2024 Orange County SC season
2024 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Owner | James Keston | ||
Manager | Morten Karlsen (until June 25) Paul Hardyman (Interim, June 25 - July 19) (Official, from July 19) | ||
Stadium | Championship Soccer Stadium Irvine, California | ||
USL Championship | Western Conference: 8th | ||
U.S. Open Cup | Round of 32 | ||
Highest home attendance | 5,000 (Twice) | ||
Lowest home attendance | League: 3,353 (August 3, against North Carolina FC) All Competitions: 1,749 (May 7, against Loudoun United FC) | ||
| |||
The 2024 Orange County SC season is the club's fourteenth season of existence, and their fourteenth consecutive season in the United Soccer League Championship, the second tier of American soccer.
Orange County experienced a coaching change in the middle of the season, with head coach Morten Karlsen transferring to coach in Denmark, and lead assistant coach Paul Hardyman being promoted to Head Coach.[1]
Season summary
[edit]During the offseason, Orange County experienced two major changes. In the January transfer window, the 2022 and 2023 Orange County season leading goal scorer, Milan Iloski, brother of Brian Iloski, made a transfer to Danish Superliga team FC Nordsjælland.[2][3] Additionally, interim head coach Morten Karlsen signed a multi-year contract with Orange County during the offseason to become the official head coach of Orange County.[4]
In their season opener, Orange County drew 2–2 with the Sacramento Republic FC away in Sacramento,[5] with Colin Shutler scoring a header during a corner kick three minutes into stoppage time. With his header, Shutler became the first Orange County, and only the third ever USL Championship goalkeeper, to score in a match.[6][7]
Orange County had a hot start to the season, not losing their first six games. However, after losing six of the next nine games, Orange County held a 6-6-2 record in the Western Conference in late June,[8] resulting in Head Coach Karlsen making a transfer to Danish Superliga team Lyngby BK, with head assistant coach Paul Hardyman being promoted to interim head coach,[9][10][11] until he was eventually promoted to being the official head coach of the team on July 19.[12]
As the season progressed, Orange County lost form, not scoring in a five-match period beginning in late July, the longest streak in franchise history.[13] This streak of four losses and one draw culminated in the worst loss in franchise history, an August 24 match against the Charleston Battery, where the club would lose 6–0, prompting an open letter apology to fans from owner James Keston.[14]
Roster
[edit]- As of July 20, 2024[15]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- ^ USL Academy Contract
Technical staff
[edit]Role[16] | Name |
---|---|
President of Soccer Operations & General Manager | Peter Nugent |
Interim Head Coach | Paul Hardyman |
Assistant Coach | Didier Crettenand |
Goalkeeping Coach | Victor Nogueira |
Performance Data Analyst | Amanda Preciado |
Performance Consultant | Dan Guzman |
Head Academy Scout | Shawn Beyer |
Team Operations Coordinator | Mario Lemus |
Competitions
[edit]Exhibitions
[edit]In preparation for the 2024 USL Championship season, Orange County played in seven pre-season friendlies, mainly against collegiate and fellow USL Championship teams.[17]
February 3 Preseason | Orange County SC | 2-1 | Loyola Marymount Lions | Irvine, California |
11:00 AM | War ![]() Zubak ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Great Park Field 10 Attendance: 0 |
February 10 Preseason | Orange County SC | 0-1 | UC Irvine Anteaters | Irvine, California |
10:00 AM | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 |
Preseason | Orange County SC | 0-1 | Los Angeles FC 2 | Irvine, California |
Report | ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 |
February 21 Preseason | Orange County SC | 0-0 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Coachella Valley, California |
1:00 PM | Report |
February 24 Preseason | Phoenix Rising FC | v | Orange County SC | |
1:00 PM | ||||
Note: Game not played |
March 2 Preseason | Orange County SC | v | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, California |
1:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
March 2 Preseason | Orange County SC | v | San Diego Toreros | Irvine, California |
4:30 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
USL Championship
[edit]Standings
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 24 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 32 | Playoffs |
7 | FC Tulsa | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 30 | |
8 | Orange County SC | 25 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 39 | −14 | 28 | |
9 | Monterey Bay FC | 25 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 28 | |
10 | Phoenix Rising FC | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 25 | −4 | 27 |
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Match results
[edit]On December 18, 2023, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 24 teams.[18]
All times are in Pacific Standard Time.
March
[edit]March 9 1 | Sacramento Republic FC | 2-2 | Orange County SC | Sacramento, California |
7:00 PM | Amann ![]() ![]() ![]() Jauregui ![]() Mazzola ![]() Ricketts ![]() | Report | Partida ![]() Casiple ![]() Djeffal ![]() Shutler ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 11,569 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
Note: Colin Shutler's header was the first goal by a goalkeeper in Orange County SC's history. |
March 16 2 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 0-2 | Orange County SC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
4:00 PM | Hogan ![]() Biasi ![]() | Report | Iloski ![]() Miles ![]() Doghman ![]() Amang ![]() Dunbar ![]() Shutler ![]() | Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 5,125 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
March 23 3 | Orange County SC | 2-2 | Miami FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Partida ![]() Miles ![]() Amang ![]() | Report | Mitrano ![]() Gavilanes ![]() ![]() Genzano ![]() Botta ![]() Biek ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
March 30 4 | Orange County SC | 1-0 | FC Tulsa | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Djeffal ![]() Chattha ![]() Lambe ![]() Iloski ![]() | Report | Portillo ![]() Diallo ![]() Ponce ![]() Seagrist ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,573 Referee: Trevor Wiseman |
April
[edit]April 6 5 | Memphis 901 FC | 0-2 | Orange County SC | Memphis, Tennessee |
1:00 PM | Lopes ![]() | Report | Iloski ![]() Amang ![]() Djeffal ![]() Partida ![]() Fox ![]() | Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 2,316 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
April 13 6 | San Antonio FC | 0-0 | Orange County SC | San Antonio, Texas |
5:30 PM | Taintor ![]() Haakenson ![]() | Report | Sorto ![]() Miles ![]() Amang ![]() Partida ![]() | Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 6,957 Referee: Natalie Simon |
April 20 7 | Orange County SC | 0-2 | Sacramento Republic FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Dunbar ![]() Amang ![]() Scott ![]() | Report | Amann ![]() Fernandes ![]() Sanchez ![]() Desmond ![]() Cicerone ![]() Timmer ![]() Ross ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,200 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
April 27 8 | Orange County SC | 2-0 | Monterey Bay FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Amang ![]() Scott ![]() Sorto ![]() Djeffal ![]() Shutler ![]() Zubak ![]() | Report | Lara ![]() Rebollar ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,588 Referee: Deshun Beard |
May
[edit]May 11 9 | Louisville City FC | 3-0 | Orange County SC | Louisville, Kentucky |
4:30 PM | Harris ![]() Morris ![]() Serrano ![]() Wilson ![]() | Report | Iloski ![]() Scott ![]() Colin Shutler ![]() | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 10,239 |
May 18 10 | Oakland Roots SC | 2-1 | Orange County SC | Hayward, California |
7:00 PM | Reid ![]() ![]() Margvelashvili ![]() | Report | Amang ![]() Scott ![]() Zubak ![]() Lee ![]() | Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 3,651 Referee: Servando Berna Rico |
May 25 11 | Orange County SC | 0-2 | Loudoun United FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Chattha ![]() Scott ![]() Miles ![]() | Report | Valot ![]() Erlandson ![]() Skundrich ![]() Ryan ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,342 Referee: Natalie Simon |
June
[edit]June 1 12 | Orange County SC | 3-2 | Detroit City FC | Irvine California |
7:00 PM | Amang ![]() ![]() Scott ![]() ![]() Fox ![]() Jamison ![]() | Report | Carroll ![]() ![]() Amoo-Mensah ![]() Diop ![]() Rutz ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,537 Referee: Nabil Bensalah |
June 8 13 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2-1 | Orange County SC | Phoenix, Arizona |
8:00 PM | Formella ![]() ![]() Hernández ![]() Fuenmayor ![]() Rito ![]() ![]() | Report | Miles ![]() Zubak ![]() Lambe ![]() Chattha ![]() | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,032 Referee: Ricardo Montero |
June 15 14 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 4-2 | Orange County SC | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
6:00 PM | Hanya ![]() ![]() Williams ![]() Foster ![]() ![]() Damus ![]() | Report | Flood ![]() Jamison ![]() ![]() Doghman ![]() Shutler ![]() | Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 8,023 Referee: Brad Jensen |
June 22 15 | Indy Eleven | 0-1 | Orange County SC | Indianapolis, Indiana |
4:00 PM | Ofeimu ![]() Williams ![]() | Report | Zubak ![]() ![]() Sorto ![]() Chattha ![]() | Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Attendance: 9,490 Referee: Joe Surgan |
June 29 16 | Orange County SC | 0-2 | Oakland Roots SC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Chattha ![]() Shutler ![]() Scott ![]() Amang ![]() | Report | Riley ![]() Njie ![]() Rodriguez ![]() Dwyer ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Elton García |
July
[edit]July 3 17 | New Mexico United | 2-0 | Orange County SC | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
6:00 PM | Miles ![]() Mohamed ![]() Bruce ![]() | Report | Chattha ![]() Miles ![]() Chavez ![]() Jamison ![]() | Stadium: Isotopes Park Attendance: 12,147 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
July 6 18 | Orange County SC | 4-1 | Memphis 901 FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Jamison ![]() Zubak ![]() ![]() Lambe ![]() Chattha ![]() Miles ![]() Sorto ![]() | Report | Hyndman ![]() Ward ![]() Vom Steeg ![]() Borczak ![]() Pickering ![]() Yacoubou ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,725 Referee: John Griggs |
July 13 19 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2-0 | Orange County SC | St. Petersburg, Florida |
4:30 PM | Jennings ![]() ![]() Crisostomo ![]() Kleemann ![]() | Report | Norris ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,971 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
July 20 20 | Orange County SC | 2-0 | San Antonio FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Scott ![]() Nakkim ![]() Gomez ![]() Lambe ![]() | Report | Hernandez ![]() Buckmaster ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,258 Referee: Trevor Wiseman |
July 27 21 | Birmingham Legion FC | 3-0 | Orange County SC | Birmingham, Alabama |
4:30 PM | Pinho ![]() Martínez ![]() Pasher ![]() | Report | Flood ![]() Nakkim ![]() Scott ![]() Lambe ![]() | Stadium: Protective Stadium Referee: Matthew Thompson |
August
[edit]August 3 22 | Orange County SC | 0-1 | North Carolina FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Sorto ![]() | Report | Batista ![]() Malou ![]() Servania ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,353 Referee: Benjamin Meyer |
August 9 23 | FC Tulsa | 0-0 | Orange County SC | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
5:30 PM | Laszo ![]() Damm ![]() Bourgeois ![]() | Report | Norris ![]() | Stadium: ONEOK Field Referee: Calin Radosav |
August 17 24 | Orange County SC | 0-1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Norris ![]() Hegardt ![]() Jamison ![]() Scott ![]() | Report | Calvillo ![]() Lyons ![]() Moreno ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,001 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
August 24 25 | Charleston Battery | 6-0 | Orange County SC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
4:30 PM | Markanich ![]() ![]() Rodríguez ![]() Segbers ![]() Myers ![]() | Report | Doghman ![]() Casiple ![]() | Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
August 31 26 | Orange County SC | v | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
September
[edit]September 14 27 | Orange County SC | v | Rhode Island FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
September 21 28 | Monterey Bay FC | v | Orange County SC | Seaside, California |
7:00 PM | Stadium: Cardinale Stadium |
September 25 29 | Orange County SC | v | Phoenix Rising FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
October
[edit]October 5 30 | Las Vegas Lights FC | v | Orange County SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
7:30 PM | Stadium: Cashman Field |
October 9 31 | Orange County SC | v | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
October 16 32 | El Paso Locomotive FC | v | Orange County SC | El Paso, Texas |
6:00 PM | Stadium: Southwest University Park |
October 19 33 | Orange County SC | v | New Mexico United | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
October 26 34 | Orange County SC | v | Hartford Athletic | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
U.S. Open Cup
[edit]As a member of the USL Championship, Orange County entered the U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32.[19] It was announced by the U.S. Soccer Federation on April 18, 2024, that Orange County would face off against fellow USL Championship team Loudoun United FC at home.[20]
May 7 Round of 32 | Orange County SC | 1-2 | Loudoun United FC | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Nakkim ![]() Scott ![]() Chattha ![]() Amang ![]() | Report | Leggett ![]() ![]() Martinez ![]() Turner ![]() Hughes ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,749 Referee: Omeed Azadpour |
References
[edit]- ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (2024-06-25). "Orange County SC announces departure of Head Coach Morten Karlsen to Danish SuperLiga club Lyngby Boldklub". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Burke, Elias. "Orange County SC's Milan Iloski moves to Nordsjaelland, continuing trend in USL". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Orange County SC's Milan Iloski headed to Europe after USL season". Orange County Register. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "Orange County SC removes interim label for coach Morten Karlsen". Orange County Register. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Sac Republic FC draws with Orange County in season opener, 2-2". FOX40. 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Macht, Daniel (2024-03-10). "Sacramento Republic FC's 2024 season opener ends with 2-2 shocker". KCRA. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC DRAWS 2-2 WITH SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC IN OPENING MATCH OF 2024". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ "Indy Eleven vs Orange County SC - Final Score - Standings - June 22, 2024". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ "Orange County Soccer Club coach Morten Karlsen departs for new job in Denmark". Orange County Register. 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ "Morten Karlsen er Lyngbys nye cheftræner - Lyngby Boldklub". lyngby-boldklub.dk (in Danish). 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC AND LYNGBY BK AGREE TO TERMS AS HEAD COACH MORTEN KARLSEN HEADS TO DENMARK". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC NAMES PAUL HARDYMAN HEAD COACH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ Allen, Dylan (2024-08-25). "POST-MATCH REVIEW: A RECORD LOSS". Orange & Black SoccerCast. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ Keston, James (2024-08-26). "OPEN LETTER FROM THE OWNER". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ "Roster". Orange County Soccer Club. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Technical Staff". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Preseason Central". uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (2023-12-18). "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Rueter, Jeff. "U.S. Open Cup draw: NYCFC II is only MLS Next Pro team in last 32". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (2024-06-25). "Orange County SC announces departure of Head Coach Morten Karlsen to Danish SuperLiga club Lyngby Boldklub". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-06-25.