Orange County SC were defeated 1-0 by the UC Irvine Anteaters in their second match of the 2024 Preseason at Championship Stadium at the Great Park in Irvine on Saturday, February 10. The Black and Orange now move to 1-1 so far in the preseason.
The Black and Orange fell behind for the first time this preseason in the 11th minute, after a goal from in close put UCI ahead 1-0 early.
The best chance for OCSC in the first half came courtesy of defender Markus Nakkim in the 30th minute. Midfielder Kyle Scott found fellow midfielder Brian Iloski out wide on the right flank. Iloski then played a cross into the captain, but Nakkim’s header went wide of the post.
After the halftime interval, the Black and Orange looked to turn things around with a quality chance in the 76th minute. Substitute midfielder Sofiane Djeffal found substitute defender Owen Lambe from a free kick on the right side of the pitch that Lambe was able to head towards goal, but his header went over the bar and out of play.
Substitute defender Joseph Buckley nearly found the equalizer for the Black and Orange late in the 85th minute. After a shot rebounded into his path near the top of the box, Buckley unleashed a rocket on target that beat the Anteaters goalkeeper, but was miraculously cleared off the line by a UCI defender to keep OCSC off the board.
OCSC will continue their preseason next Friday, February 16 at Championship Stadium when they host the LAFC 2 at 10:00 AM in a closed door friendly. For updates of OCSC’s 2024 Preseason matches, stay tuned to orangecountysoccer.com and follow us on X/Twitter and Instagram for updates.
Your first chance to see the Black and Orange take the pitch at Championship Stadium is for our Home Opener against The Miami FC on Saturday, March 23, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM. Tickets are going fast! Grab yours here today and help us Pack The Champ as we go for our eighth consecutive sellout!
MILESTONES AND FACTS:
Open Trialist Zane Baumgradt made an appearance for the second straight postseason match.
Each player that was available for OCSC appeared in today’s match.
TEAM | FIRST HALF | SECOND HALF | FULL TIME |
UCI | 1 | 0 | 1 |
OCSC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SCORING SUMMARY:
11’ UCI Goal
ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:
Colin Shutler (GK) (Duran Ferree 46’); Charlie Asensio (Ryan Doghman 59’), Andrew Fox (Open Trialist – Zane Baumgardt 46’), Markus Nakkim (C) (Ashton Miles 46’), Trialist #1 (Joseph Buckley 46’); Kyle Scott (Kevin Partida 59’), Seth Casiple (Owen Lambe 59’), Brian Iloski (Trialist #2 59’); Christian Sorto (Sofiane Djeffal 59’), Ethan Zubak (Thomas Amang 46’), Bryce Jamison (Benjamin Barjolo 59’)
Unused subs: N/A
Head Coach: Morten Karlsen
Orange County SC vs. University of California, Irvine Anteaters
2024 Preseason | Matchday 2
Date: February 10, 2024
Venue: Championship Stadium (Irvine, CA)
Weather: There’s another football game this weekend?? Thought this was the big game everyone was talking about…