After bowing out in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2024 Orange County SC had some questions to answer. There were a number of veterans on the roster that needed to make decisions about their respective futures, with some picking to return to the club, some going overseas to other teams, and some deciding to hang up their boots.
Returning from last season’s roster were 11 different players, six of them being regular starters. That meant Orange County needed, at minimum, seven new players just to fill out a matchday roster. It would take a bit of time and a couple of trialists being signed to contracts, but Orange County has their roster ready for the regular season. This new roster would get their first opportunity during a 8-game preseason that spanned nearly a whole month and would see OC face two MLS teams, two college teams, two MLSNP teams and a pair of USL teams.
The purpose of this article is to recap how each game went as well as if any significant players logged minutes to the best of the collective knowledge of those that were able to catch glimpses of the games. At minimum, we do know the outcomes of all the games, but due to rules regarding professional status and eligibility some individuals will not be named but instead be known as ‘Trialist.’ With that being said we look at the first game of the preseason, where Orange County played host to MLS side Portland Timbers.
1/25 vs Portland Timbers
OC opened the 2025 preseason in late January facing off against the Portland Timbers, who OC has experience with. The two sides met each other in the 2023 US Open Cup with Portland winning that tilt. We cannot speak much about the Portland side that played but for Orange County we know that it was a fairly regular preseason lineup in the first half. Notable names include Shutler, Guimaraes, Miles, Scott and Partida as those who started the game and played the first half. Orange County actually went ahead of the Timbers when then-trialist Mouhamadou War was able to open the scoring with a one on one goal in the 38th minute. This would be the first we see of Mouhamadou War in 2025. War began the preseason as a trialist but was later signed to the first team. The second half saw a team full of trialists come on for OC, and while they made a valiant effort, mistakes let Portland score two late goals and win the game 2-1.
2/1 vs UCI Anteaters
Orange County SC next faced off against the University of California in Irvine. It has been a bit of a tradition for OC to face the Anteaters in preseason, whether it is at Championship Soccer Stadium or UCI just down the road. OC made short work of the college side winning the game 3-1. From what we know of the game, Chris Hegardt was able to get his first of the preseason with a header to open the scoring and Mouhamadou War bagged his second by also using his head. The lineup was just about the same as the first game, with the senior team players playing the first half and the second half dominated by trialists.
2/5 vs Sacramento Republic FC
In the only preseason game against a fellow USL Championship side Sacramento Republic was able to come away with the 2-0 victory. However, of note, this would be the third consecutive game where the OC midfield consisted of Scott, Partida and Hegardt. This game did have the appearance of Grayson Doody who will likely slot in at the right back position following the departure of Owen Lambe.
2/12 @ Real Salt Lake
In the original schedule Orange County SC was supposed to be playing away against Los Angeles FC. Then they found themselves in the California Low Desert playing against Real Salt Lake. From what we know, Real Salt Lake came away with 3-1 victory and the game did actually see Kobi Henry make an appearance against his former club.
He would celebrate the occasion by picking up two yellows and being sent off.
The game was actually given a live stream for as it was a part of the Coachella Valley Invitational held in Indio. Halfway through preseason and Orange County found themselves with one win and three defeats.
2/15 vs AV Alta FC
Ben Barjolo battling for the ball against AV Alta.
For the first time in club history Orange County SC took on newly formed AV Alta FC from USL League One. AV Alta are located in Lancaster and will play their inaugural season in 2025. It was about the first time that the OC starting XI played together with it looking like this:
In goal is Colin Shutler, the backline in front of him, from left to right being Doghman, Benalcazar, Miles and Doody. The midfield remained the same with Partida, Scott and Hegardt. And finally, a front three of War, Zubak and Dunbar.
This was a very testy game that even saw an AV Alta player sent off in the first half for striking someone. That was the only offense AV Alta could muster all game and OC was able to squeak by with a 1-0 victory, the lone goal scored by a trialist.
Nico Benalcazar played this game as a trialist as well, but was announced as a new signing later in the week.
2/22 vs Loyola Marymount Lions
This was a run of the mill game against a college team. The starting lineup did feature a handful of trialists but OC made short work of LMU with a 4-0 thumping. This game did see the appearance of Tristan Trager, who scored the fourth goal of the game. Hegardt and Doghman were also able to put the ball in the net. This game was actually the first of back-to-back games across the weekend for Orange County.
2/23 vs LAFC II
With the LMU game the previous day, this game was actually played on a field adjacent to Championship Soccer Stadium, and OC fielded a team that represented that. The only first team players to make starts
were Tristan Trager, Pedro Guimaraes, and Ousmane Sylla. This was not the first appearance for the
midfielder Sylla, but it was the most he had played to our knowledge. He slotted in at center mid and did good work against the LAFC II team. Other than that, there was not much else to write about with this one. The trialists did a respectable job, but ultimately lost 2-0.
2/28 vs Ventura County FC
Whatever they’re called, whatever they’re wearing, whenever it is, it is always a bit of a testy affair when these two teams play. To close out the preseason, OC opened up this game to season ticket holders and owners and came away with an offensive outburst, putting five past the MLSNP team.
It was a very good indication of how this team will play in 2025 going for a more offensive approach. Historically Orange County has been a defensive team. They did concede two goals and the game was tied 2-2 at one point, but then the floodgates opened for OC. It was a first team heavy lineup but a good final tuneup before the first matchday of the year.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Preseason results really do not matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, nor are they accurate predictors for success in the regular season. But the main takeaway from this preseason is this: if Orange County is going to win games, they will need to rely on their offensive core to score at a higher clip than before.
The off-season signings are a good indication of this philosophy moving forward. There are still questions in the midfield and defense, mainly regarding team depth.
We next get to see Orange County on March 8th, as they open the 2025 season at home against the Oakland Roots.