Kevin Johnston

For IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Eleven’s schedule has been every bit Jekyll and Hyde lately. Three consecutive home games? Splendid. Seven matches over a 22-day span? Not so swell.

The Eleven’s grueling stretch and three-game homestand both concluded Wednesday with a 3-0 takedown of New York Red Bulls II at Lucas Oil Stadium. Now the Eleven finally get a weekend off and a full week of rest ahead of their next match at Penn FC on Sept. 12.

Indy wasted little time jumping in front. Eugene Starikov volleyed in a dangerous service off the boot of Dylan Mares from the right side in just the second minute. Starikov added another soon after, this time on a cheeky chipped pass from captain Matt Watson.

Starikov took it on a half volley and blasted it home with authority.

New York found itself down 3-0 at halftime after Indy defender Reiner Ferreira cleaned up on a counterattack. Nico Matern crept behind the defense to create a breakaway, nearly scoring before Seth Moses collected the ball and laid a pass off for Ferreira, whose gentle bender beat New York goalkeeper Evan Louro.

“First of all, it’s a counterattack,” Moses explained. “They played the ball in, we go long. That’s what we had been doing all game – attack, attack.

“Nico (made a) brilliant run. It was like a 50-yard run.”

Nursing a substantial lead, the Eleven switched into cruise control in the second half. Red Bulls II ended up owning significantly more possession and fired off a staggering 26 shots. But many of those drifted wayward from distance, and New York might’ve done well to exhibit more patience in the final third. Both clubs put 10 shots on target.

As for Starikov, a strong contender for man of the match, impactful performances have kind of become his thing. Whether he’s getting on the scoresheet or wreaking havoc on opposing defenders with his high motor and physicality, Indy has seen a noticeable lift this season when he’s healthy and in the lineup.

Eleven coach Martin Rennie credited the breadth of talent on his squad for dealing with the brutal schedule.

“Our depth is something that’s been on show for the last couple of games,” he said. “We played one game in 19 days, followed by seven in 22.”

Four of Indy’s final six matches are on the road. The Eleven (12W-9D-7L, 45 points) currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference; the top eight qualify for the playoffs, which start in mid-October.