Star report

TAMPA – The Indy Eleven concluded their inaugural NASL season Saturday with a dramatic 2-2 tie and a teaser as the startup soccer squad takes five months off before season No. 2.

Playing the Tampa Bay Rowdies in front of 6,377 at Al Lang Stadium, the Eleven had every reason to think they would cap 2014 with their fourth straight victory. After early goals from Evans Frimpong (Tampa Bay) and the Eleven’s Don Smart, Indy’s Jhulliam scored in the 88th minute to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

But in the 89th minute, a free kick from the foot of the Rowdies’ Blake Wagner found Amani Walker five yards from the net. He headed it in for the tie.

“Obviously little disappointed with the late goal against, but for the most part it was a pretty entertaining match and I’m happy with the guys and the way we finished. It was a good game,” said Eleven coach Juergen Sommer.

Still, the Eleven (6-7-5 for 23 points in the Fall, 6-12-9 for 27 points overall) finish on a five-game unbeaten streak. But riding high from a three-game winning streak that featured wins over the North American Soccer League’s top two teams — Minnesota United FC and the San Antonio Scorpions — Indy fell just short of a victory that could have catapulted them into the top five of the NASL’s Fall Standings.