USL Academy Finals kickoff at IMG Academy, featuring 16 top clubs

BRADENTON, Fla. – The first day of the 2024 USL Academy Finals kicked off at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida as the top 16 clubs from the USL Academy League regular season faced off in the single-elimination tournament to crown the USL Academy League title winner. (LIVE STREAMS)

The competition started off fiercely as Indy Eleven and SSA Swarm FC battled to a 3-3 draw before Indy won 4-2 in the penalty shootout. SSA Swarm looked poised for a surprise result in the club’s first entry in the USL Academy Finals as Adrian Gallegos scored a brace and converted his penalty kick, but Indy Eleven goalkeeper Ryan Hunsucker denied a penalty kick to earn the shootout victory for the perennial Academy powerhouse.

On the neighboring field, defending title-holders Charlotte Independence and Fort Lauderdale United FC finished level at 0-0 before the Independence converted four of their kicks while goalkeeper Nicholas Gritz denied two penalty efforts to advance to the Quarterfinals with a 4-2 shootout win.

Indy Eleven goalkeeper Ryan Hunsucker makes a penalty shootout save against SSA Swarm FC

AC Connecticut secured a 2-1 win over El Paso Locomotive FC after Nicola Acocella opened the scoring for AC Connecticut in the 4th minute before Axel Valdivia equalized for El Paso heading into halftime. AC Connecticut midfielder Jack Ryan – the 2023 USL Academy Finals Young Player of the Tournament – then scored a stunning volley just before full time to earn the win in the club’s fourth straight appearance in the Finals.

The Richmond Kickers won 2-0 over St. Petersburg FC as Nicholas Simmonds and Andrew Richman found the back of the net to advance. The Kickers will play Utah Red Wolves in the Quarterfinals after they earned a 3-0 win over San Antonio FC.

Across the other matches, Lancaster FC earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Coast FC, while Miami FC earned a 3-0 win over Lonestar FC.