Charlie Rugg Returns To Indy Eleven On Season-Long Loan

Indy Eleven has added another familiar face to the team’s 2015 roster with Wednesday’s reacquisition of forward Charlie Rugg via a loan deal with defending Major League Soccer champion LA Galaxy.  

“Charlie was clearly a difference-maker for the team at the end of last year, and bringing him back into the fold is a huge boost for the club,” Indy Eleven Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations Juergen Sommer said. “He’s a physical presence that is dangerous in front of goal in a number of different ways, and we can’t wait to see the impact he can provide across a full season of play.”
 
The return of Rugg brings Indy Eleven’s roster up to 19 signed players as the squad gets ever closer to its April 4 season opener at the Atlanta Silverbacks.  
 
The 24-year-old Rugg’s cameo with the Boys in Blue last fall was brief but impactful, as he notched a goal and assist while playing every minute during the team’s season-ending five-game undefeated streak (3W-0L-2D).  Rugg helped Indy Eleven to its first league win at home on October 11, when he contributed the game-winning assist on Victor Pineda’s opening goal in a 2-0 triumph over Minnesota United FC. He followed that up a week later by scoring a game-winner of his own, the lone tally in a 1-0 victory over the eventual NASL champion San Antonio Scorpions.
 
“The 2014 season was undoubtedly an important one for the development of my professional career. I grew a lot playing with LA Galaxy II, but I feel that my short time here in Indy was equally important and a good note to end on,” said Rugg, who has arrived in Indianapolis and will begin training with the squad today. “I'd like to pick up where I left off and use this year to continue to grow as well as help Indy Eleven stand out in the NASL.”
 
The 2015 campaign will mark Rugg’s third as a professional after being selected by the Galaxy in the first round (19th pick overall) of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.  Rugg appeared in four first team matches for the Galaxy in 2013, and while he did not appear for the MLS squad in 2014, he was a mainstay for the LA Galaxy II team that debuted in the USL PRO League (now USL) last year, notching eight goals and three assists in 25 appearances.
 
“A focal point of the offseason was to bring back a core of players that helped us finish last year on a strong note, and Charlie was a big part of that late-season success,” Indy Eleven President and General Manager Peter Wilt said. “We want to thank Jovan Kirovski and Bruce Arena at the Galaxy for their cooperation and belief that Indy Eleven provides the best environment for Charlie’s continued development.”