Indy Saints FC joins OVPL as founding member
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indy Saints FC men’s side has joined the new Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL) as one of its founding members, the club and league announced Wednesday.
The OVPL officially launched Monday as its teams prepare for the inaugural 2020 season, which will start in May. The amateur league is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is concentrated to Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
Player development is a primary focus of the league, specifically the U23 demographic. The OVPL also affords clubs a potential opportunity to participate in the U.S. Open Cup as early as 2021.
Indy Saints FC becomes the OVPL’s second founding member after the league revealed the Cincinnati Dutch Lions on Tuesday. Monday’s launch announcement promised a total of five founding members, so expect three more squads to be unveiled in the near future.
After enduring a negative experience in their debut 2017 season in the now-defunct CSLUSA, the Saints shelved their men’s side for the next two years in search of the right fit. They appear to have found it in the OVPL, which will offer reduced costs and travel thanks to its targeted regional focus.
Indy Saints FC also fields a team in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), the second tier of the American pyramid in the women’s game. Both Indy Saints sides host their home matches at Cardinal Ritter Stadium in Indianapolis.
Stay tuned for more team announcements and details on the OVPL in the coming days.
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