PREVIEW: Armada Takes On Spring Champion Indy Eleven Tonight

Armada FC Public Relations | Aug. 3, 2016

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Armada will try to get back on track at 7:30 p.m. ET this Wednesday when it takes on NASL Spring Season champion Indy Eleven in Indianapolis.

An 88th minute goal by Fort Lauderdale's Maicon Santos spoiled a valiant effort by the Armada and goalkeeper Sean Lewis, who finished with nine saves, handing Jacksonville a 1-0 loss at Lockhart Stadium. Until that one moment when it lost sight of Santos off a corner kick, the Armada held firm, winning the majority of duels (56-44 percent) and possession (53-47 percent).

Jacksonville was not without its chances, recording nine shots, including an attempt from Danny Barrow in the 73rd and a screamer from distance by Charles Eloundou in the 77th, but both were stopped by Strikers goalkeeper Bruno.

Indy is coming off a 2-1 road loss to Miami FC on Saturday. The Eleven's leading goal scorer, Eamon Zayed, found the back of the net in the 90th minute, but it proved to be too little, too late, as Miami's Dario Cvitanich struck just four minutes and Ariel Martinez added insurance with a goal in the 85th. It was just the second loss for Indy in 2016 but second in three games. The Eleven are, however, undefeated at home this season, going 3-1-0 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

The Armada and Eleven last met on May 28 at Community First Park in Jacksonville and played to a 1-1 draw. Armada defender Matt Bahner struck in the 30th minute on a left-footed blast just outside the box, and the arrow seemed to be pointing up for Jacksonville.

But in the 73rd minute, Indy's Jair Reinoso sprinted down the right wing and sent in a cross for Justin Braun, who headed it into the back of the net. Jacksonville's Alhassane Keita nearly put the Armada back on top in the 87th when slipped a shot past Indy goalkeeper Jon Busch with the outside of his right foot, but right back Marco Franco came racing in and stopped the ball just a few yards off the goal line.

Below is a breakdown of the teams and the matchup.

WHEN & WHERE
Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Michael A. Carroll Stadium
Buy Tickets | Weather

THE TEAMS
Jacksonville Armada (1W-1D-4L, 4 pts., 12th NASL Fall, 2W-5D-9L, 11 pts., 11th NASL Combined)
Indy Eleven (3W-1D-2L, 10 pts., 5th NASL Fall, 7W-7D-2L, 28 pts., 3rd NASL Combined)

THE COACHES
Jacksonville Armada – Tony Meola, 1st season
Indy Eleven – Tim Hankinson, 1st season

SERIES HISTORY
Series tied, 1-2-1

LAST RESULT 
Armada 1, Eleven 1 - 5/28/16 in Jacksonville | Recap | Final Stats

CLUB QUICK LINKS
Armada: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats
Eleven: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats

WATCH
 - CBS Sports Network Nationally – Greg Rakestraw – PXP and Brad Hauter – Color
- Armada Extra Time on CW17 (11 p.m.) – Cole Pepper – PXP and Mauricio Ruiz – Color

LISTEN
- Live on Project 106.9-FM | Cole Pepper – PXP and Mauricio Ruiz – Color
- Also streamed live on iHeart app or project1069.iheart.com

READ
- Live Twitter updates on @ArmadaFCgameday – #INDvJAX
- Live stats on ArmadaFC.com

POTENT NOTABLES

- With this week's Wednesday/Saturday slate, it will be the fourth time in 2016 (including the U.S. Open Cup third round affair with the Charleston Battery) the Armada has had to endure two games in a week. It will begin a stretch of five games in 18 days.

- Jacksonville has gone with 14 different lineups this season and has had the same back-to-back starting 11 just twice (June 4 at Carolina, June 11 vs. Tampa Bay; July 11 vs. Puerto Rico FC, July 14 at New York Cosmos).

- Jacksonville has yet to record a regular season road win in its existence. Its winless streak away from Jacksonville stands at 24 games (the Armada did come close to getting that monkey off its back this season against Fort Lauderdale on April 23 and Tampa Bay on July 2. Jacksonville scored first in both contests before settling for draws).

- Though he has played in just six contests, goalkeeper Sean Lewis already has 30 saves, which ranks eighth in the NASL. He set a club record with 10 saves at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on July 2 and notched nine saves at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on July 30. His 5.0 saves per match is the best saves per match average in the NASL.

- The Jacksonville Armada FC announced on Monday it has mutually parted ways with goalkeeper Sebastian Evers.

Evers got the starting nod in goal on May 28 in a 1-1 draw with Indy Eleven in Jacksonville. He had a standout performance before going down with a groin injury in the 57th minute. Evers also saw action in this year’s preseason.

A four-year starter at the University of Central Florida, Evers, 25, signed his first professional contract with the Armada FC in February 2015.

On Tuesday, it was announced he signed with fellow NASL side Miami FC.

BY THE NUMBERS
30 – The number of shots by Junior Sandoval, tied for fifth in the NASL.

73 – The number of clearances for defender Tyler Ruthven, currently fifth in the NASL.

187 – The number of total shots the Armada has taken this season, tied for sixth in the NASL.

INJURY WATCH
- After going down with an elbow injury in the 21st minute against the New York Cosmos on July 14, Alex Dixon is indefinitely. He is expected to return to training in approximately three weeks.

- Midfielder/forward Junior Sandoval is currently sidelined for approximately two weeks with a right calf injury.

CLUB CONNECTIONS
Armada midfielder Zach Steinberger, currently on loan from the Houston Dynamo, was loaned out to the Eleven in 2015 and scored two goals, both of which came against the Armada. Steinberger was also a four-year starter at Butler University, an NCAA Division I school in Indianapolis ... Indy midfielder Lovel Palmer and Armada forward Alex Dixon were teammates with the Houston Dynamo (MLS) in 2011 ... Indy defender Neil Shaffer and Armada defender Matt Bahner were teammates on the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) in 2014 and made it to the league championship final ... Indy defender Nemanja Vuković and Armada midfielder Kevan George were teammates on the Columbus Crew (MLS) in 2012 ... Indy midfielder Gorka Larrea and Armada defender Karl Ouimette, currently on loan from the New York Red Bulls, were teammates on the Montreal Impact (MLS) in 2014 ... Ouimette and Indy midfielder Siniša Ubiparipović were teammates on the Impact from 2012-13 ... Indy forward Justin Braun also played with Ouimette and Ubiparipović in 2012 ... Indy forward Souleymane Youla and Armada forward Alhassane Keita were teammates on the Guinean national team from 2004-09 and share the same hometown, Conakry.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Armada will return home Saturday for a 7 p.m. fixture against the Carolina RailHawks. The Armada FC will honor the great work of Northeast Florida charitable organizations with Nonprofit Night at Community First Park. For tickets, starting at $11, call 1.844.2.ARMADA or visit armadafc.com/tickets.