Orange County SC extends streak to three with win over Las Vegas Lights FC
IRVINE — When Orange County Soccer Club was last at home three weeks ago, Coach Braeden Cloutier indicated his team was still working its way into match shape.
Orange County had recorded its first victory of the season that night, and it had only played three matches at that point.
Only two matches have been played since, but the points have started to pile up for Orange County.
Aodhan Quinn scored in the 69th minute, lifting Orange County over Las Vegas Lights FC 1-0 on Saturday night at Championship Soccer Stadium at the Great Park in Irvine.
The decisive strike came on a left-footed, grounded shot inside the left post, as Brian Iloski found Quinn at the end of a combination passing play for the attempt from the center of the box.
“A great little two touches from him to find me, great vision from him,” Quinn said of Iloski. “I didn’t think he saw me, but then I was lucky enough just to be in a good position, and it was an easy tap-in.”
Orange County (3-0-2, 11 points) remains undefeated and has earned three straight shutout victories. For the season, Orange County has conceded just one goal.
“The one thing that I think gets probably overshadowed a little bit is the back line,” Cloutier said. “I know Frederik [Due] was big for us against San Diego, but our back four and our keepers have been fantastic. Clean sheets win championships, and we know that. We put a lot of emphasis in keeping ourselves organized and compact, and we’ve been really good so far.”
In the Group B standings in the United Soccer League, Orange County is tied with San Diego Loyal (3-3-2) with 11 points, although Orange County has played three less matches thus far.
Phoenix Rising FC (5-1-1) is in first place with 16 points. In two matches against Phoenix earlier this season, Orange County went 1-0-1.
“We have many positive things to build off,” Iloski said. “Obviously happy with the recent results, three in a row, clean sheets, so that’s a positive sign.
“Now, we’re just trying to capitalize on more of our opportunities, and look to [score] some more goals, especially early on.”
Due, who had recorded consecutive clean sheets for Orange County, left the contest at halftime. Cloutier said the move was precautionary due to groin tightness. He was relieved by Aaron Cervantes.
The back line of Nathan Smith, Michael Orozco, Rob Kiernan and Kevin Alston helped preserve the shutout, surrendering a single shot on goal. Due went up with one hand to make the stop on Las Vegas’ Bryan de la Fuente in the 13th minute.
Diego Lopez, an 18-year-old forward standing 6-foot-1, made his first start for Orange County. He availed himself for scoring opportunities in the first half, but he was thwarted in his efforts to get on the scoresheet.
Iloski controlled the ball against two defenders near the left corner flag, freeing himself to send a pass across the six-yard box to Lopez, whose close-range shot was deflected over the cage by Las Vegas goalkeeper Edward Delgado in the 20th minute.
Nearing the end of the first half, Lopez again took aim at the goal on a partial breakaway on the right side, but left back Jordan Murrell recovered to block two shot attempts.
“I’m really happy that I got the opportunity to start, especially in my debut, and just having that support [from] my teammates and that they uplifted me,” Lopez said. “That really helped me get confidence on the field early on, and obviously, I had two opportunities that I wish went in. Unfortunately, they didn’t go in.”
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