Season summary
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] and the sacking of head coach Hardyman, who ultimately had a record of 2-1-7. He was replaced by first assistant coach Danny Stone, who formerly coached Phoenix Rising FC and OKC Energy FC, who was named interim until the end of the season. [15] [16]
Heading into September, Orange County SC continued its downwards spiral, despite breaking its non-scoring streak in a 2–3 loss to Las Vegas Lights FC, leaving them in 9th place and out of playoff contention. [17] The winless streak of five losses and one draw ended in a mid-September match against Rhode Island FC in a 1–0 win, in a match where Colin Shutler became the team's all-time leader in saves. [18]
With the momentum from their first win in five matches, Orange County ended off the season on an eight game unbeaten streak, including an undefeated October, ending off the season with a final record of 13–14–7. Colin Shutler entered the record books again, setting a club record of twelve clean sheets in a season, surpassing former record-holder Patrick Rakovsky. [19]
After their unbeaten run of five wins and three draws, Orange County placed sixth in the Western Conference, scheduled to play against Memphis 901 FC away on November 2 for the Western Conference Quarterfinals. [20] After winning in added extra time due to a header from Dillon Powers in the 116th minute, [21] Orange County was matched up against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on November 10 away for the Conference Semi-Finals, [22] where the team would ultimately lose in added extra time. [23]
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