(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list the photo credit as well.)
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BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group | National Soccer Network and affiliates
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
CELL: (248) 884-1051
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TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League announced the format and location for the 2024 USL Academy League Finals that will take place at the state-of-the-art IMG Academy facility in Bradenton, Florida, starting on Thursday, December 5 and culminating with the championship matches on Sunday, December 8.
Games will be broadcast via live stream on the USL’s Sports Engine Network. Michigan-based Premier Media Group, which operates the National Soccer Network and Michigan Soccer Network, will provide the play-by-play and color commentators/analysts for each game as well as producing all games for the entire tournament from their studios.
“This is an exciting event where we hope to help deliver a great experience for the viewer at home,” said PMG-NSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner.
The fourth edition of the USL Academy League Finals will see an evolution of the competition format with the top 16 teams from the USL Academy League regular season being represented. The event will feature three days of single-elimination games beginning on Thursday, December 5 and culminating with the USL Academy League Final championship matches on Sunday, December 8 between the top two teams.
The division winner from each of the 13 divisions were automatically be given a bid to the USL Academy League Finals. Two wild card bids were split between the Mountain, Metropolitan, and Southeast Divisions, with one wild card bid split between the Great Forest, South Atlantic, Mid Atlantic, Southwest, and Cactus Divisions. The wild card bids will be based on points-per-game (PPG).
A new seeding structure will be introduced for the 2024 playoffs with the 16 teams separated into four different pots based on the tier they have been placed in for the tournament. Tiers will be determined by the USL Sporting Committee using a weighted system with the following criteria:
Roster Composition (30 percent)
Determined by the submitted roster to the USL League Office
League Results (30 percent)
Teams are rated in this section solely based on their PPG
Strength of Schedule (40percent)
Teams are rated in this section on how their division have performed in USL national events (Cups and Finals)
After the tiered pots have been determined, the USL League Office will perform a live drawing that will determine the Round of 16 matchups. Teams from the same division will not be selected as a matchup in the Round of 16.
As part of the USL Academy League Finals, there will be a Girls Invitational event to recognize some of the highest performing USL Academy girls programs across the country following the conclusion of their league season. The competition will see three days of group play amongst the invited girls programs before the top two teams from the group face off in the Final with a trophy on the line. More information about those invited clubs will be revealed during the live draw for the boys soccer USL Academy League Finals event.
“We’re incredibly excited to host the USL Academy League Finals and Girls Invitational at IMG Academy this year,” said Lucas Ohlman, USL Academy Operations Director. “In addition to the state-of-the-art facilities being utilized for this event, the competition structure will replicate the experience these players will face in knockout competitions at the Senior Team level in a professional environment. We are also looking forward to bringing more entertainment to our live draw which will seed the teams leading into the event and reveal the girls programs for the invitational.”
“Our clubs continue to elevate the standard of competition and player on display at each of these USL Academy events,” added Liam O’Connell, USL Men’s Technical Director. “As an example, Bryce Jamison featured at last year’s USL Academy League Finals for Orange County SC II, just weeks after competing at the FIFA U17 World Cup for the US Men’s National Team. While our clubs identify and develop more high-potential young talents like Bryce, we look forward to providing opportunities like this to showcase themselves for the next level.”
Below is the breakdown for the each day’s games.
SCHEDULE
ALL GAMES PLAYED AT THE IMG COMPLEX IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA:
December 5
Field 2 – Charlotte Independence vs. Fort Lauderdale United U20, 10 a.m.
Field 6 – IMG Academy U20 vs. LFE All-Stars U20, 10 a.m.
Field 2 – Indy Eleven U20 vs. Southern Soccer Academy-Swarm U20, 10 a.m.
Field 7 – Richmond Kickers U20 vs. St. Petersburg FC U20, 12 p.m.
Field 2 – El Paso Locomotive FC vs. AC Connecticut, 12 p.m.
Field 6 – Miami FC U20 vs. Lonestar SC U20, 12 p.m.
Field 2 – West Coast FC vs. Lancaster FC, 2 p.m.
Field 7 – Utah Red Wolves SC U20 vs. San Antonio FC U20, 2 p.m.
Field 6 – Real Colorado U20 vs. FC Motown STA U20, 2 p.m.
December 6
All games to be determined based on Thursday’s games with start times slated for 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
December 7
All showcase and consolation games to be determined based on Thursday’s and Friday’s games with start times slated for 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
December 8
Field 6 – Showcase/Consolation finals, 8 a.m.
Field 1 – Third-Place Game, 9 a.m.
Field 1 – USL Academy Tournament, finals 12 pm.
CONFERENCE ALIGNMENTS
2024 BOYS USL ACADEMY LEAGUE
Metro Division (8): Brooklyn FC, Brooklyn Italians, Cedar Stars Academy, FA Euro NY, Hudson Valley Hammers, Ironbound SC, Manhattan SC, Westchester Flames.
Mid-Atlantic Division (7): FC Motown, Lancaster FC, Morris Elite, NJ Copa FC, Philadelphia Lone Star, Reading United AC, Real Central NJ
Chesapeake Division (4): Grove United, NOVA FC, Patuxent Football Athletics, Richmond Kickers
South Atlantic Division (6): North Carolina FC, Richmond Kickers, Salem City, Tobacco Road FC, VBR Star, Wake FC
Southeast Coast Division (5): Asheville City, Charlotte Eagles, Charlotte Independence, South Carolina United, South Georgia Tormenta
Southeast Division (8): FC Miami City, Ft. Lauderdale Pro, Miami Athletic Club, Miami FC, Nona SC, St Petersburg FC, Swan City SC, Tampa Bay United
Great Forest Division (6): Cleveland Force, Indy Eleven, Kings Hammer SC, Lexington SC, Louisville City, Michiana FC
Mountain Division (8): Albion SC Colorado, Colorado International Soccer Academy, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Flatirons Rush, Northern Colorado Hailstorm, Real Colorado Foxes, Utah Red Wolves, Utah United Academy
Lonestar Division (7): AHFC Royals, Hill Country Lobos, Houston FC, Laredo Heat, Lonestar SC, San Antonio FC
Cactus Division (6): AZ Arsenal, Barca AZ, El Paso Locomotive, FC Tucson, New Mexico United, Phoenix Rising FC
Southwest Division (6): AMSG, Central Valley Fuego, City SC, Orange County SC, Ventura County Fusion, West Coast FC
NorCal Division (5): Academica SC, NOVA Academy, River Valley Surf, Sacramento Republic, San Francisco Glens
South Central Division (5): Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, East Atlanta FC, One Knox SC, Southern Soccer Academy, Tri-Cities United
Northeast Division (5): AC Connecticut, Boston Bolts, Hartford Athletic, NEFC, Western Mass Pioneers
Valley Division (4): FC Buffalo, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Cleveland Force, Kings Hammers SC
Great Lakes Division (4): Detroit City FC, Michiana FC, Midwest United, Toledo Villa
Deep North Division (7): Bavarian United, Chicago City SC, Dakota Alliance, MPLS City, Rochester FC, St. Charles FC, St. Croix Legends
— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / Michigan Soccer Network / National Soccer Network
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group, National Soccer Network and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / Michigan Soccer Network / National Soccer Network
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
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(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list photo credit as well.)
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Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.
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