AC Connecticut

Soccer club

AC Connecticut

Full name| AC Connecticut
Founded| 2011; 14 years ago (2011)
Stadium| Westside Athletic Complex
Danbury, Connecticut
Capacity| 2,500
Majority Owner| Peter D'Amico
General Manager| Robin Schuppert
League| USL League Two
2024| 5th, Northeast Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Website| acconnecticut.com

Home colors

Away colors

|

AC Connecticut is an American amateur soccer team based in Newtown, Connecticut, playing in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. The team colors are blue, black and white.

## History

[edit]

CFC Azul was founded as a USL PDL team on December 21, 2011, and launched its inaugural season in 2012. The club is the pinnacle for a 70-plus youth team organization and is Connecticut's only professional organized soccer franchise.[1] In its first season of play, CFC Azul finished mid-table tied for 4th place with fellow expansion team Worcester Hydra.

In 2013, CFC finished in 6th place with a record of 2 wins, 6 losses and 6 draws.[2] In time for the start of the 2014 season, Peter D'Amico became the primary owner and managing partner of the Azul.[3] Additionally, CFC teamed up with WXCI 91.7 FM to broadcast play-by-play of Azul's home games.[4]

The team split off from its Connecticut Football Club (CFC) parent and was renamed AC Connecticut on September 5, 2014.[5][6]

In 2021, AC Connecticut announced a partnership with Hartford Athletic to identify potential players and create a pathway to pro soccer.[7]

## Stadium

[edit]

The team was originally scheduled to play their home games at Reese Stadium on the campus of Yale University. However, due to scheduling conflicts, CFC Azul ended playing their 2012 home games at various locations throughout Connecticut including Veterans Stadium in New Britain, CT. For the 2013 season, CFC Azul played their home games at Central Connecticut State University. CFC Azul signed a multi-year contract to play their games the Westside Athletic Complex at Western Connecticut State University.[8] AC Connecticut now plays their home games at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, CT, the home of the USL Championship team, the Hartford Athletic. They also have facilities in Newtown, CT at Newtown Youth Academy.[9]

## Year-by-year

[edit]

Year  | Level | League  | Reg. Season  | Playoffs  | U.S. Open Cup

|
|
|
|
|

CFC Azul
2012 | 4  | USL PDL | 5th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2013 | 4  | USL PDL  | 6th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2014 | 4  | USL PDL  | 2nd, Northeast  | Conference Semifinals  | did not qualify
AC Connecticut
2015 | 4  | USL PDL  | 4th, Northeast  | did not qualify | 1st Round
2016 | 4  | USL PDL  | 6th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2017 | 4  | USL PDL  | 6th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2018 | 4  | USL PDL  | 5th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2019 | 4  | USL League Two | 8th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 | 4  | USL League Two  | 6th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2022 | 4  | USL League Two  | 7th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2023 | 4  | USL League Two  | 7th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2024 | 4  | USL League Two  | 5th, Northeast  | did not qualify | did not qualify

## Players and staff

[edit]

### Notable former players

[edit]

* Steve Covino[10]
* Ryan Kinne[11]
* Jannik Eckenrode[12]
* Gianluca Catalano[13]
* Henry Kessler[14]

### Current staff

[edit]

* Robin Schuppert – General Manager
* Alex Harrison – Head Coach
* Joe Mingachos – Head Coach
* Joe Falstoe – Assistant Coach
* Sean Weir – Fitness Coach
* Paul Winstanley – Goalie Coach

## See also

[edit]

* AC Connecticut women
* Hartford Athletic

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Connecticut FC Azul Joins USL PDL". United Soccer Leagues (USL). January 11, 2012. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
2. ^ "PDL 2013 standings". Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
3. ^ "CFC Soccer to be based at Westconn". July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
4. ^ "WXCI 91.7 FM to broadcast Azul home games". June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
5. ^ "AC Connecticut Unveils New Name, Logo". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 5, 2014. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
6. ^ "CFC AZUL CHANGES NAME TO A.C. CONNECTICUT". AC Connecticut. September 5, 2014. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
7. ^ USLChampionship.com Staff (March 19, 2021). "Hartford Athletic Announces Partnership with AC Connecticut". USL League Two.
8. ^ "Azul, WCSU Reach Agreement". United Soccer Leagues (USL). March 18, 2014. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
9. ^ "AC Connecticut Facilities". AC Connecticut.
10. ^ "Azul Add Former USL-Pro Player | CFC Azul". Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
11. ^ "Azul Get Former New England Revolution Player | CFC Azul". Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
12. ^ "Eckenrode signs contract with KF Aegir in Iceland". George Mason University. May 18, 2016.
13. ^ "Gianluca Catalano". USL League Two.
14. ^ "Revolution Got Their Man in Virginia's Kessler". Boston Globe. January 15, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
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USL League Two (2025)

* List of teams

Central|

| Great Forest|

* Akron City FC
* Cleveland Force SC
* Eire Sports Center
* FC Buffalo
* Steel City FC
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|

Great Lakes|

* AFC Ann Arbor
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* Kalamazoo FC
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* Union FC Macomb

Great Plains|

* Des Moines Menace
* Santafé Wanderers FC
* Springfield FC
* St. Louis Ambush
* Sunflower State FC
* Peoria City

Heartland|

* Chicago City Dutch Lions
* Minneapolis City SC
* River Light FC
* RKC Third Coast
* Rochester FC
* St. Croix Legends
* Sueño FC

Valley|

* Dayton Dutch Lions
* Fort Wayne FC
* Kings Hammer Cincinnati
* Kings Hammer Columbus
* Lexington SC
* West Virginia United

Eastern|

| Chesapeake|

* Annapolis Blues FC
* Charlotesville Blues
* Christos FC
* Lionsbridge FC
* Northern Virginia FC
* Patuxent Football Athletics
* Virginia Beach United FC
* Virginia Marauders FC

|

Metropolitan|

* Cedar Stars Rush
* FC Motown STA
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* Manhattan SC
* Morris Elite SC
* New Jersey Copa FC
* Staten Island SAC
* Westchester Flames

Mid Atlantic|

* Delaware FC
* Lehigh Valley United
* Ocean City Nor'easters
* Reading United AC
* Real Central New Jersey
* West Chester United SC

Northeast|

* AC Connecticut
* Albany Rush
* Black Rock FC
* Boston Bolts
* Boston City FC
* New England FC
* Seacoast United Phantoms
* Vermont Green FC
* Western Mass Pioneers

South Atlantic|

* Charlotte Eagles
* Charlotte Independence II
* North Carolina FC U23
* Salem City FC
* SC United Bantams
* Tobacco Road FC
* Wake FC

Southern|

| Lone Star|

* AC Houston Sur
* AHFC Royals
* Corpus Christi FC
* GFI Woodlands
* Hill Country Lobos
* Houston FC
* Laredo Heat
* Lonestar SC
* Twin City Toucans FC

|

Mid South|

* Denton Diablos FC
* Hattiesburg FC
* Little Rock Rangers
* Louisiana Krewe FC
* McKinney Chupacabras
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Southeast|

* Brave SC
* Brevard SC
* Brooke House FC
* Inter Gainesville KF
* NONA FC
* Sporting JAX

South Central|

* Apotheos FC
* Asheville City SC
* Birmingham Legion 2
* Columbus United
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* East Atlanta FC
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South Florida|

* FC Miami City
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* Kings Hammer Sun City
* Miami AC
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Western|

| Mountain|

* Albion SC Colorado
* CISA
* Colorado Storm
* Flatirons FC
* Utah United

|

Norcal|

* Academica SC
* Almaden FC
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* Marin FC Legends
* Monterey Bay FC 2
* Project 51O
* San Francisco City FC
* San Francisco Glens
* San Juan SC

Northwest|

* Ballard FC
* Bigfoot FC
* Lane United FC
* Midlakes United
* FC Olympia
* Portland Bangers FC
* Snohomish United
* Tacoma Stars
* West Seattle Junction FC

Southwest|

* AMSG FC
* Capo FC
* City SC
* Coachella FC
* FC Tucson
* Redlands FC
* Southern California Eagles
* Stars FC
* Ventura County Fusion

* v
* t
* e

Trinity Health Stadium

Current tenants|

* Hartford Athletic
* Hartford City FC
* AC Connecticut
* AC Connecticut Women

Former tenants|

* Connecticut Crushers
* Connecticut Yankees
* Hartford Bicentennials
* Hartford Charter Oaks
* Hartford Knights
* Hartford S.C.
* UConn Huskies (men's) (women's)

* v
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* e

Sports teams based in Connecticut

Baseball|

Hartford Yard Goats
FCBL
New Britain Bees
Norwich Sea Unicorns
NECBL
Bristol Blues
Danbury Westerners
Mystic Schooners

Basketball|

WNBA
Connecticut Sun

Football|

WFA
Connecticut Hawks
Northern Connecticut Nightmare
NEFL
Connecticut Reapers

Gaelic games|

USGAA: Northeast Division
Hartford

Ice hockey|

AHL
Bridgeport Islanders
Hartford Wolf Pack
FPHL
Danbury Hat Tricks
NAHL
Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks

Soccer|

USLC
Hartford Athletic
MLSNP
Connecticut United FC (2026)
USL2
AC Connecticut
NPSL
Hartford City FC
USASA
Newtown Pride FC

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Connecticut Roller Derby
Hartford Area Roller Derby
MRDA
Connecticut Death Quads

Rugby union|

NERFU
Fairfield Yankees RFC
Hartford Wanderers RFC
New Haven Old Black RFC
New London County RFC

Softball|

ASA
Connecticut Brakettes

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

Bridgeport Purple Knights (women's gymnastics)
Central Connecticut Blue Devils
Fairfield Stags
New Haven Chargers
Post Eagles (women's bowling and women's ice hockey)
Quinnipiac Bobcats
Sacred Heart Pioneers
Southern Connecticut Owls (women's gymnastics)
UConn Huskies
Yale Bulldogs

|

NCAA
Division II|

Bridgeport Purple Knights
Post Eagles
Southern Connecticut Owls

NCAA
Division III|

Albertus Magnus Falcons
Coast Guard Bears
Connecticut College Camels
Eastern Connecticut Warriors
Hartford Hawks
Mitchell Mariners
Saint Joseph Blue Jays
Trinity Bantams
Wesleyan Cardinals
Western Connecticut Colonials

NJCAA Division III|

Gateway Lions
Lincoln Wildcats
UConn-Avery Point Pointers

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