The following is a press release from Indy Eleven
Goalkeeper Kristian Nicht Returns to Indy Eleven
Veteran Re-joins Roster Immediately, to be Available for Selection Saturday vs. Minnesota
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 12, 2015) – Indy Eleven Professional Soccer welcomed a familiar face back to its roster today with the signing of veteran goalkeeper Kristian Nicht. Per club policy, terms of the agreement – which brings Indy Eleven’s roster to 22 players – will not be disclosed.
Nicht will be available for selection this Saturday, May 16, when Indy Eleven hosts Minnesota United FC at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Tickets for Saturday’s Military Appreciation Night at “The Mike” remain available and can be purchased atwww.IndyEleven.com.
“Knowing the qualities he brings, I’m personally excited to get Kristian back in the mix here with the club,” said Indy Eleven director of soccer operations and head coach Juergen Sommer. “His knowledge of the team is an obvious asset and strengthens our goalkeeping corps, and he’ll make our roster that much stronger and that much deeper as the long NASL season moves forward.”
Nicht has returned to Indianapolis and will resume training with the squad on Wednesday from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Grand Park in Westfield. Media interested in attending training for interview access are asked to contact John Koluder in the Indy Eleven Communications Department at[email protected] or 317-919-0808 (mobile) for more details.
The 33-year-old Nicht returns to Indy Eleven after a 15-day stint with Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact. Nicht suited up for L’Impact for the second leg of their historic appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League Final on April 29 against Club America.
“My short time in Montreal was a great experience, but it’s an honor to return to some unfinished business here with Indy Eleven,” said Nicht. “The response from the fans initially was honestly a bit overwhelming, so I’m incredibly happy to be back in Indianapolis and playing in front of the Brickyard Battalion and the best fans in the NASL.”
Nicht started Indy Eleven’s first four 2015 NASL Spring Season contests, registering an undefeated 1W-3D-0L record. He currently places tied for 5th among NASL goalkeepers with at least 100 minutes of action in 2015 in both goals against average (1.00) and saves (13). His standout play in Indy Eleven’s 2-1 win at San Antonio on April 18 earned the German his first spot on the NASL Team of the Week this season (Spring Week 3).
“We are incredibly pleased to bring Kristian back into the Indy Eleven organization,” said Indy Eleven president and general manager Peter Wilt. “The last couple of weeks provided Kristian with a unique opportunity, and we are glad to see him back wearing an Indy Eleven uniform.”
In 2014, Nicht started all 27 NASL regular season contests and both appearances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for Indy Eleven during its inaugural season. His 397-minute shutout streak across last September and October set a new record for a goalkeeper during the modern era of the NASL.
About Indy Eleven Professional Soccer
After selling out all 14 home games of its 2014 Inaugural Season in the North American Soccer League (NASL), a professional soccer league based in the United States and Canada, Indy Eleven entered its second season of NASL play in April 2015. The squad contests its home games at Michael A. Carroll Stadium (2015 capacity of 10,524) on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis, where an average of nearly 10,500 fans helped Indy Eleven lead the growing league in attendance during its first season.
Born Indy Pro Soccer after launching as the 11th member of the North American Soccer League on January 16, 2013, Indy Eleven established its identity 99 days later on the 152nd anniversary of the establishment of the 11thIndiana Regiment during the Civil War on April 25, 1861. The mission of Indy Eleven – “To win championships with and for the community” – stays true to its aim of fielding a team that will represent Indiana proudly on and off the field.
