Kickoff: Saturday, March 16 (4:00 PM PST)
Where: Highmark Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA)
How to Watch: ESPN+, The Harp Inn in Costa Mesa with the County Line Coalition
Orange County SC heads on the final leg of their season opening road trip this Saturday, March 16 at 4:00 PM PST as they take on the reigning Players’ Shield holders Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. The Riverhounds and OCSC had very similar questions raised about them in the offseason, and answered them to varying degrees last Saturday.
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT??
Well, the Riverhounds did at the end of last season. Pittsburgh last season scored 50 goals a season ago, but are returning just 10 of those goals this season. The Hounds most notably lost 2023 USL Championship Golden Boot winner and MVP Albert Dikwa in the offseason, but are only returning one of their top five goal scorers from a year ago in forward Edward Kizza, who tallied four goals last season. The club in turn signed former Tottenham Hotspur and USL League One standout Kazaiah Sterling, who scored 31 goals in 53 appearances with the South Georgia Tormenta and was named MVP of the USL League One Final. They are coming off a 1-0 defeat on the road against New Mexico United on Matchday 1, so who will be the first Hound to get on the board? Let’s hope we find out on Matchday 3…
2024 Regular Season Record: 0-0-1 12th in USL-C Eastern Conference (19-10-5 in 2023, 1st in USL-C Eastern Conference)
Goals Scored: 0 | Goals Allowed: 1 | Clean Sheets: 0
Players to Watch
M Kenardo Forbes
F Kazaiah Sterling
AN UNFORGETTABLE WEEK FOR THE BLACK AND ORANGE
Orange County SC began the 2024 USL Championship season by rescuing a point on the road at Heart Health Park in a thrilling 2-2 draw with SacRepublic. The second goal in midfielder Seth Casiple’s Orange County career and the goal heard around the County, goalkeeper Colin Shutler’s header in the last minute of stoppage time ensured that the Black and Orange would leave the state capital with a result. Shutler became the first goalkeeper in OCSC history and just the third goalkeeper in USL Championship history to score a goal. Now as they head across the country to a place that is historically difficult to play at, PIT is 31-12-7 at Highmark Stadium in the last three seasons, it’s about turning one point into three points. New additions to the roster like midfielder Sofiane Djeffal, defender Ashton Miles and forward Ethan Zubak played key roles in Sacramento, and will look to provide impactful performances again on Saturday.
Players to Watch
GK Colin Shutler
M Sofiane Djeffal
All-time record:
Orange County SC is 1-1-1 all-time against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Previous Matchup: 2023 USL Championship
Orange County SC 1 – 0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (Championship Stadium, Irvine, CA)
Scoring summary: Milan Iloski 40’ (OCSC)
ALMOST HEAVEN…ORANGE COUNTY
Orange County SC launched their 2024 Road kit earlier this week, the County Roads kit. The County Roads kit is a jet black kit with orange designs, most notably being the map of Orange County on the front. The kit is a nod to our supporters’ group, the County Line Coalition, and their signature chant. You can purchase yours at ocscshop.com today!
RECORD WATCH: COLIN SHUTLER
Fresh off a historic performance last week in Sacramento, goalkeeper Colin Shutler has a chance to inch closer to making history on Saturday. Shutler currently sits just behind former goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky for most clean sheets (Rakovsky 13, Shutler 12) and most wins (Rakovsky 18, Shutler 17) in club history. If Shutler records either a shutout, a win, or both on Saturday, he could move into a tie with Rakovsky heading into next week’s home opener.
SECURE YOUR SEAT FOR 2024!
The only way to secure your seat for every Orange County SC home match in 2024 is by becoming a season ticket holder! Becoming a season ticket holder comes with special benefits, like your own entrance at The Champ, a ticket to one away game of your choice and much more! Grab yours today before our Home Opener on Saturday, March 23 at orangecountysoccer.com/season-tickets.