Soccer Saturday - INDY ELEVEN for 12/18/21

(0:00-3:31) Greg Rakestraw is back for the final fresh edition of Soccer Saturday in 2021 on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. In a brief open to the show, Greg introduces you to a new name on the Indy Eleven coaching staff, a new head coach in the organization and sets the agenda for the rest of the show. Stay tuned for another busy edition of Soccer Saturday!

(6:35-17:07) The newly re-signed AJ Cochran joins Greg in the second segment to talk about returning to the Eleven for a second season. Cochran touches on his health and the injury he suffered way back in August before a rundown of his quickly approaching wedding early in 2022. Cochran describes what to expect from a Mark Lowry coached team, the new personnel he's looking forward to working with this upcoming season and what he thinks his role will be on the team this season.

(20:07-32:18) The Indy Eleven are entering the USL W League and named a head coach. Paul Dolinsky, former head coach of the WPSL's Lady Victory FC, was named the head coach along with Grace Bahr who was named the first assistant coach. Paul touches on his arrival to the organization and the core players that the team also announced in forwards Katie Soderstrom and Kristina Lynch and midfielder Molly McLaughlin. Coach Dolinsky and Greg touch on tapping into the talent coming out of college and the players trying to prove themselves for another pro contract down the road. Paul talks about the attention of the USL W League, already hearing from players in Europe and getting to call Grand Park home base for the club. The conversation concludes with Paul's head coach Grace Bahr and what she will bring to the club as a former player and now coach as well as the upcoming open tryout for the team.

(35:18-46:07) Another member of the Indy Eleven staff stops by. He was with head coach Mark Lowry in Jacksonville and El Paso and now he is here in Indianapolis. Matt Williams joins the show to talk about working with Lowry and the opportunity to make the move to Indy alongside the head coach. He touches on his role on a Lowry coaching staff and the dynamic between the two. Believe it or not, Greg references Williams' Twitter page and the quote in his bio and how he applies that to the way he approaches coaching the game. Matt and Greg discuss the incoming personnel that Matt has worked with before and how they fit in to the team in Indianapolis as well as what Grand Park allows them to do in terms of training and the quality of the facility. Finally, Greg and Matt talk golf and checking out the other professional sports teams in Matt's time away from the pitch in Indianapolis.

(49:08-56:51) Greg Rakestraw wraps up a busy hour with NYC FC who are this year's MLS Cup Champions and first time champions of that trophy before going international to update you on what's happening on the pitch across the pond. Rake touches on the Champions League and college soccer to finish up the last new edition of Soccer Saturday this calendar year.