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Draft:2023 Orange County SC season

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Orange County SC
2023 season
ManagerRichard Chaplow
(until May 1)
Morten Karlsen (Interim)
(from May 1)
StadiumChampionship Soccer Stadium
Irvine, California
USL ChampionshipWestern Conf.: 2nd
Overall: 5th
USL Championship PlayoffsConference Semifinals
U.S. Open CupThird Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Milan Iloski (17 goals)
All: Milan Iloski (20 goals)
Highest home attendance5,500 (5 times)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 3,047 (May 17 v.s. Sacramento Republic FC)
Open Cup: 1,588 (Second Round, April 5 vs Capo FC)
Average home league attendance4,411 [1]
← 2022
2024 →

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.

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 10th, appointed interim head coach Karlsen was signed to become the official head coach of Orange County.[11]

Roster[edit]

As 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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA Colin Shutler (team captain)
2 DF United States USA Owen Lamb
3 DF United States USA Alex Villanueva
5 DF United States USA Dillon Powers
7 FW United States USA Cameron Dunbar (on loan from Minnesota United FC [13])
7 FW United States USA Milan Iloski
8 MF United States USA Seth Casiple
9 FW Scotland SCO Marc McNulty
10 MF United States USA Brian Iloski
11 FW United States USA Bryce Jamison
14 DF Norway NOR Morten Bjørshol
15 MF United States USA Ashish Chattha
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF United States USA Brent Richards
19 MF United States USA Kevin Partida
21 FW Cameroon CMR Thomas Amang
22 DF United States USA Joseph Buckley
23 DF Norway NOR Ryan Doghman
24 FW United States USA Benjamin Barjolo
26 MF United States USA Kyle Scott
29 GK United States USA Juan Santana
30 DF Norway NOR Markus Nakkim
32 FW United States USA Nicolas Ruiz
33 DF United States USA Ashton Miles
35 MF United States USA Benjamin Norris
36 GK United States USA Fernando Aguirre

Technical Staff[14][edit]

Role 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[edit]

Exhibitions[edit]

Orange 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

USL Championship[edit]

Standings[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

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[edit]

Orange 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 Yellow card 37'
Partida 40', Yellow card 45' + 3'
Iloski Yellow card 41'
Report McCabe 4'
Lancaster Yellow card 19', 57'
Totsch Yellow card 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 Yellow card 34'
Nielsen 40'
Powers Yellow card 90'
Report Lasso Yellow card 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 Yellow card 45'+3'
Scott Yellow card 56'
Villanueva 60'
Iloski 64'
Nakkim Yellow card 90'+2'
Report Torres 44', Yellow card 50'
Botello-Faz 62'
Oteng Yellow card 66'
Bushue Yellow card 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 Yellow card 6'
Amoh 45'+8'
Cedeno Yellow card 65'
Hodge Yellow card 70'
Barrera Yellow card 72'
Logue Yellow card 84'
McGlynn Yellow card 90'+3'
Report Iloski 7'
Nakkim Yellow card 65'
Partida Yellow card 81'
Doghman Yellow card 87'
Richards Yellow card 90'+5'
Scott Yellow card 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 Yellow card 4'
Pavkovics Yellow card 6'
Solignac 19'
Zacarias Yellow card 44'
Kostyshyn Yellow card 74'
Report Iloski Yellow card 35'
Fox Yellow card 58'
Buckley Yellow card 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 Yellow card 56'
Scott Yellow card 73'
Report Diz Pe Yellow card 23'
Blake Yellow card 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 Yellow card 55'
Partida Yellow card 57'
Report Agudelo 33'
Kavita Yellow card 40'
Crognale Yellow card 53'
Martínez 59', Yellow card 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 Yellow card 90'
Portillo Yellow card 90'+2'
Report Suggs 58' (o.g.)
Casiple Yellow card 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 Yellow card 18'
Iloski Yellow card 59'
Richards Yellow card 59'
Partida Yellow card 60'
Doghman Yellow card 80'
McNulty Yellow card 86'
Powers Yellow card 86'
Casiple Yellow card 89'
Osundina 90'+6'
Report Moshobane 15'
Corona 19' (pen.) Yellow card 49'
Moon Yellow card 59' Yellow-red card 90'+5'
Riley Yellow card 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 Yellow card 23'
Lambe Yellow card 42'
Pederssen Yellow card 88'
Report Lewis Yellow card 46'
Keko Yellow card 81'
López Yellow card 87' Yellow-red card 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 Yellow card 50'
Norris Yellow card 71'
Nakkim Yellow card 90'+3'
Report Fuenmayor Yellow card 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 Yellow card 16'
Craig Yellow card 20'
Murphy Yellow card 45'+4'
Akinyode Yellow card 60'
Cabral Yellow card 90'+4'
Report Pedersen Yellow card 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 Yellow card 13'
Osundina 16'
Scott Yellow card 45'+2'
Pedersen Yellow card 77'
Report Davilla Yellow card 53'
Ruiz Yellow card 75'
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 4,268
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
June 17 16 FC Tulsa 0-3 Orange County SC Tulsa, Oklahoma
5:00 McCabe Yellow card 18'
Yosef Yellow card 27'
Malou Yellow card 60' Fernandez Yellow card 84'
Bonet Yellow card 90'+5'
Report Iloski 26'
Osundina Yellow card 49'
Shutler Yellow card 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 Yellow card 63'
Lewis Yellow card 70'
Carroll Yellow card 72'
Report Iloski 23'
Iloski Yellow card 55'
McNulty Yellow card 61'
Partida Yellow card 65'
Nakkim Yellow card 90'
Scott Red card 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 Yellow card 33'
Amang 70', 90'+1' (pen.)
Lambe 78'
Iloski Yellow card 83'
Report Rebollar Yellow card 52'
Martínez Yellow card 56'
Fehr Yellow card 64'
Doner Yellow card 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 Yellow card 14'
Coronado Yellow card 54'
Ackwei 69'
Ricketts 78'
Davila Yellow card 84'
Report Casiple Yellow card 22'
Iloski Yellow card 43'
Iloski Yellow card 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 Yellow card 23'
Hopkins 42'
Leerman Yellow card 37' Yellow-red card 90'+3'
Garay Yellow card 45'+3'
Rocha Yellow card 59'
Report Nakkim Yellow card 8'
McNulty 15'
Iloski 38' (pen.)
Villanueva Yellow card 69'
Osundina 84'
Amang Yellow card 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', Yellow card 33'
da Costa 44'
Kelly Yellow card 68' Yellow-red card 74'
Peters Yellow card 70'
Ward Yellow card 88'
Paul Yellow card 90'
Lapa Red card 90'+1'
Pickering Yellow card 90'+4'
Report Iloski 24', Yellow card 43'
Doghman Yellow card 31'
McNulty 32'
Powers Yellow card 45'+2'
Doghman 45'+5'
Villanueva Yellow card 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 Yellow card 63'
Iloski 80'
Amang Yellow card 85'
Shutler Yellow card 90'+5'
Report Suggs Yellow card 42'
Hamilton Yellow card 74' Yellow-red card 90'+7'
Seymore Yellow card 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 Yellow card 35'
Stoneman Yellow card 50'
Damus Yellow card 59'
Report Casiple Yellow card 45'+1'
Scott Yellow card 49'
Amang 52', 78', Yellow card 53'
Iloski Yellow card 60'
Shutler Yellow card 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 Yellow card 63'
Jamison Yellow card 71'
Richards Yellow card 78'
Report Farrell Yellow card 14'
Ybarra Yellow card 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 Yellow card 48'
Scott Yellow card 58'
Lambe 62'
Report Wynne Yellow card 26'
Palma Yellow card 43'
Avila Yellow card 45'+2'
Dodson Yellow card 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 Yellow card 19'
Amang 54'
Casiple 84'
Scott Yellow card 84'
Stadium: Charles C. Hughes Stadium
Attendance: 20,231
Referee: Ricardo Fierro

September[edit]

September 9 28 Orange County SC 0-0 El Paso Locomotive FC Irvine, California
7:00 PM Scott Yellow card 30'
Nakkim Yellow card 69'
Partida Yellow card 90'+1'
McNulty Yellow card 90'+1'
Report Navarro Yellow card 20'
Lyons Yellow card 33'
Hinds Yellow card 35'
Rose Yellow card 60'
Gómez Yellow card 90'+70'
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Ramy Touchan
September 23 30 San Antonio FC 4-0 Orange County SC San Antonio, Texas
5:30 Fogaça 6', Yellow card 21'
Hayes Yellow card 44'
Yacoubou 50'
Oluwaseyi 57'
Patino 61', Yellow card 62'
Taintor
Report Iloski Yellow card 51'
Casiple Yellow card 53'
McNulty Yellow card 67'
Nakkim Yellow card 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 Yellow card 70'
Traore Yellow card 84'
Cuello 85'
Report Iloski 61'
Fox Yellow card 76'
Powers Yellow card 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 Yellow card 22'
M. Iloski 45'+2' (pen)
Amang 45'+5'
B. Iloski 50'
Report Peláez 11'
Diaz Yellow card 15'
Tamacas Yellow card 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 Yellow card 11'
Iloski 44'
McNulty Red card 55'
Scott Yellow card 59'
Fox Yellow card 79'
Amang Yellow card 82'
Report Maloney Yellow card 9'
Patino Yellow card 50'
Azócar Yellow card 59'
Boni Yellow card 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 Yellow card 76' Report Lankford Yellow card 22'
Iloski 39'
Partida Yellow card 88' Yellow-red card 90'+4'
Fox Yellow card 90'+8'
Stadium: Cardinale Stadium
Attendance: 5,278
Referee: Eric Tattersall

USL Cup Playoffs[edit]

U.S. Open Cup[edit]

As 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 Yellow card 58'
Iloski 69', 90'+3' (pen.)
Chattha Yellow card 84'
Amang 87'
Report Loya Yellow card 12'
Cervantes Yellow card 24'
Montes Yellow card 26' Yellow-red card 62'
Vega Yellow card 43'
Scalzo Yellow card 57'
Olivia Yellow card 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 Yellow card 30'
Loría 37'
Clegg 48'
Sulte Yellow card 90'+1'
Niezgoda 90'+2'
Report Iloski 54', Yellow card 57' Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 11,639
Referee: Olvin Oliva

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2023 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer America. October 16, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  2. ^ "Orange County SC replaces coach Richard Chaplow after 8 games". Orange County Register. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  3. ^ "The Hype is Building". Orange & Black SoccerCast. 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  4. ^ "Standings". uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  5. ^ "Orange County 1-0 El Paso (Oct 21, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  6. ^ "Phoenix 2-1 Orange County (Oct 28, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  7. ^ "Match Center | USLChampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  8. ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (2023-11-07). "USL Championship Announces 2023 All-League Teams". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Orange County SC's Milan Iloski headed to Europe after USL season". Orange County Register. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  11. ^ "Orange County SC removes interim label for coach Morten Karlsen". Orange County Register. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  12. ^ "Orange County SC Roster 2023". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  13. ^ "Minnesota United Loans Forward Cameron Dunbar to Orange County SC". August 15, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "Technical Staff". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  15. ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC POSTS 2023 PRESEASON SCHEDULE". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  16. ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC ANNOUNCES FULL 2023 USL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  17. ^ "2023 U.S. Open Cup second round: Schedule and results". Pro Soccer Wire. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-06-24.