Original Indy Eleven member Dylan Mares delivers winner in first match back

Kevin Johnston | Special for IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS – He won a state title at Zionsville High School and played for the Indiana Hoosiers before inking his first professional contract with the then-expansion Indy Eleven in 2014. After raising his game to uncharted heights in 2016 – his third year with the club – he starred for Miami FC.

Now, Dylan Mares is back in Indy and already making match-changing plays.

Just days after announcing the midfielder’s return, Mares stepped into the starting 11 and delivered the winning strike in Indy’s 3-2 home win Wednesday evening over Toronto FC II, the reserve side of defending MLS champions Toronto FC.

“It’s an exciting time, coming back and being in a city that I was previously in,” Mares said. “It’s great to be back. People here are great. The team is very welcoming, so that makes the transition a little bit easier.”

The Eleven struck first in the 18th minute. Central midfielder Nico Matern played a picture-perfect long ball over the top to forward Ben Speas, who beat Toronto goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell.

Six minutes later, striker Jack McInerney doubled the hosts’ lead. Two TFC II defenders attempted a clearance simultaneously, resulting in McInerney finding the ball near the penalty spot, and he scored.

McInerney has been on a tear lately after a modest start to the season. He’s recorded five goals and an assist since the beginning of July.

Toronto goals in the 29th and 34th by Tsubasa Endoh and Jordan Hamilton, respectively, leveled matters 2-2. Endoh’s came on a swerving free kick into the top corner. Hamilton’s was also a bender from outside of the box, only from the run of play.

In the second half, Mares collected a pass on the left wing and dribbled through a pack of TFC II defenders before finishing at the far post to put Indy up 3-2.

“I carried it downfield,” Mares recalled. “We had a couple guys who made some really good runs. Ben was on my left side and he drew some people away, and so did Soony (Saad). Soony stretched them. They just kept moving back and back and allowed me to open up and pick out the side net. It was well done by everyone else. They gave me the space to create an opportunity.”

The Eleven will return to action Saturday at Atlanta United FC 2, a team they beat 2-0 at home in their June matchup.

With Mares in tow and the offense clicking on the new Lucas Oil Stadium turf – it’s produced six goals in two games – Indy looks like a tough out down the stretch for the rest of the USL.

“The old surface was like playing on your dining room table,” Eleven manager Martin Rennie explained. “It was brick-hard, the ball moved all over the place. You didn’t know whether is was going to bounce one way or another. It was just an absolute mess.”