In last week’s article I mentioned points needed in the two games. To refresh you, “Four points is big. three points are satisfactory.  Two we are on life support and one or zero, the party is over.”  With a loss in San Diego and a draw in Phoenix, the lads managed a paltry one point. Flatline! Asystole! To quote Tommy, in The Karate Kid, “put him in a body bag.”

We’re done, right?

Or are we?

San Diego was coming off its largest win in franchise history, a 5-0 thrashing of Indy 11. Dare I mention Indy 11? They thrashed us, 3-1, back in April. Currently, Loyal sits 3rd in the Western Conference, a mere two points behind Colorado Springs.  Despite dropping three points, we were not outplayed in this game.  Not by any stretch of the imagination. The boys in Orange and Black went toe to toe, splitting possession 50/50 with the team led by him who shall not be named. A late 1st half penalty (the fifth conceded in as many games) gave the Torrey Green clad side the 2-1 lead they would hold on to until the final whistle.

Ahmed Longmire picked up a red (the second in two games for Orange County) after scuffling with Loyal striker, Kyle Vassell. Vassell was also invited to exit the pitch in the 35th minute. 

Sure, we lost this one, to our rivals down south, it happens, but there were some sparks, perhaps even, a faint blip on the heart rate monitor.

Saturday in Wild Horse Pass was hot and hotly contested. Captain Michael Orozco and Midfielder Kevin Partida were each shown red cards, in the 80th minute, after former OCSC stalwart, Aodhan Quinn took out ‘Cubo’ Torres. The small dustup resulted in yellow cards being shown to two Rising players, and Partida (It was his second of the game, resulting in the red card).

Prior to this, our boys outplayed the struggling side from the Valley of the Sun. Possession doesn’t show it (54-46 Phoenix), but we were sharper in the mid-field, more solid on defense and crisper on attacks.

So how did we only come out of this one with 1 point and a 2-2 draw? Home field advantage and seven minutes of stoppage time (the standard number awarded when Rising is down and playing at home). 

Are we done?

So, let’s answer the question. Are we done? Does this team have a heartbeat? 

Hell yes, they do! Gaining just one point in the last two games should have effectively ended all hope for the rest of the season. Instead, just the opposite has happened, and we are moving into a part of the schedule that, on paper, sits in our favor. 

Back-to-back games against expansion side Monterrey Bay and struggling The Miami FC (just two wins in their last nine played), could shock this team from a blip on the heart rate monitor to good strong pulse. These games lead to an away game against Los Dos before welcoming San Diego in Championship Stadium to finish out July.

To get that heart pumping solid again a few things need to happen. 

First, giving away penalties MUST come to an immediate halt. You cannot win games if you are giving teams a free shot on goal. The Orange and Black has conceded six penalties in the previous five games, only one of which has been stopped.  Those five goals scored have resulted in Orange County dropping four points.  Those four points would see us sitting above Phoenix on the table, on goal differential.

Second, the red cards. Four in three games. Granted, some were soft. Others happened unnecessarily. 

Third, Mikko needs to get back on the pitch (Mikko, oh Mikko. Where for art thou Mikko?) 

Lastly, Milan Iloski needs to, simply, keep doing what he has been doing. Milan’s foot, meet ball. Ball meet back of the net. 

“He’ll put it in the net, cuz he’s Milan, Milan.”