First-place Armada FC clashes with Indy Eleven Saturday at Hodges Stadium

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m. ET | Hodges Stadium (University of North Florida)

THE TEAMS

Jacksonville Armada FC (2W-2D-0L, 8 pts., 1st NASL Spring Season)

Indy Eleven (0W-4D-0L, 4 pts., 6th NASL Spring Season)

CLUB QUICK LINKS

Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule

Indy Eleven: News | Roster | Schedule

WATCH

This TV locally (Channel 4.2 and Comcast 231)

beIN SPORTS nationally

READ

Live Twitter updates on @ArmadaFCgameday - #JAXvsIND

Live stats on ArmadaFC.com

The Jacksonville Armada FC returns to Hodges Stadium Saturday, April 29 for the first meeting of the season with Indy Eleven. Jacksonville is looking to remain unbeaten and grab a third win in Week 5 of the NASL Spring Season.

The Armada FC is now 11 games undefeated in 2017. The team leaped from 11th place in 2016, to the current first-place seat in the NASL Standings. Head coach Mark Lowry looks to keep the consistency this year in Saturday’s match.

“We have been performing well of late, but the challenge is keeping it at that level,” said Lowry. “We are looking forward to the challenge that Indy Eleven will provide.”

Midfielder J.C. Banks leads the Armada FC with two goals and ties six other players with the most goals in the league. His recent goal came against the New York Cosmos in Saturday’s road match in New York.

The defending NASL champions challenged the Armada FC with a goal by Javi Márquez in the 22nd minute. Although conceding the first goal of the season, the Armada FC fought back and Banks scored the equalizer later in the second half. One point was brought home to Jacksonville and the team remained undefeated once more with the 1-1 draw.

Although Indy Eleven sits at 6th place in the NASL, the team has kept a consistent 0W-4D-0L record and also remains undefeated. The team is coming off a 0-0 stalemate at home against the San Francisco Deltas.

“It’s going to be a very tough game,” said Lowry. “Indy is a team that has been very successful over the past 12 months, so we have to be at our best.”

Indy was a league-leader and finished second overall last year in the NASL. The team drew twice when playing in Jacksonville. An Armada FC victory this Saturday would be the second win in history, following the first meeting of the teams in 2015.

Lowry was ejected last week during the match at Brooklyn’s MCU Park. He has received a one-game suspension by the NASL and will not be on the field at Saturday’s match. Technical director Nathan Walter, along with goalkeeper coach Daryl Sattler and head of sports performance Gabe Zapponi, will assume leadership for the match under Lowry’s guidance leading up to Saturday.

Tickets to the match against Indy Eleven are on sale now on ArmadaFC.com/Tickets!

SERIES HISTORY

Indy Eleven leads with a 2W-3D-1L record

LAST RESULT

New York Cosmos 1, Armada FC 1 – 4/22/17 | Recap

POTENT NOTABLES

Jacksonville’s J.C. Banks has scored twice in the second half of games this season. No other player in the NASL has scored more than once in that timeframe.

Indy Eleven set the modern era record for most consecutive games unbeaten at home (20) last Saturday, but have only won one in the last 16 away matches.

The Armada FC has taken a 6W-8D-4L record since Mark Lowry took the reins as head coach.

BY THE NUMBERS

5 ­– Goals conceded by Indy Eleven, four goals in the first half of games and one in the second half

11 – Matches the Armada FC has remained undefeated

16 – Percentage of goal conversion by Indy Eleven, tied-for second in the league

148 – NASL games defender Aaron Pitchkolan has appeared in, tied for second in the league

INJURY WATCH

All players are in good health.

CLUB CONNECTIONS

Armada midfielder Zach Steinberger was loaned out to the Eleven in 2015 and scored two goals, both of which came against the Armada. Steinberger was also a four-year starter at Butler University, an NCAA Division I school in Indianapolis.. Indy defender Nemanja Vukovic and Armada midfielder Kevan George were teammates on the Columbus Crew (MLS) in 2012.

MEMBER APPRECIATION NIGHT

The Armada FC would like to honor season ticket members and show appreciation for their support of Jacksonville’s professional soccer team. Three-year season ticket members will be honored at halftime and all season ticket members are invited to pick up their We Got Soccer discount card from the merchandise booth. All fans 21+ are invited to the Blackfinn Ameripub Post Match Party following the conclusion of the match.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Armada FC will continue to play at home on Saturday, May 6. The team will face the two-time defending NASL champions New York Cosmos for the second match-up this season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.