IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC announced the signing of U.S. U-17 International, Diego Lopez. Lopez, a Southern California native, joins OCSC after recently competing for Atlanta Untied 2 of the USL Championship.
The 17-year-old from Chino, CA has made numerous appearances with the U.S. Youth National teams for both the U-15s and U-17s. Most notably scoring the game tying goal versus Brazil in the Nike International Friendlies tournament in 2017. Lopez will join up with Aaron Cervantes and Bryang Kayo at OCSC and becomes the third U.S. U-17 National Team member on the roster.
IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC announced the signing of U.S. U-17 International, Diego Lopez. Lopez, a Southern California native, joins OCSC after recently competing for Atlanta Untied 2 of the USL Championship.
The 17-year-old from Chino, CA has made numerous appearances with the U.S. Youth National teams for both the U-15s and U-17s. Most notably scoring the game tying goal versus Brazil in the Nike International Friendlies tournament in 2017. Lopez will join up with Aaron Cervantes and Bryang Kayo at OCSC and becomes the third U.S. U-17 National Team member on the roster.
“Diego is a special player to me personally having worked with him for a few years when he was 11-12 years old. I couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to work with him again! Diego is a big strong center forward who can score goals & hold the ball up. I believe he has all the raw attributes to play at the next level and the structure we have created will give him an excellent platform to develop and reach his full potential.” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier.
Lopez signed his first professional contract with Atlanta United 2 in January of last year and went on to make his debut for the club against Bethlehem Steel later that year. Lopez now returns to his native SoCal and is eligible to play this weekend against Rio Grande Valley FC and will look to play a role in the clubs’ 2019 USL Championship Playoff push.
“We are thrilled to bring Diego back to Southern California and to have him part of our team”, said OCSC President of Soccer Operations, Oliver Wyss. “He is a local player who has the talent, passion and work ethic to excel in our professional environment. Diego adds to our exciting group of US Youth Internationals who have already signed at OCSC. This move further shows our total commitment to developing and preparing top prospects for the next level!”
Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Orange County SC will not be released.
“Diego is a special player to me personally having worked with him for a few years when he was 11-12 years old. I couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to work with him again! Diego is a big strong center forward who can score goals & hold the ball up. I believe he has all the raw attributes to play at the next level and the structure we have created will give him an excellent platform to develop and reach his full potential.” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier.
Lopez signed his first professional contract with Atlanta United 2 in January of last year and went on to make his debut for the club against Bethlehem Steel later that year. Lopez now returns to his native SoCal and is eligible to play this weekend against Rio Grande Valley FC and will look to play a role in the clubs’ 2019 USL Championship Playoff push.
“We are thrilled to bring Diego back to Southern California and to have him part of our team”, said OCSC President of Soccer Operations, Oliver Wyss. “He is a local player who has the talent, passion and work ethic to excel in our professional environment. Diego adds to our exciting group of US Youth Internationals who have already signed at OCSC. This move further shows our total commitment to developing and preparing top prospects for the next level!”
Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Orange County SC will not be released.
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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 36 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 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://www.orangecountysoccer.com.
For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.
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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 36 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 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://www.orangecountysoccer.com.
For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.