OCSC II Get Back to Winning Ways
OCSC II needed a quick turnaround in the USL Academy league and they got exactly what they needed on Tuesday night. It was the second matchup of the season against group leaders City SC who had suffered their only defeat of the season to the same Orange County team earlier in the season down in Carlsbad. Since then though, City SC had won each and every game.
Orange County had gone so in about the same way until last week where they suffered their first defeat of the season and in doing so found themselves going from first to third. The win on Tuesday has put OC into a great position where they have games in hand as well as the better record. They still have four games left to determine things including one more true away game at Ventura County.
FIRST HALF
Of every game that I have seen this season, this game might have had the most complex lineup. At first glance it appeared to be a 4-1-4-1 which is similar to what the senior team has used before. However as the game moved along there was lots of movement between the midfields with Ben Norris in particular and OC featured a number of different shapes.
This lineup was about expected considering that the senior team will likely feature a lot of younger players in their USL Cup game on Saturday. So we get to see the likes of players like Aguirre, Enciso and Norris and each of those players put in a very respectable performance.
The half started off as expected for OC who began play with possession of the ball and slowly worked their way up. There were a couple of giveaways early on though and one did force a save from Aguirre in the 8th minute. This would be his first of four on the night. The OC offense had been a bit cold due to circumstances both in and out of their control but in the 21st minute had their first great chance of the evening and it got an even better save from the City keeper. Orange County would see the breakthrough in the 26th minute with Cheick Kone again finding the back of the net against City SC and did so off a great pass into the box from Efren Solis. Kone was able to put his head onto a chipped in ball and put it back post for a 1-0 lead. OC would double their lead with a great shot from Efren Solis from outside the box to beat the keeper. This would give Solis a goal and an assist on the night.
OC would enter halftime with a 2-0 lead.
SECOND HALF
It was nearly an exact replica to the earlier game between these two sides. Both games saw Kone score a goal, both games saw OC lead 2-0 at half and both games saw City SC come out swinging to begin the second half. However what would be even more of a coincidence is that Fernando Aguirre was up to the task just as he was in the first game against City SC.
Aguirre’s best save of the night came in the 68th minute where he saved an outside shot with the top hand in a sprawling effort. This was quite crucial as City SC had really been upping the intensity but Aguirre made the saves that were needed and had his backline of Gonzalez, Kowarick and Torres limit the number of opportunities quite well. City SC would appeal for a couple of penalties but none would be granted.
OC were able to hold City SC at bay but were not able to put in a dagger third goal and the game would end 2-0 with OC as the victors. This game was somewhat momentous as it was only the third home game all season but it was the first win at home as well as the first goals scored at home.
OVERVIEW
Fernando Aguirre had another outstanding game, but my nod goes to Efren Solis. In only his second game of the season, Solis had an outstanding effort in the midfield both on offense as well as defense. His amazing chip into the box that found Kone was rewarded with a goal of his own meaning he had a say in both goals on the night. Other players who deserve a shoutout include Ben Norris and Michael Zill. At the moment there are only four games remaining in the Academy league regular season. After tonight OC still has to take on Ventura County twice, Capo FC at home and then end the year with West Coast FC again. OC is ahead of all of those teams. There is a possibility that the AMSG game that was a forfeit earlier in the season will end up being replayed. According to the USL Academy website that game is scheduled for August 12.
ed: shortly after this article was submitted, Efren Solis was named to a first team academy contract.