Orange County Welcome Indy Looking For Anything

Orange County return home for matchday 6, and will host the Indy Eleven in an inter-conference bout. 

It has not been the start that either team had hoped for to their 2023 seasons. For the Boys in Orange, this Saturday will serve as another opportunity to pick up their first victory. For Indy, they will look to get back in the win column after an equally lackluster start. As it stands, Orange County are currently 0-3-2 and sit at 11th in the Western Conference. It may be a long season, but points become much more valuable as the season goes. 

This will be the fourth tilt against an Eastern Conference opponent for OC and already their third time hosting one this season. 

THE OPPONENT - INDY ELEVEN

Indy are also looking for some traction in their 2023 campaign as well. They are one of the USL’s older teams, having been founded in 2013. The club jumped to the USL from NASL in 2018 where they have remained since. While the club has had its fair share of success, lately playoff appearances have seldom been. Head coach Mark Lowry’s men have been left out of the postseason the past three years. This year, they retool with a revamped lineup as they try to find their way back into postseason contention. 

Indy Eleven have had a 1-1-2 record so far in 2023. In Eastern Conference play they have taken a possible four out of six points against competitive sides. However against the Western Conference they have only been able to earn one point in a home match against Las Vegas. This came before Oakland put three past them in Indy’s last USL match. The offense will be the one to exploit as the Eleven have yet to score more than two goals in any of their USL matches this season. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

With the amount of offensive firepower on this Eleven team, it is a matter of time until they finally break out of their slump. This is a team that has both Sebastian Guenzatti and Solomon Asante has only scored two goals in their four matches. Starting with Guenzatti, the former Tampa Bay man has a career 77 professional goals with 65 of those coming for the Rowdies. Solomon Asante on the other hand is a two-time USL MVP having made his mark with Phoenix. Asante made the move to Indy last season and will look to get back to his offensive ways. 

For Orange County fans in particular, Saturday marks a visit with former midfielder Aodhan Quinn. The defensive mid spent four seasons with Orange County making 80 appearances and notching 23 goals for the Boys in Orange, with a stint in Phoenix before moving to Indy in the 2023 offseason. 

Orange County still has yet to earn a victory but it is now on the shoulders of Milan Iloski who is still just one goal short of the USL regular season mark. In Indy’s last game they conceded three to an Oakland side so the offense for OC has a chance to rebound nicely. 

THE MATCHUP

This only marks the second time that Orange County will play Indy but will be the first time hosting the Hoosier state side. Last season, Indy got the upper hand of Orange County with a 3-1 victory at home. This will be the first time that Indy travels to the west coast this season. Pressure is starting to mount for Orange County, with any potential loss or draw on Saturday would mark their worst start through six games in club history. 

WHAT TO KNOW

Game vs Indy Eleven (USL Championship)

When - April 15, 7:00 PM PST

Where - Championship Soccer Stadium (Irvine, CA)

OCSC Form - LWDDD

INDY Form - LWDWD

All-Time Matchup - 0-1-0

TV - ESPN+, Bally Sports SoCal