Daniel Keller up to task in Indy Eleven back line
Daniel Keller (right) celebrates a goal scored by former teammate Zach Steinberger in 2015. Indy Eleven/NASL
INDIANAPOLIS — Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park erupts about every 74 minutes on average. Not quite as often nor with as much dramatic flair, Indy Eleven utility man Daniel Keller pops up every few matches to give bystanders a steady, if unspectacular, show.
With “the Chris Tierney of the NASL” banged up in Indy Eleven left back Nemanja Vukovic, coach Tim Hankinson was scratching his head to find a suitable replacement with no other natural left fullback on the roster. Like a mild case of poison ivy, the itch didn’t last long. Enter Keller, who previously filled in admirably for Colin Falvey while the captain rehabbed from sports hernia surgery.
Hankinson asked the 25-year-old Carmel native and former Louisville Cardinals defender — typically a center back or defensive midfielder — to shift out left against Jacksonville Armada FC. The insertion of Keller paid dividends for Indy.
A completely different player than Vukovic, who loves to get up the pitch, Keller is more of a stay-at-home anchor at left back. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
While the offense could’ve used a spark up the left flank, the defense — and Hankinson — certainly weren’t complaining about Keller’s performance versus the Armada.
Keller played a full 90 and completed an efficient 32 of 39 passes across 67 touches. He also did plenty of dirty work, chipping in three tackles, six duels won, five clearances and four interceptions while overcoming an early yellow card.
He played to his strengths, and mostly kept to within earshot of wise veteran center backs Lovel Palmer and Falvey to stay organized. Palmer’s physicality and ball-winning ability earned him a nod on the NASL Team of the Week, while Falvey showed his usual disruptiveness and pitch generalship.
“I don’t think a player like Colin is replaceable,” Keller told Soc Takes following Indy’s Week 2 home draw against the San Francisco Deltas. “He’s definitely a leader. Like you said, he’s an organizer.”
Keller credited his improved soccer instincts and communication for his ability to excel in a variety of roles.
“In the past, I have counted on my athletic ability to sort of get me out of situations,” Keller explained. “But at this level, every player’s athletic. In order to give yourself an edge and work with the back line, you need to organize.
“Communication is key. It’s required that I step in and communicate. That’s what’s required of a good center back.”
Entering 2017, Keller had no idea what his role would be. Listed as a midfielder on the team’s official roster, likely because that was a position of need at the time, he’s found a permanent home in the back line as the club’s fifth defender.
“Whatever coach decides to do with me I’m going to do with 100 percent effort. So if he sees me as a center back, so be it. I’m definitely capable of stepping into the mid. It’s totally up to him, but when he calls me in I’m going to be ready whether it’s at center back or center mid.”
For now, “Old Faithful” is doing just fine on the left side during Vukovic’s absence.
You can follow Kevin on Twitter @KJboxing.
