LA Galaxy are not interested in an exclusive arrangement for LA Galaxy II to play at the Orange County Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium and have advised all parties of our willingness to open conversations with the City of Irvine and other stakeholders on mutually-acceptable arrangements pertaining to the use of the Stadium moving forward.
ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB CONDEMNS LA GALAXY BID FOR CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER STADIUM
Next week Irvine City Council will consider a proposal that could evict Orange County Soccer Club from Championship Soccer Stadium and give exclusive rights to the venue to LA Galaxy for use by their Division 3 developmental team.
“Our club is built in Irvine, 100% Orange County proud and now under attack. We are stunned and extremely disappointed by yesterday’s news that the city could undo all the great work we have done in soccer and in the local community in Orange County,” OCSC owner James Keston said. “OCSC has called Championship Soccer Stadium home for the past five years. It is where fans have come together to watch our team represent their community, where we have won trophies, and where local players have realized their dreams as they have risen from the academy to the pros and on to some of the largest clubs in the world.”
Heartbreak and Frustration - (How the County Line Coalition Saw Things)
With more than 5,100 fans in attendance, Orange County Soccer Club took on I-5 rival San Diego Loyal. When the final whistle sounded, many felt heartbreak as OC fell 3-2 after giving up an 85th-minute goal.
However, frustration is the word resounding among the fan base.
“We have one of the best players in the league with Milan, who may end up with the Golden Boot, but we’re in last place. It’s frustration.” longtime County Line Coalition member, Keith Jenks said. “A strong offense can’t save an overly reckless defense.”
Right Shoe First w/ Milan Iloski pt.2
A year ago, Milan was mainly sitting on the bench for Real Salt Lake, not getting many minutes.
“I was thinking, ‘I want to play! I want to get minutes! I want to score goals! I want to show people my ability,’” he stated emphatically adding, “I got to get on the field, some way, and Orange County has given me that opportunity.
During the off-season, Milan found himself on trial with Major League Soccer’s Austin FC. Older brother Brian was already signed to return for the 2022 season to Orange County.
Match Recap: Broken Ankles and a Big Win
Saturday night, the baby G’s threw a party at Dignity Health Sports Park (their Daddie’s house). Nobody was invited, except a few girlfriends and the lads from Orange County Soccer Club. By the end of the night, the kids had been spanked and sent to bed without any dessert.
When you walk into a 27,000 seat stadium and no one is there, it becomes nothing more than a lonesome house good for shouting, “ECHO,” and little else. It almost makes you feel bad for the home side. However, after soundly thrashing LA Galaxy’s second team, 5-2, I doubt any Orange County Soccer followers feel all that bad.
Right Shoe First w/ Milan Iloski pt. 1
It’s Fall 2003 and the Little Hulks are getting ready to take the pitch at Kit Carson Park in Escondido, Ca. Led by Eric Iloski, middle of the three Iloski brothers, The Little Hulks, in their home green kit go through their pre-game warm-ups. Younger brother, Milan, is off to the side. He’s not allowed to play yet as he is too young for this team. However, youth will not stop the fire that already burns. After much insistence and “I probably just cried a lot,” he explained, he was allowed to don the smallest jersey they could find (it came down to his knees) and take the pitch. “There are still funny photos of me around the house in that jersey,” he added with a laugh.
Playing for Pride 2022- A Recap: Part 1
Let me just start out this blog post from Reno with the biggest little heartfelt thank you I could ever give to every one of you who listens to and reads articles from us at Orange and Black SoccerCast. Whether you were one of the participants of our new little experimental format in our playing for pride competition, or you followed along with our weekly updates, the fact stands that you helped contribute to our community. More importantly, this event helped a charity that is very near and dear to our hearts in Athlete Ally (https://www.athleteally.org).
Flatlined
San Diego was coming off its largest win in franchise history, a 5-0 thrashing of Indy 11. Dare I mention Indy 11? They thrashed us, 3-1, back in April. Currently, Loyal sits 3rd in the Western Conference, a mere two points behind Colorado Springs. Despite dropping three points, we were not outplayed in this game. Not by any stretch of the imagination. The boys in Orange and Black went toe to toe, splitting possession 50/50 with the team led by him who shall not be named. A late 1st half penalty (the fifth conceded in as many games) gave the Torrey Green clad side the 2-1 lead they would hold on to until the final whistle.
2022 Playing for Pride Final Standings
Thanks everyone for participating in Playing for Pride this year. Below are the final standings. Our ultimate goal in Playing for Pride is to support Athlete Ally.
O&B Soccercast crew commits to matching our point total with a dollar amount.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Athlete Ally in whatever amount you can afford, whether you participated with us or not. Expect a write on the game this year from Brad later in the week.
Sports remains one of the greatest socialization mechanisms in the world — it communicates values without relying on any one language, and its most successful participants are known and respected globally. And yet, an entire community of people remain systematically excluded from sport.
Athlete Ally believes that everyone should have equal access, opportunity, and experience in sports — regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Our mission is to end the rampant homophobia and transphobia in sport and to activate the athletic community to exercise their leadership to champion LGBTQI+ equality.
Where Do We Go from Here?
When you’re sitting at the bottom you can only go one of two ways; straight up or sideways. With the sun shining brightly down on the Championship Stadium pitch at the Great Park, Orange County Soccer Club moved…
Sideways.
Gaining a 3-1 victory on your home turf against a team who’s 1-6-1 on the road, for the Black and Orange is a sideways move.