Recapping June & July For Orange County Sc II
It has been a bit of time since we checked in with the academy team of Orange County. The last time I was able to write about them it was covering their season opening loss to AMSG back on June 3rd. I did not forget about them but I felt it was a good opportunity to start a new series that will be dedicated solely to OCSC II. This will be a monthly series for months of the season that the OC II team play games in.
Thus far in the season since that season opener, OC II have played four more games across the months of June and July. The season started off with a four game stretch of away games before they would see their home opener this week on Wednesday. The schedule for OC II is about what we have seen in past seasons with the beginning of the season mostly played on the road before the second half being played mostly at home. We are just now entering that lengthy stretch of home games.
Orange County II are having just an alright season from a standings point. Through five games played they are an even 2-1-2 which puts OC currently 6th out of 7 teams in the USL Academy Southwest Division. However the standings should not be looked at due to the point that they are based on a points per game structure. So while OC are only at five games played thus far in 2026, another team is already at 12 games played. For those keeping track at home it would be easier to just win as many games as you can. Both schedules and standings can be found online at the USL Academy’s website if you are curious.
We will recap the four games played after the opener against AMSG and see who stood out from the first part of the season.
6/10 - @ Ventura County Fusion
Just one week after playing in Westminster against AMSG, the OC II team would make their longest away game of the season with their annual trip up to Ventura County. Ventura County Fusion has historically been a team that OC II have had success against in previous seasons. But they would have to settle for just a point this time. They were actually down at halftime by a 0-1 scoreline but did get a Jerome Carter goal in the second half to level the game. This would be about it and OC II would get their first goal and point of the season. This would be Carter’s first goal of the season and that name may sound familiar because Jerome Carter would be one of a handful of academy players to make their professional debut in Orange County SC’s USL Cup game against Colorado Springs. A point well earned on the road is a good start.
6/17 - @ Los Angeles SC
It would be a third game in 3 weeks and another one on the road. This time would be against a new opponent in Covina-based Los Angeles SC. The first two games for OC II were somewhat low scoring affairs and this match looked to trend that way with a 0-0 score at halftime. But after the break both teams would explode on offense with Los Angeles scoring twice. Both Los Angeles goals were quickly answered with OC II goals mere minutes after. Thus Orange County would come back not once but twice in this game and for good measure would score in the 84th minute to come away with a 3-2 victory. Orange County goal scorers include midfielder Noah Moody scoring the first goal, Jerome Carter getting his second of the season to tie the game for a second time and then forward Parker Buetow would net the game winner. This was an important win that will help down the line.
7/1 - @ City SC
The OC II team would get a bit of a rest after their win at Los Angeles SC. It would only be about two weeks though before they would travel down South for the first time of the season. It was only fitting that OC II played prior away games in Orange, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties that they would end their road trip in San Diego County. City SC have been a stronger side in the Academy League and played OC pretty tough last year. City SC would prove this to be true again with a 2-0 victory over OC. City SC would score goals in the 6th minute of the match and right at the cusp of halftime. This was now the second time Orange County II had been shut out this season meaning after four games they had a goal differential of -2 with only four goals scored.
7/29 - vs AMSG FC
After their defeat to City SC, the OC II team would get practically a month long break. This is also about the time that Orange County SC’s senior side was having massive injury troubles themselves so needed to bring up some academy players to play some minutes. The aforementioned USL Cup game against Colorado Springs would be the pinnacle of this. It was now time for Orange County II to begin a 6-game home stand that will span 7 weeks into early September. The first opponent would be AMSG who defeated OC II back on the opening day of the season. One thing about this league, which is mostly played by teenagers and young adults as a stepping stone, is that home field does matter. OC II would prove this with their best performance of the young season. I had the opportunity to watch this game in person and this was a very free flowing OC side that had no troubles keeping the ball and moving it up the pitch. They would be rewarded with an opening goal in the 27th minute by midfielder Armani Haro with a looping effort over the keepers head and to the far post. OC would hold the lead into the half before absolutely exploding in the second half for five goals. It was more of the same for Orange County II who would end the match with a 6-0 victory. This includes goals scored by strikers Adriel Diaz, Parker Buetow, Anderson Miles, midfielder Hassan Safawi and a second by Armani Haro. They scored off headers, scrambles in front of net, and solo efforts. The defense also deserves a shoutout as well holding AMSG to no goals and goalkeeper Jack Gentile would earn his first clean sheet of the season.
OVERALL
The Academy season is in full swing and Orange County II are right in the midst of it. This season has the caveat of seeing a good number of players already get time in the starting 18 of the senior side with the likes of Liam Zubak, Jerome Carter and Finn O’Brien being just a few. The outburst against AMSG putting OC II at a +4 goal differential through five games with 7 different goal scorers to this point.
Perhaps the biggest thing that stood out when watching them play was their creativity and flair when they have the ball at their feet. They are not relying on their athleticism to win games but more their technical skills which is great to see. Orange County II’s next game will be a rematch against Los Angeles SC next Wednesday, August 5th at Championship Soccer Stadium. The next recap will cover the month of August.