The 2023 Orange County SC season was the club's thirteenth season of existence, and their thirteenth consecutive season in the United Soccer League Championship, the second tier of American soccer.
| 2023 season | |
|---|---|
| Manager | Richard Chaplow (until May 1) Morten Karlsen (Interim) (from May 1) |
| Stadium | Championship Soccer Stadium Irvine, California |
| USL Championship | Western Conf.: 2nd Overall: 5th |
| USL Championship Playoffs | Conference Semifinals |
| U.S. Open Cup | Third Round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Milan Iloski (17 goals) All: Milan Iloski (20 goals) |
| Highest home attendance | 5,500 (5 times) |
| Lowest home attendance | League: 3,047 (May 17 v.s. Sacramento Republic FC) Open Cup: 1,588 (Second Round, April 5 vs Capo FC) |
| Average home league attendance | 4,411[1] |
Orange County had a tumultuous start, only winning one out of their first eight games with a 1-4-3 record, leading to the team firing head coach Richard Chaplow and promoting the newly hired assistant coach Morten Karlsen to interim head coach on May 1, 2023.[2] Under new management, Orange County found form and finished the season on a three-game winning streak, going from 11th to 2nd place in the Western Conference,[3] and having a final record of 17–11–6.[4]
In the first round of the USL Championship playoffs, Orange County faced off against seventh seeded El Paso Locomotive FC at home, winning 1–0 with a goal from Forward Milan Iloski.[5] In the semifinals, Orange County hosted 6th seed Phoenix Rising FC, losing 2–1 in extra time to the eventual champions.[6][7]
This would be the last season that the team-leading goalscorer and All-League Second Team[8] Iloski would play for Orange County, as after this season he made a transfer to FC Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga in the January transfer window.[9][10] Additionally, on November 10, appointed interim head coach Karlsen was signed to become the official head coach of Orange County.[11]
Roster
editAs of 13 June 2024[12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Technical Staff
edit| Role[14] | Name |
|---|---|
| President of Soccer Operations & General Manager | Peter Nugent |
| Head Coach | Morten Karlsen |
| First Assistant Coach & IDP Manager | 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
editExhibitions
editOrange County, on January 31, announced six pre-season matches, with most matches being played against MLS Next and colligate teams behind closed doors.[15]
| February 11 Preseason | LA Galaxy II | 1-2 | Orange County SC | Carson, California |
| 11:00 AM | Report | Stadium: HDC University Field 1 Attendance: 0 |
| February 18 Preseason | Orange County SC | 2-1 | UC Irvine Anteaters | Irvine, California |
| 11:00 AM | Osundina  31' 89' (o.g.) |
Report | 46' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 |
| February 25 Preseason | San Diego Loyal | 3-0 | Orange County SC | Carlsbad, California |
| Report | Stadium: MiraCosta Stadium Attendance: 0 |
| March 1 Preseason | Orange County SC | v | Cal State Fullerton Titans | Irvine, California |
| 8:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium | ||
| Note: Season ticket holder exclusive | ||||
| March 4 Preseason | Orange County SC | 1-0 | Los Angeles FC 2 | Irvine, California |
| 10:30 AM | Iloski 60' (pen.) |
Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 |
| March 4 Preseason | Orange County SC | 4-1 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos | Irvine, California |
| 2:00 PM | Chattha 5' 26' 57' 89' |
Report | 67' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 |
USL Championship
editStandings
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento Republic FC | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 51 | 26 | +25 | 64 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Orange County SC | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 39 | +7 | 57 | |
| 3 | San Diego Loyal SC | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 61 | 43 | +18 | 57 | |
| 4 | San Antonio FC | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 63 | 38 | +25 | 56 | |
| 5 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 34 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 49 | 42 | +7 | 53 |
Source: USL Championship Standings
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
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
Results summary
edit| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 46 | 39 | +7 | 57 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 14 | +7 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
Source: USL standings
Match results
editOrange County announced their full season schedule on January 9, 2023.[16]
All times in Pacific Time.
March
edit| March 11 1 | Orange County SC | 1-3 | Louisville City FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Richards  37' Partida 40', 45' + 3' Iloski 41' |
Report | McCabe 4' Lancaster 19', 57' Totsch 71' Mushangalusa 88' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,267 Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva |
| March 18 2 | Orange County SC | 1-1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Chattha 34' Nielsen 40' Powers 90' |
Report | Lasso 75' Herivaux 82' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,278 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| March 25 3 | Orange County SC | 2-2 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Partida 45'+3' Scott 56' Villanueva 60' Iloski 64' Nakkim 90'+2' |
Report | Torres 44', 50' Botello-Faz 62' Oteng 66' Bushue 90'+5' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,959 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
April
edit| April 1 4 | Hartford Athletic | 1-1 | Orange County SC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 11:00 AM | Rad 6' Amoh 45'+8' Cedeno 65' Hodge 70' Barrera 72' Logue 84' McGlynn 90'+3' |
Report | Iloski 7' Nakkim 65' Partida 81' Doghman 87' Richards 90'+5' Scott 90'+5' |
Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 3,030 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
| April 8 5 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1-0 | Orange County SC | El Paso, Texas |
| 6:30 PM | Lyons 4' Pavkovics 6' Solignac 19' Zacarias 44' Kostyshyn 74' |
Report | Iloski 35' Fox 58' Buckley 88' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 6,013 Referee: Cristian Campo |
| April 15 6 | Orange County SC | 1-0 | Indy Eleven | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Iloski 30' Jamison 56' Scott 73' |
Report | Diz Pe 23' Blake 36' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,977 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| April 22 7 | Orange County SC | 1-2 | Birmingham Legion FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Nielsen 30' Scott 55' Partida 57' |
Report | Agudelo 33' Kavita 40' Crognale 53' Martínez 59', 64' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,114 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
| April 29 8 | New Mexico United | 3-1 | Orange County SC | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 6:00 PM | Hurst 22', 63' Rivas 74' Suggs 90' Portillo 90'+2' |
Report | Suggs 58' (o.g.) Casiple 90'+2' |
Stadium: Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park Attendance: 10,048 Referee: Sergii Boiko |
May
edit| May 6 9 | Orange County SC | 1-2 | San Diego Loyal | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Villanueva 18' Iloski 59' Richards 59' Partida 60' Doghman 80' McNulty 86' Powers 86' Casiple 89' Osundina 90'+6' |
Report | Moshobane 15' Corona 19' (pen.) 49' Moon 59'  90'+5' Riley 81' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,616 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
| May 13 10 | Oakland Roots | 3-0 | Orange County SC | Hayward, California |
| 8:00 PM | Formella 30' Morad 43' Rito 78' |
Report | Miles 90'+2' |
Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 5,855 Referee: Corbyn May |
| May 17 11 | Orange County SC | 1-0 | Sacramento Republic FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Iloski 5' Nakkim 23' Lambe 42' Pederssen 88' |
Report | Lewis 46' Keko 81' López 87' 90'+5' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,047 Referee: Deshun Beard |
| May 20 12 | Orange County SC | 0-1 | Phoenix Rising FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Doghman 50' Norris 71' Nakkim 90'+3' |
Report | Fuenmayor 5' Arteaga 67' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,301 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
| May 27 13 | Miami FC | 0-0 | Orange County SC | Miami, Florida |
| 4:00 P.M. | Chapman-Page 16' Craig 20' Murphy 45'+4' Akinyode 60' Cabral 90'+4' |
Report | Pedersen 44' Iloski 45'+4' |
Stadium: FIU Football Stadium Attendance: 1,374 Referee: Nabil Bensalah |
June
edit| June 3 14 | Orange County SC | 2-0 | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Iloski 4' Lambe 13' Osundina 16' Scott 45'+2' Pedersen 77' |
Report | Davilla 53' Ruiz 75' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,268 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
| June 10 15 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 4-0 | Orange County SC | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| 6:00 PM | Skundrich 28' Williams 60' Henríquez 71' (pen.) Rios 74' Herrera 80' |
Report | Iloski 47' Pedersen 70' McNulty 80' |
Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 6,930 Referee: Olvin Oliva |
| June 17 16 | FC Tulsa | 0-3 | Orange County SC | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 5:00 | McCabe 18' Yosef 27' Malou 60' Fernandez 84' Bonet 90'+5' |
Report | Iloski 26' Osundina 49' Shutler 51' Nakkim 90' Amang 90'+6' (pen.) |
Stadium: ONEOK Field Attendance: 4,333 Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero |
| June 24 17 | Detroit City FC | 0-1 | Orange County SC | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| 4:30 | Williams 63' Lewis 70' Carroll 72' |
Report | Iloski 23' Iloski 55' McNulty 61' Partida 65' Nakkim 90' Scott  90'+6' |
Stadium: Keyworth Stadium Attendance: 6,669 Referee: Alejo Calume |
July
edit| July 1 18 | Orange County SC | 3-1 | Monterey Bay FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Powers 33' Amang 70', 90'+1' (pen.) Lambe 78' Iloski 83' |
Report | Rebollar 52' Martínez 56' Fehr 64' Doner 75' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Alex Beehler |
| July 9 19 | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | 2-0 | Orange County SC | Edinburg, Texas |
| 5:00 | Ritondale 14' Coronado 54' Ackwei 69' Ricketts 78' Davila 84' |
Report | Casiple 22' Iloski 43' Iloski 87' |
Stadium: H.E.B. Park Attendance: 3,557 Referee: Nabil Bensalah |
| July 15 20 | Loudoun United FC | 1-3 | Orange County SC | Leesburg, Virginia |
| 4:30 | Landry 23' Hopkins 42' Leerman 37' 90'+3' Garay 45'+3' Rocha 59' |
Report | Nakkim 8' McNulty 15' Iloski 38' (pen.) Villanueva 69' Osundina 84' Amang 90'+3' |
Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 2,458 Referee: Joe Surgan |
| July 22 21 | Memphis 901 FC | 3-4 | Orange County SC | Memphis, Tennessee |
| 5:30 | Hyndman 6' Buckmaster 22', 33' da Costa 44' Kelly 68' 74' Peters 70' Ward 88' Paul 90' Lapa 90'+1' Pickering 90'+4' |
Report | Iloski 24', 43' Doghman 31' McNulty 32' Powers 45'+2' Doghman 45'+5' Villanueva 77' Jamison 86' |
Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 3,971 Referee: John Griggs |
| July 29 22 | Orange County SC | 1-0 | New Mexico United | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 | Chattha 63' Iloski 80' Amang 85' Shutler 90'+5' |
Report | Suggs 42' Hamilton 74' 90'+7' Seymore 84' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Gabriele Giusti |
August
edit| August 5 23 | San Diego Loyal | 1-3 | Orange County SC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 | Conway 8' Martin 35' Stoneman 50' Damus 59' |
Report | Casiple 45'+1' Scott 49' Amang 52', 78', 53' Iloski 60' Shutler 85' Osundina 90'+5' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,217 Referee: Malik Badawi |
| August 16 24 | Orange County SC | 1-0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Iloski 40' Partida 63' Jamison 71' Richards 78' |
Report | Farrell 14' Ybarra 76' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,019 Referee: Brad Jensen |
| August 19 25 | Orange County SC | 2-0 | Charleston Battery | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | B. Iloski 45'+1' M. Iloski 48' Scott 58' Lambe 62' |
Report | Wynne 26' Palma 43' Avila 45'+2' Dodson 60' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
| August 26 26 | Sacramento Republic FC | 0-2 | Orange County SC | Sacramento, California |
| 7:30 | Report | Fox 19' Amang 54' Casiple 84' Scott 84' |
Stadium: Charles C. Hughes Stadium Attendance: 20,231 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
September
edit| September 2 27 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1-5 | Orange County SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 | Bushue 35' Carroll 41' Rios 69' |
Report | Iloski 13' Amang 22' Nakkim 38' McNulty 82'Lankford 89' |
Stadium: Cashman Field Referee: John Matto |
| September 9 28 | Orange County SC | 0-0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Scott 30' Nakkim 69' Partida 90'+1' McNulty 90'+1' |
Report | Navarro 20' Lyons 33' Hinds 35' Rose 60' Gómez 90'+70' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Ramy Touchan |
| September 15 29 | Orange County SC | 0-1 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 | Partida 25' |
Report | Echevarria 61' Magee 84' Herrera 90'+3' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,344 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
| September 23 30 | San Antonio FC | 4-0 | Orange County SC | San Antonio, Texas |
| 5:30 | Fogaça 6', 21' Hayes 44' Yacoubou 50' Oluwaseyi 57' Patino 61', 62' Taintor |
Report | Iloski 51' Casiple 53' McNulty 67' Nakkim 80' |
Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 7,513 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| September 30 31 | Phoenix Rising FC | 1-1 | Orange County SC | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 7:30 | Hernández 70' Traore 84' Cuello 85' |
Report | Iloski 61' Fox 76' Powers 84' |
Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 6,440 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
October
edit| October 4 32 | Orange County SC | 3-1 | Oakland Roots SC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 | Scott 22' M. Iloski 45'+2' (pen) Amang 45'+5' B. Iloski 50' |
Report | Peláez 11' Diaz 15' Tamacas 39' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,378 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
| October 7 33 | Orange County SC | 1-0 | San Antonio FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 | Casiple 11' Iloski 44' McNulty 55' Scott 59' Fox 79' Amang 82' |
Report | Maloney 9' Patino 50' Azócar 59' Boni 86' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| October 14 34 | Monterey Bay FC | 0-1 | Orange County SC | Seaside, California |
| 7:00 | Glasser 76' |
Report | Lankford 22' Iloski 39' Partida 88' 90'+4' Fox 90'+8' |
Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 5,278 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
USL Cup Playoffs
edit| October 21 Western Conference Quarterfinals | Orange County SC | 1-0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:30 | Iloski 45'+1' Scott 87' |
Report | Dollenmayer 29' Sonupe 58' Rose 75' Petrovic 86' Díaz 90'+3' Calvillo 90'+7' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Natalie Simon |
| October 28 Western Conference Semifinals | Orange County SC | 1-2 (a.e.t.) | Phoenix Rising FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 | Amang 24' Scott 51' |
Report | Trejo 7' Fuenmayor 103' Uzochokwu 106' Cuello 116' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Calin Radosav |
U.S. Open Cup
editAs a member of the USL Championship, Orange County SC entered the tournament in the Second Round on April 5, 2023.[17]
| April 5 Second Round | Orange County SC | 5-0 | Capo FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 | Nielsen 33' Jamison 45'+1' Partida 58' Iloski 69', 90'+3' (pen.) Chattha 84' Amang 87' |
Report | Loya 12' Cervantes 24' Montes 26' 62' Vega 43' Scalzo 57' Olivia 84' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,588 Referee: Jervis Atagana |
| April 26 Third Round | Portland Timbers | 3-1 | Orange County SC | Portland, Oregon |
| 7:30 | Blanco 30' Loría 37' Clegg 48' Sulte 90'+1' Niezgoda 90'+2' |
Report | Iloski 54', 57' |
Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 11,639 Referee: Olvin Oliva |
References
edit- ^ "2023 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer America. October 16, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "Orange County SC replaces coach Richard Chaplow after 8 games". Orange County Register. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "The Hype is Building". Orange & Black SoccerCast. 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Standings". uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Orange County 1-0 El Paso (Oct 21, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Phoenix 2-1 Orange County (Oct 28, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Match Center | USLChampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (2023-11-07). "USL Championship Announces 2023 All-League Teams". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Orange County SC Roster 2023". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Minnesota United Loans Forward Cameron Dunbar to Orange County SC". August 15, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "Technical Staff". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC POSTS 2023 PRESEASON SCHEDULE". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC ANNOUNCES FULL 2023 USL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "2023 U.S. Open Cup second round: Schedule and results". Pro Soccer Wire. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-06-24.