2024 Indy Eleven season

The 2024 Indy Eleven season was a domestic season for Indy Eleven, a professional soccer club based in Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning in February 2024 and ending in November 2024, comprising 40 competitive matches and 6 friendlies. It was also the club's eleventh season of existence, their eleventh consecutive season in the second tier of American soccer, and their seventh season in the USL Championship. The team also participated in the U.S. Open Cup, making the semi-finals for the first time in the club's history.

Background The previous season was the second consecutive season where the USL played a 34-match schedule divided into two conferences with both conferences having a single table. While being the first where all sides from both conferences played against each other.

The 2023 season was seen as relatively successful for Indy, as they qualified for the USL Championship Playoffs for the first time since 2019 by finishing 6th in the Eastern Conference. The team lost to eventual finalists Charleston Battery in the Conference Quarterfinals on October 22, 2023. The team exited the U.S. Open Cup in the third round with a 1–0 away loss to MLS side Columbus Crew on April 26, 2023.

Following the conclusion of the 2023 season the club parted ways with head coach Mark Lowry, who later became the head coach for MLS Next Pro side Real Monarchs. The team announced the arrival of former Manchester United player and Minnesota United interim head coach Sean McAuley as their new head coach on January 8, 2024.

Roster

No.NameNationalityPosition(s)Date of birth (age)Signed inPrevious clubLeague Apps.League GoalsGoalkeepers0Hunter SulteGKApril 25, 2002 (age 21)2024 Portland Timbers (on loan)2601Yannik OettlGK2023 Hartford Athletic26024Hayden VostalGK2024 Indy Eleven Academy0046Cayden CrawfordGK2024 Indy Eleven Academy00Defenders2Josh O'BrienDF2024 Hamilton Academical2513Aedan StanleyDF2024 Miami FC3205Callum Chapman-PageDF2023 Miami FC25115Adrián Diz PeDF2023 FC Tulsa55430Ben OfeimuDF2024 Miami FC30133Hayden WhiteDF2024 Ebbsfleet United6037Logan NeidlingerDF2024 Indy Eleven Adacemy14141James MusaDF2024 Colorado Springs Switchbacks7144Macauley KingDF2023 Colorado Springs Switchbacks13055Maverick McCoyDF2024 Indy Eleven Adacemy00Midfielders6Cameron LindleyMF2023 Colorado Springs Switchbacks6218Jack BlakeMF2023 San Diego Loyal561312Diego SanchezMF2023 Indiana Fire Academy3014Aodhan QuinnMF2023 Phoenix Rising39916Laurence WoottonMF2024 Chicago Fire (on loan)24220Ben MinesMF2024 Miami FC20022Tyler GibsonMF2024 Louisville City21132Brem SoumaoroMF2024 York United FC8039Nikola IveticMF2024 Indy Eleven Academy00Forwards7Karsen HenderlongFW2024 Indiana University509Augustine WilliamsFW2024 Charleston Battery311010Romario WilliamsFW2024 Hartford Athletic18213Sebastián GuenzattiFW2023 Tampa Bay Rowdies611618Elliot CollierFW2024 San Diego Loyal30542Douglas MartínezFW2023 Sacramento Republic59799Maalique FosterFW2024 Colorado Springs Switchbacks111

Non-competitive

Preseason The Eleven released their preseason schedule on January 19, 2024. Six games were announced, four home games and two away games. The Eleven faced clubs in the USL Championship, MLS Next Pro, USL League One, and one collegiate team.

The Eleven concluded their preseason games following a 3–1 victory over Detroit City on February 29. They ended their preseason series undefeated with five wins and one draw, and a +16 goal differential.

Competitive

USL Championship

Standings

Match results The league announced the 34 week regular season campaign for every club on December 18, 2023. Indy began their season away to Western Conference side Oakland Roots on March 9, with their home opener taking place in week three against Sacramento Republic on March 23. The regular season concluded with an away game against Tampa Bay Rowdies on October 26.

The season consists of 34 matches, with the Eleven playing home and away against each Eastern Conference opponent. Indy faced expansion club Rhode Island FC for the first time ever on July 5, drawing 3–3, and also played against North Carolina FC for the first time since 2020 on April 27, winning 2–1. The top 8 teams in the Eastern Conference will qualify for the 2024 USL Championship playoffs. The Eleven qualified for the playoffs following a 3–2 home win over Birmingham Legion FC on October 19. This marks the first playoff game hosted by Indy Eleven since 2019.

USL Cup Playoffs

The top eight teams in each USL Championship conference advanced to the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs. The Eleven qualified for the playoffs following a 3–2 home win over Birmingham Legion FC on October 19. The team secured a home game in the Conference Quarterfinals and a guaranteed top 4 conference finish on October 23 following Rhode Island FC's draw against Charleston Battery. The Eleven lost 2–3 at home to Rhode Island FC in the Conference Quarterfinals on November 3.

Playoff results

U.S. Open Cup

As a member of the USL Championship, Indy Eleven entered the U.S. Open Cup tournament in the third round. The Eleven qualified for the Round of 32 for the first time since 2016 with a 1–0 victory over the Chicago Fire FC II on April 17, the team's first away victory in the U.S. Open Cup and their first shutout of the season.

The draw for the Round of 32 took place on April 18, with the Eleven hosting fellow USL Championship club San Antonio FC at home on May 8. On April 18, the Eleven announced that the match against San Antonio would be played at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis.

The Eleven defeated San Antonio 2–0 on May 8 to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. In the Round of 16 on May 22, the Eleven defeated fellow USL Championship club Detroit City FC 3–0, who had defeated MLS side Houston Dynamo in the Round of 32.

The Eleven faced MLS side Atlanta United in the Quarter-finals on July 9, the first ever meeting of the two teams and Indy's first ever appearance in the Open Cup Quarter-finals. The Eleven's 2–1 victory was the team's first ever win over an MLS side, and advanced the team to a historic semi-final matchup. Indy Eleven's tournament ended in a 0–2 away loss to Sporting Kansas City on August 27 in the Eastern Semi-final. The Eleven were the only non-MLS team to reach the semi-finals and the result is the team's best-ever performance in the tournament.

Match results

Statistics

Appearances and goals

|colspan=10 align=center|Players who left Indy during the season:

Disciplinary record No.Pos.NameUSLCPlayoffsU.S. Open CupTotal0GK Hunter Sulte100000101GK Yannik Oettl100000102DF Josh O'Brien400000403DF Aedan Stanley300000305DF Callum Chapman-Page800000806MF Cameron Lindley600000607FW Karsen Henderlong100000108MF Jack Blake600010709FW Augustine Williams4000004010FW Romario Williams5000005013FW Sebastián Guenzatti2000103014MF Aodhan Quinn3000104015DF Adrián Diz Pe7200108216MF Laurence Wootton1000001017FW Tega Ikoba1000001018FW Elliot Collier2000002020MF Ben Mines5000005021MF Ethan O'Brien1000001022MF Tyler Gibson1000102023DF Younes Boudadi3000003030DF Ben Ofeimu4010207032MF Brem Soumaoro2000002033DF Hayden White3000003034MF Max Schneider1000203037DF Logan Neidlinger1000001041DF James Musa1010002042FW Douglas Martínez6010108044DF Macauley King1000001099FW Maalique Foster10100020

Clean sheets No.NameUSLCPlayoffsU.S. Open CupTotalGames Played0 Hunter Sulte90211311 Yannik Oettl0011924 Hayden Vostal0000046 Cayden Crawford00000

Goals RankNo.NameUSLCPlayoffsU.S. Open CupTotalGames Played19 Augustine Williams1003133828 Jack Blake10011132T-313 Sebastian Guenzatti500533T-342 Douglas Martinez311535T-318 Elliot Collier500536T-610 Romario Williams200219T-616 Laurence Wootton200228T-630 Ben Ofeimu101233T-941 James Musa10019T-917 Tega Ikoba100112T-914 Aodhan Quinn010113T-999 Maalique Foster100113T-937 Logan Neidlinger100117T-922 Tyler Gibson100124T-92 Josh O'Brien100131T-915 Adrian Diz Pe100132

Awards +USL Championship Team of the Week SelectionsWeekStartersBenchOpponent(s)Link1 Jack Blake Younes BoudadiOakland2 Jack Blake Aedan StanleyMemphis5 Jack BlakeLouisville8 Callum Chapman-PageNorth Carolina9 Jack Blake Adrian Diz PeMonterey Bay10 Aedan Stanley Adrian Diz Pe A. WilliamsMiami11 Aedan Stanley Younes Boudadi Ben OfeimuHartford12 Jack BlakePhoenix13 Ben OfeimuPittsburgh15 Hunter SulteSan Antonio19 Ben OfeimuLoudoun25 Jack BlakeLas Vegas26 Ben OfeimuPittsburgh27 Adrian Diz PeHartford28 Jack Blake Romario Williams Maalique FosterEl Paso30 A. Williams Jack BlakeMiami31 A. WilliamsLouisville32 Ben Ofeimu Hunter SulteLoudoun, Detroit33 Jack BlakeBirmingham +USL Championship Player of the WeekWeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link10 Aedan StanleyMiami30 Augustine WilliamsMiami +USL Championship Save of the WeekWeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link15 Hunter SulteSan Antonio19 Hunter SulteLoudoun23 Hunter SulteNew Mexico31 Hunter SulteLouisville +USL Championship Coach of the MonthMonthCoachMonth Record (W–D–L)LinkMay Sean McAuley(6–0–0)

Kits

TypeShirtShortsSocksFirst appearance / RecordHomeBlueBlueBlueMatch 3 vs. Sacramento / 8–3–4AwayRedRedRedMatch 1 vs. Oakland / 6–3–3

2024 Indy Eleven season

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