Akron City FC Set to Open Inaugural USL2 Season

It’s a new dawn, a new day, and a new league for Akron City FC. ACFC kicks off their fourth season at home this Saturday, May 17th at Green Street Stadium. Akron City will pick up where they left off against NPSL friend Steel City FC at 7 pm. ACFC’s season ended in the Great Lakes Championship falling to SCFC 0-2. 

Akron City FC’s 3rd season catapulted the club to their first playoff appearance, and first cup win in the USASA Amateurs Cup. They finished the season with a franchise-best record of  9-0-3 in NPSL action while going 1-1 in cup play. At one point in the season rattling off eight consecutive wins en route to a second-seed placement in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Great Lakes Playoffs.

The 2025 squad boasts a combination of last year’s record-breaking squad and new talent. “Practice has started well and it’s been good to get some of the guys from last year back together and blend a new group of guys in,” said ACFC Head Coach Andy Hoggarth.

Among the returners are standouts Stefan Dobrijevic who netted 11 goals in the 2024 campaign, Colin Biros a mid-season addition who helped ACFC get their first NPSL playoff win, and Jannis Schmidt ACFC’s captain who knocked in 5 goals of his own.

“Once again this year I expect us to be very competitive in the league,” said Hoggarth, “I think we have the potential to put in some good performances and entertain the fans at Green Street stadium.”

Some new faces on the field include two new defensemen in Cleveland State’s own Will Wagner and Mikey Lennon from Georgia Southern University.

Hoggarth said, “The new players we have brought in have settled straight in and it’s hard to single players out as the commitment and quality from all of them has been great.”

In addition to new faces on the squad, ACFC also has a new league. Akron was elevated to the United Soccer League (USL) Divison Two and met with spectacular support from the USL2 community and ACFC fans.

“This club was built with a passion for the game, for Akron, and for every player who’s ever worn our crest. To see us take the field in our USL2 debut–at home, in front of our community–is incredibly special. Steel City FC will be a great test, but more than anything, this night is about celebrating how far we’ve come and the family we’ve built along the way,” said ACFC Owner Nick Turchan.

It’s been nine long months since the boys took the pitch at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and the Akron faithful are ready. For those attending games, stop by the paddock at the stadium's north end to cheer with Rubber City Underground. 

You can also sample Hoppin Frog Brewery’s two Akron City FC branded beers, “Kickin’ Blackberry Turbo Shandy” and the new “Pitchside Pils”. Season tickets and individual game tickets are available now on our website.

Report by Liv Sharp