Indy Eleven Signs Zionsville Native Holden Brown to USL Academy Contract
July 26, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - Indy Eleven continued to secure the services of Hoosier-based talent with today's signing of goalkeeper and Zionsville native Holden Brown to a USL Academy amateur contract for the remainder of the 2019 USL Championship season. Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Indy Eleven will not be released.
"One of our overarching goals as a club is to get the best players from across the state involved with us," said Indy Eleven Head Coach Martin Rennie. "We believe that young homegrown players can help our club, and Holden fits that bill. We look forward to being a part of his professional development."
The 17-year-old Brown has officially been added to the Indy Eleven roster and will be available for selection as early as Saturday's fixture at Nashville SC. In joining the club as a USL Academy signing - Indy Eleven's fourth such signing in 2019 - Brown retains his future NCAA eligibility.
In related roster moves, USL Academy signings Joshua Penn and Mario Perez have been released from Indy Eleven's roster, with the duo reporting to Indiana University and Purdue University Fort Wayne, respectively, in the coming days to begin their collegiate college careers for the NCAA Division I programs.
"I hope they both enjoy their college experience. They're both talented players and we enjoyed having them on our squad," Rennie said. "They're welcome back anytime and we'll be watching them closely to see how they develop."
Brown has taken to the pitch for the Westfield-based Indiana Fire Academy, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy outfit that sees current Eleven Assistant Coach Phil Presser serve as its Academy Director. Brown started eight of his 12 appearances for Indiana Fire's Academy's Under-18/19 squad across its current 2018/19 USSDA season.
"It's really great to sign for Indy Eleven," said Brown. "I've been coming here for a few months and the level of talent here is so high. I'm really happy for my development. All the guys here are hard on me in a good way. They give me good criticism and they all want the best for me."
Brown joins forward Emerson Nieto, a Fort Wayne native and fellow Indiana Fire Academy product, as current members of the now 22-man Indy Eleven roster with Hoosier State ties - a group that used to include the Logansport native Perez. Brown, who is expected to graduate in Zionsville Community High School's 2020 class, made 68 saves and tailed 17 shut outs in 31 varsity appearances for the Eagles between 2016-18.
Indy Eleven will take to the road the next two weeks with the chance to put some distance between its closest foes on the Eastern Conference table, starting with Saturday's meeting against Nashville FC at Nissan Stadium (8:00 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+). After traveling to face North Carolina FC on Saturday, August 3 (7:00 p.m., live on WISH-TV & ESPN+), the Boys in Blue will enjoy a bye week before returning home for back-to-back Sunday affairs against Saint Louis FC on Aug. 18 (Faith & Family Night) and Charlotte Independence on Aug. 25 ("Red Out" Summer Celebration). Tickets for those contests at Lucas Oil Stadium remain available for as little as $15 and can be purchased at indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100.
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