Indy Eleven won just once in its first six games this season, and it raised the question of whether the Boys in Blue were looking at another season where it’s high-profile squad could at least match the sum of its parts on paper.
A little more than a month since its 4-2 defeat at home to the Charleston Battery, the answer looks to be, indeed it can.
Indy earned its fifth consecutive victory in all competitions on Saturday night with a 4-1 dismantling of Hartford Athletic that saw four different players find the net, Augustine Williams and Jack Blake each score their fifth goals of the season, and Aedan Stanley bag his league-leading sixth assist.
It’s now firmly in the top four in the Eastern Conference and by the numbers is among the elite in the conference – which is looking at least in attacking terms to be where the Championship’s strength is held this season.
The Boys in Blue have 21 goals in the Championship this season, fourth in the league. They also sit with an Expected Goals mark of 17.41xG, also fourth in the league.
Individually, Blake is shining in all facets not just his finishing, and then you’re reminded that this side could eventually have another of the league’s all-time standouts Aodhan Quinn return to join him and Cam Lindley in midfield later this season.
Indy’s history has been made up predominantly of squads that looked good on paper but failed to live up to expectations. This year, under new head Coach Sean McAuley, things seem to have changed.
The Eastern Conference playoff race is going to be more interesting because of it.
Want the best of the USL Championship and more brought to your inbox each week? Sign up now for The Rondo, our weekly newsletter.
Here’s how this week’s rankings look.
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
|
1 | ![]() |
Charleston Battery (8-0-3) Week 12: v. ELP |
![]() Last Week: 1 |
The Battery put together another solid road performance to stay undefeated with victory in Birmingham on Wednesday night. Now comes a big night at home to Atlanta in the Open Cup. |
2 | ![]() |
Louisville City FC (7-1-1) Week 12: @ RI |
![]() Last Week: 2 |
On balance, LouCity did enough to win in Las Vegas but couldn’t find the decisive finish after Ray Serrano’s equalizer. Puts the pressure on to win and close the gap to Charleston. |
3 | ![]() |
Sacramento Republic FC (5-0-5) Week 12: v. BHM |
![]() Last Week: 3 |
Sacramento is undefeated this season and rested up for its home Open Cup clash with the San Jose Earthquakes. This should be appointment viewing. |
4 | ![]() |
New Mexico United (6-2-1) Week 12: v. SA |
![]() Last Week: 4 |
New Mexico is solidly in second place in the West and has a great opportunity against New York City FC II in the Open Cup. Can’t let this one slip through their fingers. |
5 | ![]() |
Indy Eleven (5-4-2) Week 12: v. PHX |
![]() Last Week: 5 |
Five consecutive wins in all competitions and seven undefeated overall. Win against Detroit on Wednesday night and this might be your Open Cup dark horse. | 6 | ![]() |
Detroit City FC (5-1-2) Week 12: @ LOU |
![]() Last Week: 7 |
Le Rouge had a week off to rest up before visiting Indy for the second time this season. As well as both are playing, this should be an epic for a spot in the Open Cup Quarterfinals. |
7 | ![]() |
Tampa Bay Rowdies (4-2-4) Week 12: v. LV |
![]() Last Week: 10 |
That’s the Tampa Bay Rowdies side we were expecting this season. Absolutely devastating display as the side was prepared to absorb as well as press defensively. |
8 | ![]() |
Phoenix Rising FC (4-4-3) Week 12: @ IND |
![]() Last Week: 9 |
Anything other than three points at home to Miami would have been a disappointment, but that was a comprehensive victory ahead of a tough Open Cup trip. |
9 | ![]() |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (3-3-4) Week 12: @ MEM |
![]() Last Week: 6 |
The Hounds were wasteful in front of net again and it cost them against North Carolina FC. Undefeated in seven league contests, still, but dropping off the pace a little. |
10 | ![]() |
Memphis 901 FC (4-5-1) Week 12: v. PIT |
![]() Last Week: 14 |
Marlon Santos and Bruno Lapa are having a great time right now for Memphis, and how about the clever dummy by Nighte Pickering on the game-winner in El Paso?. |
11 | ![]() |
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (4-5-1) Week 12: --- |
![]() Last Week: 15 |
The Switchbacks and Ronaldo Damus have come to live with four consecutive league victories. The Haitian has five goals in the last three league outings. |
12 | ![]() |
San Antonio FC (3-2-5) Week 12: @ NM |
![]() Last Week: 12 |
San Antonio will get to rest up before it faces a test on the road in New Mexico. It needs to take advantage of the busy week its hosts face to get back in the win column. |
13 | ![]() |
Birmingham Legion FC (4-4-2) Week 12: @ SAC |
![]() Last Week: 11 |
Legion played the Battery well, but Charleston took advantage of it best chance of the night and Birmingham didn’t. So it goes. |
14 | ![]() |
Orange County SC (4-3-3) Week 12: v. LDN |
![]() Last Week: 8 |
Orange County almost held on for a point in Oakland. Would they have deserved it? Judging from the second half performance, not really. |
15 | ![]() |
Loudoun United FC (3-6-2) Week 12: @ OC |
![]() Last Week: 18 |
Finally a breakthrough for Loudoun after midweek’s letdown. It’s exactly what they needed before heading west to face Los Angeles FC in the Open Cup and Orange County SC in the league. |
16 | ![]() |
North Carolina FC (2-4-5) Week 12: v. @ MIA |
![]() Last Week: 22 |
North Carolina was comfortably the better side against Loudoun United in midweek and then escaped with a point in Pittsburgh. Is this the start of a run of results? |
17 | ![]() |
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-4-3) Week 12: @ HFD |
![]() Last Week: 13 |
There wasn’t much to enjoy in that performance against Loudoun United, and now MBFC is winless in four games. Still in the top four, but need to stop that slide. |
18 | ![]() |
Oakland Roots SC (3-6-2) Week 12: @ TUL |
![]() Last Week: 20 |
Congratulations to Gavin Glinton on his first win as interim Head Coach, and off the second half display you can’t say Roots didn’t deserve it. Onward! |
19 | ![]() |
Las Vegas Lights FC (3-6-2) Week 12: @ TBR |
![]() Last Week: 19 |
Las Vegas got a pair of great finishes and then held off LouCity to earn a draw. It could have been better in places, but getting a point against a top contender keeps things moving. |
20 | ![]() |
FC Tulsa (2-3-4) Week 12: v. OAK |
![]() Last Week: 16 |
The Rowdies had more goals (4) than Tulsa had touches in the Rowdies’ penalty area (2) in the first half on Saturday. The definition of possession without purpose.. |
21 | ![]() |
Rhode Island FC (1-3-6) Week 12: v. LOU |
![]() Last Week: 17 |
As positive as the performance against Sacramento was last week, the errors crept back into RIFC’s game in Colorado Springs and ended up costing them dearly. Growing pains. |
22 | ![]() |
El Paso Locomotive FC (1-8-2) Week 12: @ CHS |
![]() Last Week: 21 |
The Brian Clarhaut era is over and Wilmer Cabrera’s been tasked with turning things around. It’s a steep hill to climb with two-thirds of the season to go. |
23 | ![]() |
Hartford Athletic (3-6-0) Week 12: v. MB |
![]() Last Week: 23 |
Six consecutive defeats in all competitions and 19 goals conceded in that span. This is not going to plan at all. |
24 | ![]() |
Miami FC (2-8-1) Week 12: v. NC |
![]() Last Week: 24 |
Miami was overmatched in Phoenix and never got a proper foothold in the game. The side needs to find something in the next two home games. |
Tag(s): Power Rankings San Antonio FC CO Spring Switchbacks Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Sacramento Republic FC FC Tulsa Charleston Battery Louisville City FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds Tampa Bay Rowdies Las Vegas Lights FC Birmingham Legion FC North Carolina FC Indy Eleven Memphis 901 FC El Paso Locomotive FC New Mexico United Loudoun United FC Hartford Athletic Miami FC Oakland Roots SC Detroit City FC Monterey Bay F.C. Rhode Island FC