AC Connecticut Get Revenge To Claim 2025 USL Academy Finals Title

AC Connecticut finally got the revenge they’d been waiting a full year to claim at the 2025 USL Academy Finals. After last year’s heartbreaking defeat in the final against Indy Eleven, this season delivered the ultimate payoff.

It was a tense, tactical affair that swung wildly in extra time and was ultimately settled in a penalty shootout. When it was all said and done, AC Connecticut stood on top of the USL Academy Finals podium at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. 

It was more than just a win for AC Connecticut; it was also a message that they belong in one of the premier academies in the USL.

A Chess Match Turns Into Chaos in Extra Time

The first 90 minutes felt like two heavyweights absorbing punches rather than throwing them. Indy Eleven leaned on its famously compact defensive structure. AC Connecticut matched with disciplined shape and patience on the ball. Neither side blinked or made the mistake that would break the match open.

Extra time, however, flipped the script completely. Both teams suddenly pushed numbers forward, raised their pressing intensity, and played with a level of risk absent during regulation. The match turned open, transitional, and unpredictable. AC Connecticut was able to open the scoring in extra time. But before they could even find a few minutes to feel comfortable about their lead, Indy Eleven quickly equalized and put the game back on track to a tense encounter at one-all. Despite a continuous late surge from both sides, the match stayed level, sending the final to penalty kicks.

It was AC Connecticut who kept their composure in the shootout, executed with precision, and sealed their long-awaited revenge — winning 4-2 in penalty kicks.

AC Connecticut goalkeeper Luca Marinelli saved a penalty and Preston Alessio scored the winning kick to secure the team's first-ever USL Academy Finals trophy.

Third-Place Thriller: Lexington SC Outlasts Utah Red Wolves SC

The third-place match between Lexington SC and Utah Red Wolves SC was one of the most entertaining contests of the weekend. Both sides — widely regarded as two of the biggest surprises of the tournament — played with confidence and fearlessness, battling to a 2–2 draw in regulation. 

The match ultimately went to a nail-biting penalty shootout, where Lexington emerged with a 7–6 win. While only one team walked away with a third-place finish, both programs showed their performances signaled significant growth and are building foundations capable of challenging for titles in the years to come.

Award Winners: Tournament Standouts

This year’s awards highlighted players and staff who not only performed at an elite level but also shaped the narrative of the entire tournament. Indy Eleven’s Ryan Hunsucker made history by earning both the Golden Ball and Golden Glove awards, becoming the first goalkeeper in the tournament’s history to win the Golden Ball. Across four matches, he conceded just one goal from open play, anchoring Indy’s deep run and proving himself as one of the premier young keepers in the USL player pathway.

Lexington SC also enjoyed a highly decorated weekend. Forward Luca Sowinski secured the Golden Boot after scoring four goals in the tournament, including braces in both the quarterfinal and third-place matches. His scoring instincts and clutch finishing made him one of the most dangerous attackers on display. Another Lexington standout, Jose Flores, was named Young Player of the Tournament. Flores started every match, played with maturity well beyond his age, and delivered the winning penalty in the third-place shootout.

Rounding out the honors, Lexington head coach Quinn Huddle earned Coach of the Tournament, recognized for guiding his underdog squad to a top-four finish and implementing tactical plans that consistently put his team in position to succeed.