Mark Ambrogi

mark.ambrogi@indystar.com

For the Indy Eleven coaching staff and players, a break for a second season could not have come at a better time.

"Especially in the situation where we were in where we hadn't won, it was good for us to regain energy, get healthy and work as a team to get better in the second half of the season," Indy Eleven goalkeeper Kristian Nicht said.

The Indy Eleven finished their inaugural North American Soccer League spring season in last place with a 0-5-4 record. The team opens the 18-game fall season Saturday at the Carolina RailHawks.

"We have a young and new club so it's been a great opportunity for us to look at the body of games we have ahead of us and set some goals for ourselves," Indy Eleven coach Juergen Sommer said. "We just have to continue to grow and get better."

Scoring goals has not been a problem for the Eleven. Forward Mike Ambersley tied for the league lead with five goals in the spring season.

"We didn't feel there was any team that played us off the field," Sommer said. "We know we are dangerous in and around the goal, creating chances. What we take away from the spring season is the goals we gave up in critical moments.

"We let teams back in the game or let it get away from us. We tried to focus on that during the break and get ourselves a little more sound defensively."

Nicht said the problems were not limited to defenders. He stressed the team has to get better as a whole defensively.

"It starts way up front," Nicht said. "I'm comfortable that we learned our lessons and we get better over the full season."

Sommer gave the team six days off after losing to the Columbus Crew 2-1 in the U.S. Open Cup in Akron on June 17. The final game of the spring season was a 3-3 draw at Atlanta on June 7.

Midfielder A.J. Corrado, a former Zionsville High School and Indiana University player, said the break has given players time to refresh physically and mentally.

"We have a rematch with every team scheduled for this upcoming season and I think we're all pumped about it," Corrado said.

Corrado said the biggest growth might come from the experience of playing together in the spring season.

"We're able to read each other on the field and that's growing day by day in practice," Corrado said. "That will be extremely valuable once we take the field again. We learned a lot the first part of the season and now we get to put it to use."

World Cup fever

The NASL chose to split its season in two in 2014, taking a break during the World Cup. Was it wise to go on hiatus while soccer fever was high in America?

"I really believe the World Cup fever will be even bigger after the World Cup and people will watch their local teams," said Nicht, noting the league will not have to compete with World Cup on TV.

The World Cup concludes Sunday with Germany and Argentina meeting in the championship.

Major League Soccer, which had some players competing in the World Cup, took about a two-week break before the first teams returned to action on June 25.

Sommer said he felt taking the break was a smart move for the league. It also gave the Indy Eleven players time to mix with the community at World Cup watch parties and at CarmelFest parade.

NASL commissioner Bill Peterson said the league didn't feel it was appropriate to play during the World Cup.

"Part of that is out of respect for that competition and also we realize a lot of people are focused in on that," Peterson said. "There is a chance you could have a little fatigue trying to compete with it. Based on the excitement of this World Cup, I wouldn't have wanted to compete with any of those matches."

Peterson was encouraged by the TV ratings for the World Cup in the U.S.

"I think that is a testament to a maturing soccer fan in this country and a growing number of soccer fans," Peterson said.

Call Star reporter Mark Ambrogi at (317) 444-6047. Follow him on Twitter: @mark_ambrogi

NDY ELEVEN (0-0) at CAROLINA RAILHAWKS (0-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Wakemed Soccer Park.

Webcast: NASL.com.

Watch parties: Watch party headquarters will be at Union Jack's Pub, 924 Broad Ripple Ave. A full listing of sites can be found on indyeleven.com.

Noteworthy: Prior to Wednesday night's 5-2 loss to MLS squad FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup, Carolina had not lost on its home field since Sept. 8, 2012. That period included 18 NASL and five U.S. Open Cup games. ... Carolina and Indy Eleven tied 1-1 in Indianapolis in the season opener on April 12. Mike Ambersley scored the Indy Eleven's first goal in that game. Carolina finished fourth in the spring season with a 4-3-2 record. Indy Eleven was 0-5-4 ... Earlier this week, Indy Eleven released four players and is expected to add some new players pending league approval. "We'll have some new faces out there that will improve the quality of our team from top to bottom and allow us to improve," coach Juergen Sommer said.

— Mark Ambrogi