Kevin Johnston

IndyStar correspondent

Summer has been kind to the Indy Eleven.

Since the Eleven’s home win against North Carolina FC on June 17, they haven’t lost a game. Prior to that, Indy hadn’t won a match in 2017.

After downing the New York Cosmos 2-1 on Saturday night at Carroll Stadium, Indy ran its unbeaten streak to four, three of which were victories. Not coincidentally, coach Tim Hankinson was able to use the same starting 11 for the fourth-straight match after several regulars returned to health in June.

Indy opened the scoring in the 17th minute when forward Justin Braun received a shove in the 18-yard box on the dangerous service from left fullback Nemanja Vukovic. Right midfielder Don Smart calmly slotted home the ensuing penalty kick to put Indy up early.

“That’s my normal PK,” Smart said of his stutter-step approach that threw off Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer. “I do that all the time. When I stepped up, I knew I was going to do that and I didn’t change my mind.”

But the lead was short-lived. The Cosmos equalized 10 minute later with a low blast by Emmanuel Ledesma from 20 yards out. And later, Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch kept Indy level with a huge save in the 71st minute on a set-piece shot by Ledesma that appeared destined for the top corner.

Indy found the game-winning tally moments later via Braun. Vukovic delivered his corner kick to the far post and Braun rose to finish it with an acrobatic header to put Indy up for good, 2-1.

The Soccer Tour’s Steve Bernasconi attended the match after hanging out with some Eleven supporters this weekend. Bernasconi loaded up a van and hit the road in early 2017 to embark on a 20,000-mile, eight-month trek across the U.S. and Canada to delve into soccer culture at all levels.

“Indy was always one of the lower-division games I was looking forward to most having worked for the (Ft. Lauderdale) Strikers and seeing what (Indy) has done,” Bernasconi said. “It certainly lived up to every expectation I had.”

The Eleven will host Jacksonville Armada FC next weekend to finish the NASL spring season. Their fall campaign will begin July 30 in Edmonton, Ontario.

With the spring title out of reach, Indy will hope to carry its fine form over to the second half of the season. Indy will either need to win the fall title, or finish with one of the two best overall records among clubs that didn’t win either season.

In other Saturday NASL action, Miami FC wrapped up the spring title with a 7-0 thrashing of the San Francisco Deltas.