FRESNO, Calif. (September 16, 2018) – Orange County SC regained sole possession of first place in the USL’s Western Conference, and continued its historic run this season, with a 1-0 win over Fresno FC.
It was a closely contested Sunday match between the two California clubs. With Fresno on the brink of elimination from playoff contention and Orange County already amassing a franchise-best season coming into the night's match, each club had its chances in the first half but neither could find the net.
“We knew it was going to be a game like this tonight," said Orange County SC Head Coach Braeden Cloutier. "On a field like [Chukchansi Park], against a team fighting for the playoffs, we knew it was going to be a fight and scrappy–a much different game than last Saturday, or even this coming Wednesday.”
As the second half progressed, the competitive and physical match seemed destined for a draw. But, after last weekend's electric win at home during stoppage time, Orange County SC would find late match heroics yet again.
For the second straight week, Noah Powder would score a crucial goal for Orange County. Starting in the midfield against Fresno, the 19-year-old stayed on-side and received a perfect pass from forward Thomas Enevoldsen in the 84th minute. He took a touch and tapped the shot past goalkeeper Kyle Reynish.
Cloutier added, “Great teams find a way to win in different ways, and the last two games… we did just that.”
Orange County SC returns to Irvine to take on Real Monarchs SLC this Wednesday, September 19th, at Championship Soccer Stadium at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. After leading the conference for most of the season, the Real Salt Lake affiliate currently sits third in the Western Conference. Tickets are available at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer/tickets, or by calling 949-647-GOAL.
Stat Highlights
- Forward Thomas Enevoldsen tallied his ninth assist of the season, which is fifth-best in the USL.
- Orange County SC sweeps its first-ever season series against Fresno, adding tonight’s win to its 3-0 victory back in May.
- Goalkeeper Andre Rawls recorded his eighth clean sheet of the season. Orange County is seventh in the league with 11.
- Defender/midfielder Noah Powder scored his second goal of 2018, following opening his account last weekend.
FRESNO, Calif. (September 16, 2018) – Orange County SC regained sole possession of first place in the USL’s Western Conference, and continued its historic run this season, with a 1-0 win over Fresno FC.
It was a closely contested Sunday match between the two California clubs. With Fresno on the brink of elimination from playoff contention and Orange County already amassing a franchise-best season coming into the night’s match, each club had its chances in the first half but neither could find the net.
“We knew it was going to be a game like this tonight,” said Orange County SC Head Coach Braeden Cloutier. “On a field like [Chukchansi Park], against a team fighting for the playoffs, we knew it was going to be a fight and scrappy–a much different game than last Saturday, or even this coming Wednesday.”
As the second half progressed, the competitive and physical match seemed destined for a draw. But, after last weekend’s electric win at home during stoppage time, Orange County SC would find late match heroics yet again.
For the second straight week, Noah Powder would score a crucial goal for Orange County. Starting in the midfield against Fresno, the 19-year-old stayed on-side and received a perfect pass from forward Thomas Enevoldsen in the 84th minute. He took a touch and tapped the shot past goalkeeper Kyle Reynish.
Cloutier added, “Great teams find a way to win in different ways, and the last two games… we did just that.”
Orange County SC returns to Irvine to take on Real Monarchs SLC this Wednesday, September 19th, at Championship Soccer Stadium at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. After leading the conference for most of the season, the Real Salt Lake affiliate currently sits third in the Western Conference. Tickets are available at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer/tickets, or by calling 949-647-GOAL.
Stat Highlights
- Forward Thomas Enevoldsen tallied his ninth assist of the season, which is fifth-best in the USL.
- Orange County SC sweeps its first-ever season series against Fresno, adding tonight’s win to its 3-0 victory back in May.
- Goalkeeper Andre Rawls recorded his eighth clean sheet of the season. Orange County is seventh in the league with 11.
- Defender/midfielder Noah Powder scored his second goal of 2018, following opening his account last weekend.
