Capitalizing On Late Season Momentum

When the team needed him most, Ethan Zubak went and scored four goals in his last four games. When the team needed him most, Colin Shutler held a shutout in his last three games. I can name a few more players but the point is made.

Orange County is not out of the woods yet but the win against Phoenix Rising FC did a lot. They are still just one point above the playoff line and FC Tulsa who will not go away. However one thing that Orange County have yet to prove is their ability to win games away from Orange County. In the 2024 season, the boys in Orange have only won a whopping three times on the road. The last of those three wins came all the way back on June 22. Evidently since Brian Iloski went down with an injury they have only earned two points.

They are fortunate enough to only have two away games left on the year with a trip to southern Nevada on the docket and take on the new and improved Las Vegas Lights.

THE OPPONENT - LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FC

Las Vegas Lights are well on their way to not only make the postseason for the first time but could also see Cashman Field host a playoff game as well. They have been on a heater of a summer too, finding each and every way to win games. They have won games with their defense, they have won games with their offense (against OC) and they have stolen victory from the jaws of defeat.

Their last game might have been the craziest game of the year that saw them beat Phoenix Rising by scoring two goals in second half extra time. If there is a weakness in the game of the Lights is that they do not have the most reliable of defenses. They have conceded 40 goals which is part of a Western Conference trend of every team having a really mediocre goal differential. The best team in the West has only scored four more goals than they have let in. The last time that Las Vegas saw defeat came back in August when they lost to Hartford. This is a very good team.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

J.C. Ngando has stepped up for Las Vegas this season as one of their biggest cogs in the midfield. The defensive midfielder is with Las Vegas for the first time and has been the midfielder with the most chances created at 59. But the more important stat is that he has been able to appear in 28 of the 30 Las Vegas games this season. The Cameroonian has four assists to boot as well.

On the orange side of things, we are still putting our focus onto Colin Shutler. Orange County SC have been able to not concede a goal for three consecutive games. That is the first time since 2018. That run seven years ago saw OC go four games perfect on the defense. Shutler has made saves in each of the last three games and has kept OC above the playoff line.

THE MATCHUP

Historically, Orange County SC have dominated Las Vegas since 2018 when the Lights joined the USL. However this does not mean anything when it comes to 2024 because Orange County SC will need to get whatever they can points wise. A draw is not necessarily the worst outcome in the world and a win would further solidify a playoff spot which looked like a pipe dream a month ago. This will be the 18th all time game between the two clubs with OC having a 10-3-4 record against Las Vegas.

WHAT TO KNOW

Game - @ Las Vegas Lights FC (USL Championship)

When - October 5th, 7:30 PM PST

Where - Cashman Field (Las Vegas, NV)

OCSC Form - WDWLL

LVL Form - WWDDW

All-Time Matchup - 10-3-4

TV - ESPN+