IRVINE, Calif. (October 6, 2018) – In its regular season home finale, Orange County SC defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2 by a 2-1 scoreline. In doing so, the club continued adding to its franchise record-breaking marks in wins and points in a season as well as its lead at the top of the USL’s Western Conference table. With Orange County’s win and Phoenix Rising FC’s draw this evening, Orange County SC sits three points ahead of the Arizona side in the battle for the top spot in the USL’s Western Conference and clinched a top-two seed.
Orange County forward Michael Seaton had a couple major chances in the first half, with a powerful header ring off the crossbar and narrow miss getting on the end of midfielder Darwin Jones’ low cross. Jones would have a chance of his own go over the bar in the 12th minute. At the break, Orange County SC held 65% of possession and tallied nine shots to Seattle’s one.
Sounders FC 2 broke through in the 60th minute, when S2 midfielder Azriel Gonzalez curled a shot past goalkeeper Andre Rawls from well outside the penalty area. After announcing his retirement at year’s end and playing in his 400th pro match, Orange County SC midfielder Richard Chaplow scored the crucial goal to level things up. Off a corner kick, defender Alex Crognale headed it towards the goal and Chaplow deflected it into the back of the net.
On a quick counter attack for Sounders FC 2 later in the half, Rawls came up with a massive save to keep things even. In the 85th minute, Seaton broke in behind the Seattle defense and was pulled down by S2 defender Blake Malone. He was awarded a yellow card. Aodhan Quinn took the free kick from outside the area, but it was deflected by the wall.
With the match in second-half stoppage time, Orange County SC substitute Giovanni Ramos-Godoy was played over the top and was taken down in the penalty area. Quinn then stepped up to the spot and beat goalkeeper Calle Brown to put Orange County up 2-1. For the 10th time in 2018, the fans at Championship Soccer Stadium went home happy after a home win.
To close out the 2018 regular season, Orange County SC travels to northern Nevada to face Reno 1868 FC next Saturday, October 13th. Looking ahead to post-season action, tickets are on sale for Orange County’s first round home playoff match on October 20th. For more information, visit https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer/2018playoffs.
Stat Highlights
- Aodhan Quinn scored his 11th goal of the season. He completed 82% of his 66 passes.
- Orange County SC has scored at least one goal in six straight matches.
- Defender Jos Hooiveld won six of seven aerial duels and connected on 80% of his passes.
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ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC is also the official affiliate partner of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), a new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.
IRVINE, Calif. (October 6, 2018) – In its regular season home finale, Orange County SC defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2 by a 2-1 scoreline. In doing so, the club continued adding to its franchise record-breaking marks in wins and points in a season as well as its lead at the top of the USL’s Western Conference table. With Orange County’s win and Phoenix Rising FC’s draw this evening, Orange County SC sits three points ahead of the Arizona side in the battle for the top spot in the USL’s Western Conference and clinched a top-two seed.
Orange County forward Michael Seaton had a couple major chances in the first half, with a powerful header ring off the crossbar and narrow miss getting on the end of midfielder Darwin Jones’ low cross. Jones would have a chance of his own go over the bar in the 12th minute. At the break, Orange County SC held 65% of possession and tallied nine shots to Seattle’s one.
Sounders FC 2 broke through in the 60th minute, when S2 midfielder Azriel Gonzalez curled a shot past goalkeeper Andre Rawls from well outside the penalty area. After announcing his retirement at year’s end and playing in his 400th pro match, Orange County SC midfielder Richard Chaplow scored the crucial goal to level things up. Off a corner kick, defender Alex Crognale headed it towards the goal and Chaplow deflected it into the back of the net.
On a quick counter attack for Sounders FC 2 later in the half, Rawls came up with a massive save to keep things even. In the 85th minute, Seaton broke in behind the Seattle defense and was pulled down by S2 defender Blake Malone. He was awarded a yellow card. Aodhan Quinn took the free kick from outside the area, but it was deflected by the wall.
With the match in second-half stoppage time, Orange County SC substitute Giovanni Ramos-Godoy was played over the top and was taken down in the penalty area. Quinn then stepped up to the spot and beat goalkeeper Calle Brown to put Orange County up 2-1. For the 10th time in 2018, the fans at Championship Soccer Stadium went home happy after a home win.
To close out the 2018 regular season, Orange County SC travels to northern Nevada to face Reno 1868 FC next Saturday, October 13th. Looking ahead to post-season action, tickets are on sale for Orange County’s first round home playoff match on October 20th. For more information, visit https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer/2018playoffs.
Stat Highlights
- Aodhan Quinn scored his 11th goal of the season. He completed 82% of his 66 passes.
- Orange County SC has scored at least one goal in six straight matches.
- Defender Jos Hooiveld won six of seven aerial duels and connected on 80% of his passes.
# # #
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC is also the official affiliate partner of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), a new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.
