Unbeaten NASL rival loses starting goalkeeper to MLS

It's been a good start to the season for Indy Eleven, but on Monday, the club announced that a starting player has left the club. Kristian Nicht started all 27 NASL matches for Indy last season, as well as the first four of 2015, but has now joined the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer on a permanent deal. Nicht had two previous loan spells with Montreal.

While the details of the transfer have not been released, Indy president Peter Wilt had the following to say about the move:

"It is our desire to be a player-friendly club, and we are honoring that by allowing Kristian to join Montreal at this time. This move will provide an incredible opportunity for Kristian, and everyone at Indy Eleven wishes him the best of luck during this tremendous moment in his career."

"I would also like to thank Adam Braz at the Montreal Impact for agreeing to a deal that benefits Kristian, Indy Eleven and Montreal both in the short and long terms."

For his part, Nicht seemed genuinely thankful for the treatment from the Eleven:

"I want to thank the Indy Eleven organization for giving me the chance to follow through on this wonderful opportunity.While I am very excited to join Montreal, thanks to the support I received from Indy Eleven’s tremendous fans and the Indianapolis community as a whole I will always consider myself 'Indy Forever.’"

Indy will now have to find anew starting keeper while in the middle of a playoff hunt, and can't really afford any mistakes with just six matches remaining in the spring season. Indy currently sit three points behind the league-leading Cosmos, in fourth place at the moment.