Eight games remain in the 2024 regular season for Orange County SC. The season started off with OC only seeing defeat once in their first eight games… then the troubles came and Orange County have slowly been sliding down the table. It’s a season that has seen three different managers and countless injuries.
But this is the position that Orange County is now in, and they really cannot blame anyone but themselves. They are coming off a sixth straight game without a win, but this did not mean that everything was bad: Ethan Zubak nabbed a first half brace against Las Vegas and made OC look dangerous again.
However, the defense was the downfall this time, and OC lost again. Now, after a short break, OC is back and has the remainder of September and October to make something of their season. They are only three points off of the playoff line and have eight games to get there. The first obstacle that is in their way is Rhode Island FC.
THE OPPONENT - RHODE ISLAND FC
Rhode Island has a chance to be one of the few USL expansion teams to make the playoffs in their first year of existence. To make it even more impressive, they have a fighting chance of even hosting a playoff game. This statement would have been asinine if it was made in early June, as RIFC floundered early on.
While Rhode Island are coming off a mediocre loss to Pittsburgh last weekend, they have been one of the better teams in the entire USL. They rarely lose. They have only lost six games all season, but the reason they are only seventh in the East is because they lead the league in draws. Before their inaugural meeting on Saturday, RIFC will be seventh in the East just three points above ninth place Loudoun. This charged up Rhode Island is under the guidance of Khano Smith who is doing fairly well for a first-year head coach and also team general manager.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Rhode Island entered the league with a handful of USL ready veterans. There were three notable ones that joined in the off-season, with the forward core being JJ Williams and Albert Dikwa. While Williams has only scored twice this year, Dikwa is the team leader with seven goals. Perhaps the biggest acquisition for Rhode Island was its first-ever signing: Koke Vegas. The former San Diego man is having an average year, making 18 appearances, and holding teams scoreless in just five of them.
On the orange side of things, we might be able to see the return of another OC veteran to the starting eleven.
Midfielder Kevin Partida could very well see his return back to the starting lineup in what would be one of the final pieces that is able to come back from injury this year. It has been a trying season for Partida, who has only made eight appearances and only has a stat in cautions received. That means that nearly the entire roster who is not gone for the year is back in action in some capacity and doing so with no time to spare.
THE MATCH UP
For the first time ever we will get to see the Orange and Black face Rhode Island FC. This is historical for a number of different reasons with Rhode Island becoming the 66th team that OC will play competitively, and the first team from the state of Rhode Island, which is the 26th state that an opposing club has come from.
But Orange County are still in their worst stretch of games, ever. The scoreless drought has ended and now they need to get three points by any means necessary. The games that OC fans should also keep an eye on will be those including FC Tulsa, Phoenix Rising FC, San Antonio FC and Monterey Bay FC.
WHAT TO KNOW
Game - vs Rhode Island FC (USL Championship)
When - September 14, 7:00 PM PST
Where - Championship Soccer Stadium (Irvine, CA)
OCSC Form - LLLDL
RIFC Form - LWDDW
All-Time Matchup - 0-0-0
TV - Bally Sports SoCal, ESPN+