Orange County and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad summer.
In what can only be described as the most tumultuous time in recent memory, Paul Hardyman departed as head coach of Orange County Soccer Club last night. He lasted just 10 games and only went 2-1-7. But Paul Hardyman’s legacy at Orange County reaches far beyond his short head coaching tenure: Hardyman played a critical role in the development of many OC players and fostered an elite academy that made the USL Academy finals in 2023. One of the last few remaining remnants from the 2021 championship team has now departed for greener pastures.
Even after all the shenanigans that have occurred on the pitch, by some miracle, Orange County are still above the playoff line. But for OC to maintain this playoff spot they will virtually have to treat each and every remaining game like a playoff game.
But winning games has been much easier said than done for the Oranges, who are nearing some infamous club records. They are coming off of a club record 6-0 defeat, while simultaneously in the midst of their longest offensive drought, at five games. If they do not win on Saturday, this squad will tie a club record of six consecutive league games without a win.
However, streaks were meant to be broken, and Orange County will now follow the lead of Danny Stone. Danny Stone has been on the OC coaching staff for exactly three weeks, but his time to lead OC is now, and we will see if he can jump-start an under-performing offense.
THE OPPONENT - LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FC
The Las Vegas Lights have finally become a respectable soccer club in the USL. After six years of bottom dwelling, kiddie pools, llamas and some of the more unique kits in league history, they currently sit sixth in the West. They are on track to qualify for the postseason for the first time in club history.
What changed so drastically for Las Vegas that has put them in this spot? Everything.
This off-season saw new ownership, an entirely new front office, and a brand new team that features a good number of USL veterans. The results have been profound, with Las Vegas currently challenging for a home playoff game. They have only been defeated once in their last 13 games, all the while also scoring in all but one game in that same span.
When I said that nearly everything is different for Las Vegas I really do mean it. There is no returning member from last year’s roster that is here for 2024. It has worked wonders, with the offense in particular having kept up with the rest of the league's elite. Not too bad for a team that last season had the most losses.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Las Vegas is a team that has relied on their veterans, and they have quite a few. The Lights have been led in scoring by a pair of forwards who each have scored nine this season. Khori Bennet and Valentin Noël have scored 18 of the 35 Las Vegas goals, which is saying something considering that this is a team that employs Solomon Asante. The two-time league MVP is joined alongside USL journeymen Charlie Adams and Emrah Klimenta. Another important figure for the Lights is the man in net, Raiko Arozarena. OC fans will remember him as the goalkeeper for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2021 USL Final that OC were able to hang three on before halftime.
On the orange side of things, we’re not looking at a player.
It’s the newest head coach for Orange County. Danny Stone is an English international that played professionally with Notts County FC and Southport FC. But his time in American soccer has been spent as a coach: Stone started as an assistant with the Colorado Rapids, OKC Energy and Phoenix Rising, before taking over as head coach of Rising in 2024. Stone’s reign in the desert ended in June before joining OC as an assistant earlier this month.
THE MATCH UP
Matches between Orange County and Las Vegas have been a one-sided affair, with OC dominating the all-time series at 10-3-3, and OC is 6-2-0 at home.
However, that stat should be completely disregarded.. None of that matters anymore. Orange County are at 28 points with 25 games played and currently the 8th seed in the West. They are in direct competition with Monterey Bay, Tulsa and Phoenix.
Orange County cannot afford to lose any more games.
WHAT TO KNOW
Game - vs Las Vegas Lights FC (USL Championship)
When - August 31st, 7:00 PM PST
Where - Championship Soccer Stadium (Irvine, CA)
OCSC Form - LLDLL
LVL Form - WLDWD
All-Time Matchup - 10-3-3 (16 Matchups)
TV - Bally Sports SoCal, CBS Sports Golazo