Author: Ryan Baker
Photos: SEDIII Productions
The Indianapolis AlleyCats entered the weekend with hope and determination, eager for their first win of the 2026 season. Yet, despite their resolve, they faced disappointment in a tough game against the Minnesota Wind Chill, losing 13-21.
The wind made its presence felt at Kuntz Stadium, gusting up to 20 mph. Every player battled these conditions, but the AlleyCats’ frustration was evident as their own mistakes deepened the challenge.
“We’re trying to get better every day,” said Head Coach Nathan Bussberg. “We’re a brand new team. We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds. We had to goal to do the simple well. Minnesota makes the simple hard.”
The game opened strongly, with Jake Felton drawing a foul at the goal line on a huck from Jeremiah Branson and Xavier Payne, returning for his 2026 debut, showcasing his influence by assisting William Wettengel on the opening goal.
“It felt great to be back with the Cats,” Payne said. “I like a lot of people on the Cats, and I love the organization. The owners and coaches are just awesome people, so I’m really excited to help support them.”
The AlleyCats briefly grabbed the lead after a Minnesota turnover, as Payne connected again with Wettengel for a break score, putting them up 4-3. This marked Payne’s continued impact, but it was the last lead for Indy. Minnesota responded with two 4-0 runs to close the first and open the second quarter.
In the 8-0 run by their opponent, Indy amassed eight turnovers, including a drop by Jake Felton. Everything was going well for Minnesota, as they were able to get momentum plays, including multiple layout blocks and tipped discs that landed in their hands. The run was finally halted by a Wettengel to Payne score, but the damage was done, and the half ended with a score of 6-13.
“The Wind Chill’s defense is just good,” Payne remarked. “If they smell blood in the water, they will take it and run. They just want the frisbee.”
Indy refused to surrender, cleaning up their play and outscoring Minnesota 5-2 in the third quarter. Hope surged when Joel Close launched himself for a massive layout block, igniting the AlleyCats with energy—even though the team turned it over right after. The 2-minute-long point ended in a Felton hammer throw to Branson, a moment of pride amid struggle.
Heading into the fourth, Indy saw themselves down five. The team has made the decision early on that they're going for the win vs trying to "lose by less." Being a timed game, the decision to be aggressive at the end of the game was intentional.
The game ended on a Minnesota 4-1 run that included more drops and turns, but those late turns were partly due to the quicker pace Indy had to play at, given the deficit.
Overall, it was a rough showing all-around as Indy had 23 turnovers, including three players with multiple throwaways. The offense looked very smooth and comfortable at times against the stellar Minnesota defense, yet still posted an O-line conversion rate of only 38 percent. Meanwhile, their defensive issues weren’t necessarily about not producing turnovers or throwaways, but about converting those opportunities, as they went 2/15 on break chances.
“Finding ways to allow the game to come to us more naturally will be our goal,” Bussberg stated.
Indy is still dealing with chemistry issues, but it had moments on both offense and defense where players contributed significantly. Wettengel impacted the game by catching five goals and throwing two assists, building on his seven assists from last week. Payne is also key to their future success, taking on the quarterback role and logging over 400 passing yards and 82 completions this weekend, which gave the offense stability.
Close provided a defensive spark with two blocks in nine points played. Jack Havey, Kai Creed, and Avi Ghitterman have shown promise but need to improve their decision-making for consistency. Creed, after his first two career games, sees the difference in preparing for UFA games and has taken steps to improve.
“My goal is to be a player who can impact the game in virtually any way,” Creed said. “I don’t believe I am near it; however, I believe I am taking the right steps and know the path I need to take.”
Losing stings, especially with Indy’s evident talent, but Creed praised Bussberg’s steadfast encouragement, reminding his teammates to rise above frustration and hold onto optimism, even as the deficit loomed large.
“It’s pretty easy to keep a level head when your coach is like a best friend,” Creed said. “I think Buss[berg] does a really good job with uplifting messages. Ultimately, no one wants to lose, but focusing on our team's end goals makes it an understandable part of the process.”
With only two games played, Indy faces fixable issues. Coach Bussberg and staff will use their upcoming bye week to recalibrate before hosting the Chicago Union.
"I feel confident in our group. We have had really successful moments. If we can stack those moments of success together more and more often, the wins will come," Bussberg concluded.
