The 2025 Indy Eleven season was the most recent season for Indy Eleven, a professional soccer club based in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was the club's twelfth season of existence, their twelfth consecutive season in the second tier of American soccer, and their eighth season in the USL Championship. The team also participated in the U.S. Open Cup for the 10th time and the interleague USL Cup for the first time.
Background The 2024 season was a historic success for Indy Eleven. The first season under new head coach Sean McAuley, the club finished in 4th place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, their best league finish since 2019, and clinched their first home playoff game since 2019. The team achieved a club record 12-game unbeaten streak in all competitions from their 1–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Chicago Fire FC II on April 17 to a 1–0 league win over San Antonio FC on June 15. Midfielder Jack Blake and forward Augustine Williams each scored a club-leading 10 league goals, and Williams' 13 total goals were the highest for the team since Éamon Zayed's record 16 goals in 2016.
Indy Eleven reached the semifinals of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup for the first time in their history, defeating Major League Soccer (MLS) side Atlanta United in the process and becoming only the 10th non-MLS side to reach the semifinals since 1996. The victory over Atlanta United also marked the club's first-ever victory over an MLS side in a competitive match.
Indy ended the 2024 season with a conference quarterfinal home loss to eventual finalists Rhode Island FC on November 3, 2024.
Summary
Preseason
Transfers The preseason began for Indy Eleven on November 4, 2024, following their playoff loss to Rhode Island FC. On November 20, the club announced the initial 14 players who would remain for the 2025 season. Notable returnees include 2024 joint-top league goalscorer for the team Jack Blake, who returns for a 3rd consecutive season, 2024 team assist leader Aedan Stanley, and Logan Neidlinger, who became the youngest player in team history to score a goal on August 11, 2024, against New Mexico United. Among those initially not returning for 2025 include goalkeeper Hunter Sulte, who registered 11 assists in 2024 and returned to parent club Portland Timbers, overall 2024 team-leading goalscorer Augustine Williams, and midfielder Tyler Gibson, who has the 9th most appearances in franchise history for the team (79) and joined fellow USL Championship side Oakland Roots on December 3, 2024.
The team made several new player signings prior to the start of the season, including forward Edward Kizza on December 3, defenders Bruno Rendón and Pat Hogan on December 5 and 12, and goalkeeper Antony Siaha on December 10. Siaha departed the club in preseason, joining fellow USL Championship team Hartford Athletic on February 25. Former Detroit City FC forward Elvis Amoh joined the club on January 7. The club added goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook from English sixth-tier team Welling United F.C. on January 21, and Swedish midfielder Oliver Brynéus was signed from Swedish third-tier team Tvååkers IF on January 23. Veteran defender Adrian Diz Pe departed the club to join Hartford Athletic on January 27, and midfielder James Murphy joined after departing Detroit City on January 29.
On February 4, MLS club Portland Timbers announced that goalkeeper Hunter Sulte would return to Indy for a second consecutive season. Scottish defender Finn McRobb joined the club on February 7, having previously played for MLS Next Pro side Minnesota United FC 2.
Defender Brian Schaefer joined the team on loan from FC Cincinnati 2 on September 3, 2025. Indy signed an additional defender on September 8, when Joey Zalinsky joined on loan from St. Louis City SC for the remainder of the season. Goalkeeper Luke Pruter joined the team's roster on September 10, on loan from Columbus Crew 2.
Preseason friendlies On January 16, fellow USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced a preseason friendly against Indy Eleven, scheduled to take place on February 12 at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield. The remainder of the club's preseason games were announced on January 12. The team faced MLS Next Pro side Columbus Crew II on January 31 and will also play Chicago Fire II, FC Cincinnati 2, and USL League One club Forward Madison FC.
Indy Eleven's preseason matches began with a 1–1 draw away to MLS Next Pro side Columbus Crew SC II on January 31, followed by a 1–2 loss at home the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on February 12 and a 0–3 away victory behind closed doors against Chicago Fire II. The Eleven followed up with a 5–0 home victory over Forward Madison FC on February 21 and a 3–1 home win over FC Cincinnati 2.
Regular season The 2025 USL Championship schedule was released on December 19, 2024.
March Indy Eleven began their regular season with a 1–3 away victory against Miami FC on March 15. Midfielder Jack Blake scored the first competitive goal for the season in the 3rd minute, a successful penalty kick conversion following a foul against defender James Musa in the Miami box. Blake's goal was his seventh consecutive converted penalty. The opening goal was followed by an outside-the-box strike from captain Aodhan Quinn to double the lead in the 18th before debutant Patrick Hogan scored in the 35th minute. Miami's Kevin Hoyos scored a consolation goal in the 65th minute. Both Blake and Hogan earned a spot in the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 2 following their performance.
Indy continued their road campaign on March 22 against league debutants Lexington SC. Following a cagey first half, defender Bruno Rendón scored the opening goal in the 60th minute after gathering the ball off a deflected cross from Jack Blake. Lexington midfielder Marcus Epps would equalize in the 79th minute. The inaugural match between the two clubs ended in a 1–1 draw.
Indy had their first home match on March 29 against 2024 USL Championship playoffs champions Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Indy opened the scoring in the 19th minute with Maalique Foster controlling a deflected cross from Aodhan Quinn and shooting into the net from the edge of the box. Colorado Springs would pull ahead with a double from Marco Micaletto on either side of halftime before Justin Dhillon scored to pull ahead by 2. Quinn would score in stoppage time via a direct free kick to cut the gap, but Indy would go on to lose their first match of the season 2–3. Three former Boys in Blue featured for Colorado Springs: Jonas Fjeldberg, Duke Lacroix and Juan Tejada.
April April began with a 2–2 home league draw against North Carolina FC on April 5. For the fourth consecutive match, Indy Eleven scored first via an own goal after North Carolina midfielder Raheem Somersall deflected a corner kick from Aedan Stanley into the net in the 26th minute. Indy would pull further ahead immediately after the break, with forward Edward Kizza scored his first goal for the club in the 48th minute. North Carolina pulled a goal back after Evan Conway scored in the 51st minute and finally equalized in the closing seconds of the match, as defender Conor Donovan headed the ball home off of a free kick.
Indy's league match at Hartford, originally scheduled for April 12, was postponed prior to the match due to an unplayable field condition and rescheduled for September 3.
The first non-league competitive match of the season was an Open Cup match at home against Miami FC on April 16, which ended in a 1–0 victory for Indy in added time. Defender Hayden White scored the only goal of the match following an Indy corner.
Indy's second home game of the month was on April 19 against fellow Eastern Conference club Charleston Battery. Charleston forward MD Myers scored twice within the first 10 minutes to give the visitors an early 2–0 lead. Arturo Rodriguez scored shortly after the half to put Charleston up by three. Indy striker Elvis Amoh scored a consolation goal in the 94th minute, his first goal with the club, to end the match as a 1–3 loss.
Indy then traveled to face USL League One side Forward Madison FC on April 26 for the team's debut match in the USL Cup. Following a tepid first half at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, Indy broke the deadlock with quick pair of goals from Aodhan Quinn and Jack Blake before Elvis Amoh scored a brace in the final 9 minutes of the match to give Indy an 0–4 away victory.
May Like the previous month, May began with Indy Eleven drawing 2–2 with Eastern Conference rivals Detroit City FC on May 3. Following two early goal from Detroit's Connor Rutz and Darren Smith, Elvis Amoh scored on either side of halftime in his first start of the season to grab a point for the Boys in Blue.
Indy then travelled to Pennsylvania to face Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union in the Round of 32 in the U.S. Open Cup on May 7. Indy held the MLS side to a 1–1 draw in regulation and added time thanks to a goal from Elvis Amoh and failed to advance following a 5–4 penalty shootout loss.
Indy travelled to California to take on Sacramento Republic in the league, ending in a 1–1 draw. Indy's Elvis Amoh scored in the 36th minute to put the team in the lead, but the team failed to hold on to the game, conceding a penalty in the 96th minute to draw the match.
The Eleven were on the road for a third straight match on May 16, traveling to face Western Conference side El Paso Locomotive FC. The team fell to three goals from Amando Moreno, Eric Calvillo and Frank Daroma before Edward Kizza pulled one back in the 85th minute.
Indy's fourth consecutive road match took place on May 24 against USL League One side One Knoxville SC. A lone goal by Elvis Amoh at the start of the second half resulted in a 0–1 victory for the Eleven, as well as extending their undefeated streak in the USL Cup.
Back home in Indianapolis on May 28, Indy Eleven faced Eastern Conference side Hartford Athletic in the league. The match ended in a 4–4 draw thanks to two goals from Romario Williams and a goal each from Ben Ofeimu and Jack Blake. The draw meant Indy remained winless in the league at home.
June June began for Indy Eleven with a league away match against Birmingham Legion. Indy scored in the 4th minute of the match with a 25-yard outside-the-box shot from Cam Lindley following a deflection by Jack Blake. The match ended in a 0–1 victory for the Eleven, the team's first league victory since their opening day win over Miami FC on March 15.
On June 14, Indy won their first home league match of the season with a 1–0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, thanks to a strike from Jack Blake in first half stoppage time.
Following two successive 1–0 victories, Indy Eleven hosted Western Conference side Las Vegas Lights on June 21. The match ended in a close-fought 0–1 defeat for the Eleven, despite having more shots on target and a larger amount of possession throughout. This marked the first game in any competition all season where Indy was held scoreless.
Indy's next game was a midweek home match at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on June 25. Following a thunderstorm delay and a late start, Indy went ahead via an outside-the-box volley from Maalique Foster in first half stoppage time, only to fall behind in the second half following goals from Tampa Bay players Blake Bodily, Laurence Wyke and former Indy player Nick Moon to end in a 3–1 loss.
July Indy began July with a decisive 3–0 home victory against Monterey Bay on July 5, thanks to goals from Aodhan Quinn, Jack Blake and Romario Williams.
Continuing an upturn in form, Indy hosted 2024 USL Championship playoffs finalists Rhode Island FC on July 12. Indy won 1–0 off of a team goal with contributions from Cam Lindley and Aodhan Quinn that was finally scored by Romario Williams.