Former Hoosiers, Tanner Thompson and Richard Ballard, star in pro debuts

Last night, two former Indiana soccer stars made their pro debuts.

The Indy Eleven, and Tanner Thompson, got their start in the NASL at San Fransisco on Saturday evening and came away with one crucial point thanks to this game tying header by the former Hoosier in his debut:

Thompson, a standout for the Hoosiers in his four years at Indiana, received a ball in the air from teammate, Ben Speas, and knocked it in beautifully with his head to tie the game at 1.

“It was actually my first headed goal ever - even from youth soccer and into college,” Thompson was quoted as saying after the game. Pretty remarkable considering that he scored 18 goals at Indiana. Indy Eleven will return home on Saturday, April 1st to take on Puerto Rico FC in Indianapolis.

Another former Hoosier, Richard Ballard, made his pro debut in the USL with the Louisville City FC and was voted Man of the Match in the 0-0 draw. He had two shots on the game in his return to his hometown.

Ballard was asked after the game what he had learned about himself after his pro debut and simply said, “I’m going to have a lot of fun.”