After all of the moving and seeding of what was a crazy matchday in the Western Conference, Orange County jumped up one spot into the sixth seed in the West. With that, it means that they will face Memphis 901 FC on the road in the first round of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs.
There are not many words to describe the regular season that OC had. Yes, this was the year that saw Orange County lose not one but two head coaches.
This was a year that saw OC suffer its worst defeat in club history and go the longest without scoring a goal.
But none of that matters anymore.
Orange County are four wins away from being crowned as champions of the USL for a second time. This is their ninth postseason appearance in what is their fourteenth year of play. But this will be the first time ever that Orange County will match up against Memphis in the playoffs.
Orange County swept Memphis in the regular season series and did so in pretty convincing fashion. On the road saw OC defeat Memphis 2-0 in the early half of the season and at home Orange County scored a season-high four goals. But again this will all be all for naught if Memphis wins the third and most important match up of the season.
THE OPPONENT - MEMPHIS 901 FC
A bit under the radar going into the postseason, Memphis 901 snuck their way into the top four in the West on the very last day with a win over New Mexico.
They are actually coming into the playoffs on a very good run of form like Orange County. They have only lost once in their last seven games all the while facing off against other playoff teams in that span. We can say what we want about how Memphis are not the flashiest team, however they have hosted a playoff game in three consecutive years. What makes that fact even more impressive is that this is the first year of Memphis being in the Western Conference, showing that they can compete well in both conferences. That’s not something that every team in this postseason can say.
This was a team that was still expected to qualify for the postseason as well as do so in a convincing manner and they have met those expectations.
The farthest that Memphis has made it in the postseason previously is only the conference semifinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Memphis 901 FC can thank Bruno Lapa for providing the goals in the second half of the season. Lapa is the leading goal scorer for Memphis with 11 goals on the year. Memphis actually finished the season as the best offensive team in the West, with 52 goals scored, and with the defense being about league average.
On the orange side of things, they will live and die by the play of Colin Shutler. Shutler has solidified himself as a club legend and was rewarded for his stellar play by being named the USL player of the month in September. This season, Shutler set the club record for clean sheets in a season and he was in goal when OC shut out Memphis this season.
THE MATCH UP
It is the first time these two clubs have met in the postseason, largely due to conference realignment. But overall, this is only the fourth time that these teams have met.
Orange County has gotten the better of Memphis and have won two of the three matches, as well as both at AutoZone Park. This is the first playoff game on the road for Orange County since the 2021 USL final in
St. Petersburg, Florida.
WHAT TO KNOW
Game - @ Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship WC Quarterfinals)
When - November 2, 11:00 AM PST
Where - AutoZone Park (Memphis, TN)
OCSC Form - WDWWD
MEM Form - WWDDL
All-Time Matchup - 2-0-1 (3 Matchups)
TV - ESPN+, FanDuel Sports Network SoC