Kevin Johnston

IndyStar Correspondent

When striker Eamon Zayed’s third goal Saturday put the Indy Eleven up 4-1 and in position to win the North American Soccer League spring championship, up in the press box, a grown man was reduced to tears.

There still were 5 minutes plus stoppage time left in the match, but for him, it didn’t matter. Even if the Carolina RailHawks had scored four unanswered goals to spoil Indy’s spring season, nothing could ruin that indelible moment.

The man was former Eleven General Manager Peter Wilt, the architect of the franchise.

He said his last official day as an Eleven employee was May 31; he’s departing to launch an NASL club in Chicago. Yet there Wilt was, still as emotionally invested in the club as the most intoxicated supporter in The Brickyard Battalion.

“I’m working pro bono,” he joked earlier, flashing his unmistakably affable smile.

The Eleven held on to win 4-1, and when the Fort Lauderdale Strikers lost Sunday, it was official: The Eleven were spring champions.

Indy Eleven likely to hoist spring title after 4-1 win

At the final whistle, Wilt channeled his inner Jim Valvano, desperately searching for anyone to hug while fending off a stream of tears. He wasn’t alone.

“You look for your wife, you look for your coaches, you look for the closest player you can reach to give a hug to,” Indy coach Tim Hankinson said. “And then at the end, being able to find Peter Wilt down on the field and embrace him. Because you know, he has been the guy who has signed every player in the history of Indy Eleven. And this has been his dream from the start.”

Indy Eleven's Zayed named NASL Player of the Week

Now, with a spring trophy on the mantel, Indy shifts its focus to Wednesday's fourth-round U.S. Open Cup matchup with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. Ironically, Wilt also helped found the Fire in 1997.

The key to success for the Eleven will be the containment of Fire attacker David Accam. That is, if first-year Chicago manager Veljko Paunovic decides to feature him. Coaches often rest a few starters in non-regular season competitions.

The Ghanaian international does most of his damage flying up the left side of the pitch, and he’s much more than just pace. The designated player has exceptional technical ability and can finish.

Coach Hankinson will want to keep his starting right fullback, likely either Marco Franco or Lovel Palmer, glued to Accam at all times. He might also need captain and starting center back Colin Falvey regularly drifting over to Accam’s side to provide extra help.

The Fire are rebuilding this season but retained a talented core of forwards in Gilberto and Kennedy Igboananike, in addition to Accam.

They also deploy promising second-year defensive midfielder Matt Polster as their dirty-work guy behind the ball.

With the Fire mired at the bottom of the MLS table, perhaps Paunovic will have some extra incentive to feature his normal starting lineup to make a run at the Cup. That’s all the more reason for Hankinson to consider rolling out his best 11, too.