USL

  • Emmanuel Ledesma - credit Robbie Mehling/Soc Takes

    FC Cincinnati reaps benefits of Ledesma’s chance creation

    FC Cincinnati attacker Emmanuel Ledesma has this whole chance creation thing down pat. In 2017, Ledesma produced an insane chances created rate while plying his trade for the NASL’s New York Cosmos. In only 19 appearances (17 starts) and 1,393 minutes, the Argentine generated a league-leading 73 chances. The...
  • Second Helpings

    Indy Eleven, Green Bean Delivery, Second Helpings combat food insecurity

    INDIANAPOLIS — Every time Indy Eleven midfielder Zach Steinberger scores this season, three organizations will link up to put free meals in the hands of Hoosiers in the Central Indiana area. Second Helpings and Green Bean Delivery have partnered with the Eleven and their skilled 25-year-old attacker on the...
  • Noble Okello

    Canadian youth international Okello attracting attention from Bundesliga

    Noble Okello is a player with an uncertain future. Okello, currently on contract with Toronto FC, is a player Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg is interested in acquiring. The 17-year-old has represented Canada at the U-17 level, but is yet to make any impact at the MLS or USL level...
  • Stranger Things - BYB tifo

    Behind making of BYB’s ‘Stranger Things’ tifo

    INDIANAPOLIS — It was about 6:30 p.m. when my compadre Peter Evans arrived in his four-door Honda. I couldn’t help but sigh, laugh and shake my head all at the same time. In the back seat was nothing but a gigantic ball of fabric. It was a struggle, as it...
  • MLS Players Association

    MLS Players Association releases statement on Heinemann saga

    The MLS Players Association issued an official statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the Tommy Heinemann-FC Cincinnati voided contract situation from earlier this year. The MLSPA expressed support for Heinemann while condemning FC Cincinnati’s actions and handling of the situation. Heinemann, a former member of the MLSPA, had his contract voided...
  • FC Cincy vs Indy - BYB tifo

    Gallery: FC Cincy tops Indy in Lucas Oil Stadium debut

    INDIANAPOLIS — When the Brickyard Battalion displayed tifo of Millie Bobby Brown’s character Eleven from “Stranger Things” before the match, the Indy Eleven’s debut at Lucas Oil Stadium was bound to be a Saturday to remember. Here’s a gallery from Indy’s 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati via Soc Takes...
  • Eamon Zayed

    Eamon Zayed off to Charlotte, bids farewell to Indy

    Former Indy Eleven striker Eamon Zayed, the club’s all-time leading scorer, is set to join the Charlotte Independence. Charlotte announced the move last week, which won’t become official until Zayed’s P-1 visa is approved, per a press release. Zayed, a prototypical box striker and prolific scorer, bagged 26 goals...
  • Kickers vs. Eleven - Zach Steinberger

    Tactical Tidbits: Eleven’s new guys use width to punch Kickers

    On a roster chock-full of them, a few new faces were inevitably going to make a significant impact for the Indy Eleven in their USL inauguration. They did, as a starting XI consisting of exactly zero returnees from 2017 helped the Eleven snag three points on the road Saturday...
  • Louisville City FC - NYRB II - soccer vs baseball

    Soccer vs. baseball attendance battle

    In the 2018 USL season, we have nine teams playing in minor league baseball stadiums. This is a uniquely American phenomenon, and not just at the USL level. The Kansas City Wizards, before they became Sporting KC, played in a ballpark for three seasons, the New York Cosmos play(ed)...
  • USL - 2018 USL season preview

    Comprehensive 2018 USL season preview

    After a long, dramatic D2 offseason fraught with lawsuits, chaos and #HotTakes, we have finally emerged at the other side with the USL as our now and future D2 league. Last year’s season broke records on and off the field, and raised the bar for what we can expect...
  • Brickyard Battalion

    Soc Takes Pod Ep. 44: Indy Eleven preview, USL predictions

    Brickyard Battalion president Josh Mason guests to help preview the Indy Eleven’s inaugural USL campaign and make Eastern and Western Conference predictions for the 2018 season. Mason touches on some of the ways the Eleven’s move to Lucas Oil Stadium will affect the supporters’ group. The panelists also analyze...
  • NISA

    Soc Takes Pod Ep. 42: Peter Wilt on NISA, Indy Eleven, U.S. Soccer

    National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) founder Peter Wilt joins the panel to discuss the newly forming league, his former clubs and all things U.S. Soccer. Wilt helped launch the Chicago Fire, Chicago Red Stars and Indy Eleven, to name a few. Soc Takes contributing writer Kartik Krishnaiyer also guests...