Club Signs Goalkeeper Hayden Vostal to USL Academy Contract, Releases Four Academy Players from Contracts
Indy Eleven today finalized six roster transactions, with a quintet involving USL Academy players that included the signing of goalkeeper Hayden Vostal. The signing, pending league and federation approval, means Vostal could join the Indy Eleven first team roster as early as this Saturday, when Indiana’s Team travels west to take on FC Tulsa.
Vostal’s signing with Indy Eleven comes on the heels of his joining the Indiana Fire Pro Academy program, where he’ll be eligible to suit for the Eleven’s USL Academy (U19) League side as their successful second season in East Central Conference play continues. The 6’3” netminder from Geneva, Ill., was one of just two sophomores named to the 125-player United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region Team following his standout season at Geneva High School last fall, when he also earned IHSCAA All-State honors for his efforts. The Class of 2024 product previously played club soccer for Campton United SC (St. Charles, Ill.) and has also trained with the Houston Dynamo Academy during previous summers.
“I would like to thank both my [Indiana Fire Academy] coaches, Kiki Wallace and Bobby Edwards, for the opportunity to come join the academy and prepare me for the time with Indy Eleven,” said Vostal. “I am extremely excited to join the squad and cannot wait to learn and grow from the team.”
Since the start of the 2019 season, Indy Eleven has now signed 17 players to USL Academy contracts, continuing the club’s standing as one of the premier player development destinations in the USL Championship. In joining Indy Eleven as a USL Academy contract signing, Vostal will retain his NCAA eligibility.
As Vostal joins the ranks of the first team, four other USL Academy players have been released from their contracts – Palmer Ault (Noblesville, Ind.), Aiden Benitez (Westfield, Ind.), Alex Svetanoff (Crown Point, Ind.), and Bryce Warhaft (Weston, Fla.). Svetanoff was the longest-tenured of the group after signing in the summer of 2020, while Benitez joined last summer, and Ault and Warhaft inked their contracts during the team’s 2022 preseason. The Butler University-bound Ault was the only member of the outgoing quartet to see first team action, with his three substitute appearances across the first half of the regular season totaling six minutes.
Indy Eleven also announced it has acquired defender Jesus Vazquez via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Rio Grande Valley FC and signed the center back to a new contract. The transaction followed the cancellation of the prior loan agreement between the clubs that had initially brought Vazquez to the Circle City on July 25. Since joining the squad, Vazquez has played every minute of the three matches he has been eligible for, starting with his debut on July 30 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Indy Eleven will take to the road once again this Saturday, August 20, with a pivotal meeting for postseason hopes at FC Tulsa (8:30 p.m., live on ESPN+), Indiana’s Team will return home next week with two games against top of the table sides in four days’ time on Aug. 27 against Louisville City FC (7:00 p.m.) and Aug. 31 versus San Antonio FC (7:00 p.m.). Tickets for those matches – and all future contests at Carroll Stadium – can be purchased online at indyeleven.com/tickets, and fans can learn more about promotional themes for the evenings at indyeleven.com/promotions.
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