'Electric Atmosphere' Spurred Indy Eleven To The Championship Final

Photo credit: Indy Eleven/Trevor Ruszkowski

Tim Hankinson took over the touchline for Indy Eleven, in December, with a mission to change the culture of the club. After a slew of veteran signings and a renewed confidence, the Boys in Blue are one step away from an NASL title.

First, there was an unbeaten Spring Season to lift the club’s first piece of silverware, and guarantee a berth in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament. Next, the Eleven finished the year unbeaten – 14W3D-0L, including the postseason – at Carroll Stadium with a 1-0 win over FC Edmonton in The Championship Semifinals.

“There are a lot of pieces to be proud of with this team,” Hankinson told NASL.com following the win over the Eddies. “An undefeated season at home is tremendous. How does that happen? You’re one call away, one ball off the post that goes left instead of right, but this is a team that believes."

The matchup between Indy and FC Edmonton played out exactly how one may have predicted - a hard-fought, gritty, and tense affair. The difference, though, was that Indy had the backing of the Brickyard Battalion (BYB) and Co. at Carroll Stadium to feed off of.

“It was an electric atmosphere and it was like that all season,” Colin Falvey, the club’s captain, said. “They really brought it for us and we needed it. The fans, especially the BYB, got us through it.”     

Hankinson added: “They have a relationship with the fans – it’s not just fans in the stands. This is a place that our guys thrive playing in.”     

Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic scored his first goal of the year – and for Indy Eleven - after battling through an injury-hit campaign. Goalkeeper Jon Busch, who made one tremendous save at the end of the game against FC Edmonton to preserve the clean sheet and victory, had a great view of the celebrations from the far end for Ubiparipovic’s goal and postgame.

“The BYB, with their smoke, was great,” he said. “Lucky I wasn’t down there so I could watch it instead of being immersed in it.”

Indy now turns its attention to New York and a date with the Cosmos for the right to lift the Soccer Bowl Trophy. The Cosmos also have yet to lose a game at home in 2016 – 15-2-0, after a 2-1 win over Rayo OKC at Shuart Stadium –  and defeated Indy, 3-0, in the last meeting between the sides in New York. But that certainly won’t deter a group that is oozing with confidence and that has knocked off the Cosmos twice this year.

“The progression has been great,” midfielder Brad Ring said. “Year one and two we got better each week and year. Obviously we took a big step forward this year with Hankinson coming in with the new guys as well as the returning guys mixed in – everything has jelled well.”

Falvey, who had a spirited display and played with a wrapped head due to a cut for the majority of the game, believes the Boys in Blue are only scratching the surface when it comes to what the future holds.

“We’re trying to do great things here and this only the beginning,” he said.  

Lifting the Soccer Bowl Trophy to complete a dream season in Indy Eleven history would be one hell of a start.