RECAP | Indy 1, RailHawks 1

Indy Eleven had designs for a spot atop the NASL Spring Season standings, but a late goal with five minutes left in regulation by the Carolina RailHawks' Blake Wagner helped the visitors claim a point from a 1-1 draw at a rainy Carroll Stadium. The soldout home crowd of 10,524 was encouraged by a sixth minute own goal off RailHawks defender Daniel Scott, but were deflated after Wagner’s late heroics cost their Eleven two valuable points in the standings.

The home side was buzzing early, and Indy Eleven’s high energy – and high pressure – paid off just six minutes in with an own goal off the foot of Carolina’s Daniel Scott.  With a perfectly timed through ball over the top, Indy forward Wojciech Wojcik found a streaking Charlie Rugg down the right side. The LA Galaxy loanee’s cross into the six would be deflected in by Scott, who was sliding towards the Carolina goal, as he tried to clear the ball away.

Carolina would be dealt two injury blows in the middle of the first half, as both forward Simone Bracalello and defender Futty Danso were forced from the match in the 26^th and 32^nd minutes, respectively. Carolina coach Colin Clarke was forced to go to his already thin bench early, going with newcomer Bradlee Baladez up top and Connor Tobin on the back line. 

In the 36^th minute, the RailHawks would see their best chance of the half when a streaking Mark Anderson hit a low shot right at Indy Eleven goalkeeper Kristian Nicht, who went to ground to keep the bouncing shot in front of him and smother the chance.

As the rain came down in the second half, the chances for both sides would dry up, although a shot from Indy midfielder Don Smart just seconds into the half caused trouble, as did Wojcik’s header in the 57^th minute. Carolina had a golden opportunity off an Eleven turnover in their defensive third in the 65^th minute, but Anderson couldn’t capitalize, sending an open but wide-angle chance into the side netting.

Indy Eleven had three huge chances to double the lead in the 78th minute when Carolina 'keeper Hunter Gilstrap wandered away from goal, but Rugg saw a shot towards the open frame blocked off his foot, midfielder Brad Ring’s effort was cleared off the line by Carolina defender Kupono Low and Gilstrap recovered in time to save midfielder Dragan Stojkov’s rebounded effort.

Indy Eleven’s failed chances came back to haunt them in the 85^th minute, when Tiyi Shipalane’s cross from the right went to the opposite side of the area where it found a waiting Wagner. He gathered calmly and smashed a shot from 12 yards out past Nicht and inside the right post to even the match at 1-1, which is how it would end.