Despite a brace from Bryce Jamison, Orange County struggled against Colorado Springs FC on Saturday night, losing 4-2.

Injury woes continued for Orange County SC, including Markus Nakkim and Andrew Fox, which meant that Ryan Flood slotted into center back. Also missing was Sofiane Djeffal, whose departure from OCSC was announced hours before kick-off. As such, the Orange County bench was a handful of academy players, Ryan Doghman, and Jordan Chavez.

FIRST HALF

Things started poorly for Orange County, as Colorado Springs easily worked through the Orange County defense and created a handful of early opportunities. Ronaldo Damus in particular threatened, sending his effort just wide of the target.

OC offered something going forward, having a clear opportunity of their own, but Ethan Zubak could not connect with a pass from Kyle Scott and OC’s easiest chance of the night went begging.

Less than five minutes later, Colorado Springs punished lackadaisical defending. In transition, left winger Yosuke Hanya shrugged off a challenge from Kyle Scott, drove forward and found himself unmarked 25 yards from goal. With OC’s back line still retreating, Hanya didn’t need a second invitation and drilled a shot towards the far post and into the back of the net.

The Switchbacks nearly doubled their advantage through three separate chances around the 30 minute mark, again capitalizing on uneasy defending from the visitors, but OC did just enough to keep the scoreline at 1-0 in the first half.

SECOND HALF

OC adjusted during the break, and quickly threatened. From a long throw, Jamison pounced on a weak clearance, chested the ball and volleyed a shot into the top left corner of the goal. The winger looked too awestruck to even celebrate, but he’d leveled the scoreline for Orange County.

At the hour mark, Jamison struck again to give Orange County the lead. Following a diagonal ball into the box from Seth Casiple, Ashish Chatta did incredibly well under pressure to knock the ball down to the onrushing Jamison, who opened his hips and slotted his attempt home for his second of the night, and a rare Orange County lead.

Almost immediately, OC’s defense capitulated and Maalique Foster’s pressing and creativity weaved the Switchbacks onto level terms. On a bouncy surface, Foster continued to harry OC, forcing a number of mistakes on the right flank before cutting inside, drifting just to the edge of the 18 and shooting across his body. The effort was far from quick, but Shutler let it go and the shot rolled into the bottom right corner.

Neither team could really threaten offensively as the match reached its conclusion.

But Hanya had other ideas for the finale. In a near repeat of the Foster’s goal, Colorado pressed on bouncing balls and forced errors from Orange County. Hanya, this time, pounced on the rebound of a blocked shot and rifled his shot into the roof of the net for his brace and the lead. Shutler got his hands to it, but given the pace of the shot, he never had a chance of preventing the goal.

Where Hanya emulated Foster for his second goal of the night, Foster looked to Hanya’s opener for inspiration for his brace. The winger inverted and found himself unmarked at the top of the Orange County box. His teammates passed right through the OC defense, saw him, and all that was left was for Foster to sweep his first-time shot into the bottom right corner.

FINAL THOUGHTS

OC’s defensive woes continue. Despite an improved start to the second half, of course including Bryce Jamison’s 13 minute double, OC cracked when it counted and succumbed to the pressure. Saturday night seemed like it was one player playing out of position too far for a good result.

As the season nears the halfway mark, one can only wait and hope for the return of a full-strength Orange County.