and the voice of the USL all stopping by as the USL Championship season gets underway.

(7:20-19:38) The head coach of the Indy Eleven, Mark Lowry, joins the show ahead of Saturday's night match against Loudon United. Greg and Mark discuss the final weekend of preseason friendlies, Elliot Panicco joining the club as the goalkeeper and the decision to make Neveal Hackshaw the guy with the captain's armband to start the season. Before the conversation ends, Coach Lowry breaks down what Loudon brings to the pitch and why it's a very difficult draw to the start the season for the Boys in Blue. Then, Greg details the season opener in Virginia on Saturday.

(22:39-30:29) Neveal Hackshaw, the Indy Eleven captain, stops by as he prepares for year four with the Indy Eleven. Neveal and Greg talk about how last year is fueling this season and what it has been like playing for Mark Lowry. The captain is taking on a different position in the Lowry era and touches on what the challenges are when switching positions and his excitement for the switch. The Boys in Blue will be looking fresh during home matches this season with the arrival of new, checkered jerseys. Neveal touches on the new kits and how Indianapolis has turned into home over the last four years.

(33:31-49:39) As is tradition on opening day, Greg Rakestraw is joined by the voice of the USL Championship, Mike Watts, to get his thoughts going into another season of the USL Championship and the arrival of Mark Lowry in Indianapolis. Watts then transitions to what the Indy Eleven did over the offseason to improve on a tough year last season that saw the Boys in Blue struggle to put the ball in the back of the net. Then, Greg and Mike take a tour around the USL Championship in a season preview of sorts, specifically the top of the league in 2022 in Louisville City FC and Tampa Bay.

(52:41-56:31) To round out a busy Saturday morning, Greg provides you with some news and notes around European soccer and gets you ready for the Indy Eleven season to begin.