OCSC Points to the Playoffs: April Recap

OCSC Points to the Playoffs: April Recap

Things aren’t going well right now.

OCSC needed 3 wins in April to get back on track. Tough, but doable. Instead, they managed just 4 points with a terrible 1-1-3 record.

Game 1 Recap: OCSC 1-1 Draw @ Hartford Athletic

Game 2 Recap: OCSC 0-1 Loss @ El Paso Locomotive FC

Game 3 Recap: OCSC 1-0 Win vs. Indy Eleven

Game 4 Recap: OCSC 1-2 Loss vs. Birmingham Legion

Game 5 Recap: OCSC 1-3 Loss vs. New Mexico United

The team was disjointed and inconsistent most of April from a lack of lineup stability as well as the insistence on deploying the “kick and pray” strategy while attacking. OCSC has lacked an identity up to this point in the season, and if they’re going to have any hope of making a run to the playoffs, they need to find that identity and fast. Defensive miscues and a lack of finishing have put the team in a deep hole. Another month like April, and the playoffs will be all but gone.

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Like Him or Not, Richard Chaplow Did What No OC Coach Had Done Before

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Like Him or Not, Richard Chaplow Did What No OC Coach Had Done Before

On August 18, 2021 the mood around Orange County SC was not a very joyful one. They had just been beaten by the Tacoma Defiance in a 0-3 rout at home on a cold and rainy night. That mediocre game came after an equally mediocre form that saw the team give up late goals, lose to low-table teams and overall looked out of shape. For then head coach Braedan Cloutier, the Tacoma game served as the dagger and he was sacked after four seasons as head coach of Orange County SC. 

For Orange County, the decision to sack a manager mid season was not an easy one to make. Under Cloutier’s tenure the club was quite successful. In Cloutier’s four seasons, the club qualified for the playoffs twice, had the best record in the Western Conference in 2018 and made it to the Western Conference Finals that season as well. At the time of his sacking, Cloutier had amassed a record of 64 wins, 47 losses, and 33 draws across all competitions; very respectable numbers. However he was unable to win a title. His replacement for the time being would be his assistant Richard Chaplow. 

POST-MATCH REVIEW: BREAKING OUR HEARTS

POST-MATCH REVIEW: BREAKING OUR HEARTS

This weekend Orange County SC visited The Lab, home of New Mexico United, where they left fans brokenhearted and fearful that this could very well be a repeat of last season’s disaster.

**Note from the editor: This article was written prior to the departure of Head Coach Richard Chaplow, and does not otherwise mention this news.

April 29th, Match #8 - Orange County SC @ New Mexico United

April 29th, Match #8 - Orange County SC @ New Mexico United

With OC bumped from the Open Cup, all of their attention now shifts to the league. 

Through seven league games, Orange County have only played a fellow Western Conference opponent in only two of those games. The start of the season has seen new matchups along with sophomore showdowns but now OC will set to duel with a more familiar Western Conference opponent, New Mexico United. 

Orange County so far into league play currently sit in 9th on 6 points which is one short of the playoff line while their counterparts New Mexico sit further back at 11th on 4 points. 

April 26th, USOC Round 3 - Orange County SC @ Portland Timbers

April 26th, USOC Round 3 - Orange County SC @ Portland Timbers

With the third round of the US Open Cup comes the appearance for a number of MLS teams, and Orange County gets to face one. 

As part of the “Pacific” group, OC was placed in the same pool as Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders FC, and San Diego Loyal SC and ultimately drew with the Timbers as the visiting team. While not the hardest possible draw, it will still take a complete team effort in order to pull off the upset. 

April 22nd, Match #7 - Orange County SC vs Birmingham Legion FC

April 22nd, Match #7 - Orange County SC vs Birmingham Legion FC

Orange County will look to continue on last week’s first win of the 2023 USL Championship season. 

It took OC six games to earn their first victory, and the team now set their sights on another visiting Eastern Conference club, Birmingham Legion FC. This game will be the first ever meeting between Orange County and Birmingham, with the visitors coming in currently sitting third in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile OC sit in 9th just one point back of the playoff line. 

April 15th, Match #6 - Orange County SC vs Indy Eleven

April 15th, Match #6 - Orange County SC vs Indy Eleven

Orange County return home for matchday 6, and will host the Indy Eleven in an inter-conference bout. 

It has not been the start that either team had hoped for to their 2023 seasons. For the Boys in Orange, this Saturday will serve as another opportunity to pick up their first victory. For Indy, they will look to get back in the win column after an equally lackluster start. As it stands, Orange County are currently 0-3-2 and sit at 11th in the Western Conference. It may be a long season, but points become much more valuable as the season goes. 

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