The 2018 Orange County SC season was the club's eighth season of existence, and their eighth consecutive season in the United Soccer League, the second tier of American soccer. Orange County also competed in the U.S. Open Cup. The season covered the period from October 14, 2017, to the beginning of the 2019 USL season.
OCSC won the Western Conference in the regular season, finishing one point ahead of runners-up Sacramento Republic. It marked the second time in club history that Orange County had topped the conference, after 2015. However, the club would be knocked out in the conference finals by eventual USL Cup runners-up Phoenix Rising. In the U.S. Open Cup, Orange County were eliminated in the second round by Golden State Force, failing to win a game in the competition for the fourth time in club history.
2018 marked the first season with Braeden Cloutier as the club's head coach, and Cloutier's first season as a professional head coach. The season averaged 3,095 fans per home match, and was the second consecutive season that the average attendance had increased.
Roster
No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Signed in Previous club Apps Goals Goalkeepers 1 Casey Beyers GK 2017 Wisconsin Badgers 6 0 12 Andre Rawls GK 2018 New York City FC (loan) 30 0 25 Aaron Cervantes GK 2018 Pateadores SC 0 0 Defenders 2 Kevin Alston RB, LB 2018 Orlando City SC 23 0 3 Joe Amico RB, LM 2018 Swope Park Rangers 30 0 4 Alex Crognale CB, LB 2018 Columbus Crew SC (loan) 26 4 5 Jos Hooiveld CB 2018 Twente 17 1 6 Noah Powder LB 2018 New York Red Bulls II 23 3 21 Thomas Juel-Nielsen CB 2018 AGF 18 1 23 Owusu-Ansah Kontor LB 2018 AEL 16 0 26 Walker Hume CB 2018 FC Dallas 31 0 Midfielders 10 Richard Chaplow CM, AM 2016 Doncaster Rovers 57 4 11 Zach Kobayashi MF 2017 Dinamo Zagreb 18 4 14 Aodhan Quinn DM, CM, AM 2018 FC Cincinnati 38 12 15 Nicolás Czornomaz CM 2018 Los Angeles FC (loan) 5 0 16 Amirgy Pineda LM 2017 Santiago Canyon Hawks 23 1 20 Christian Duke CM, DM 2018 Swope Park Rangers 32 2 22 Koji Hashimoto CM, LM, RM, LW 2018 Mito HollyHock 24 2 24 Mats Bjurman RM, LM 2018 Saint Louis FC 59 5 Forwards 7 Thomas Enevoldsen ST, RW, LM 2018 NAC Breda 38 21 9 Michael Seaton ST, LM 2018 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth 30 15 13 Darwin Jones ST 2018 IFK Värnamo 16 2 19 Giovanni Ramos-Godoy ST 2018 UC Irvine Anteaters 32 4 27 Rafael Espinoza FW 2018 Slammers FC 0 0
Non-competitive
Preseason
Competitions
USL
Standings
Results summary
Results by round
Match results In August 2017, the USL announced that the 2018 season would span 34 games, the longest regular season the league had ever run. The expansion was spurred by the addition of six new clubs for the 2018 season: Atlanta United 2, Fresno FC, Indy Eleven, Las Vegas Lights, Nashville SC, and North Carolina FC.
On January 14, 2018, the league announced home openers for every club. Orange County opened the season with a home match against Phoenix Rising, marking the first season-opening match to ever be played at Championship Soccer Stadium. In 2017, the club played its first four matches on the road before getting to open the new stadium on May 6.
The schedule for the remainder of the 2018 season was released on January 19. Orange County played three times against both LA Galaxy II and Phoenix. They played every other Western Conference team twice.
Postseason
U.S. Open Cup
Statistics
Appearances and goals No. Pos. Name USL USL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 1 GK Casey Beyers40000040 2 DF Kevin Alston2003000230 3 DF Joe Amico2603010300 4 DF Alex Crognale2343000264 5 DF Jos Hooiveld1413000171 6 DF Noah Powder2131010233 7 FW Thomas Enevoldsen342030113821 9 FW Michael Seaton261233103015 10 MF Richard Chaplow2123010252 11 MF Zach Kobayashi00000000 12 GK Andre Rawls2603010300 13 FW Darwin Jones1323000162 14 MF Aodhan Quinn34131103812 15 MF Nicolás Czornomaz50000050 16 MF Amirgy Pineda51100061 19 FW Giovanni Ramos-Godoy2942010324 20 MF Christian Duke2912011322 21 DF Thomas Juel-Nielsen1710010181 22 MF Koji Hashimoto2112110242 23 DF Owusu-Ansah Kontor1600000160 24 MF Mats Bjurman2833110324 25 GK Aaron Cervantes00000000 26 DF Walker Hume2000010210 27 FW Rafael Espinoza00000000Players who left the club during the season: 2 DF Oscar Sorto70000070 17 MF Mark Segbers1920000192 18 GK Luis López50000050 18 FW Nansel Selbol81001091
Disciplinary record No. Pos. Name USL USL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total 2 DF Kevin Alston40100050 3 DF Joe Amico51000051 4 DF Alex Crognale60000060 5 DF Jos Hooiveld30000030 6 DF Noah Powder30000030 7 FW Thomas Enevoldsen40000040 9 FW Michael Seaton51100061 10 MF Richard Chaplow00100010 12 GK Andre Rawls01000001 14 MF Aodhan Quinn60100070 15 MF Nicolás Czornomaz10000010 16 MF Amirgy Pineda10000010 19 FW Giovanni Ramos-Godoy10000010 20 MF Christian Duke40100050 21 DF Thomas Juel-Nielsen30000030 22 MF Koji Hashimoto30000030 23 DF Owusu-Ansah Kontor20000020 24 MF Mats Bjurman20000020Players who left the club during the season: 2 DF Oscar Sorto3000003 0 17 MF Mark Segbers30000030 18 FW Nansel Selbol10000010
Clean sheets No. Name USL USL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total Games Played 1 Casey Beyers10014 12 Andre Rawls8201030 25 Aaron Cervantes00000Players who left the club during the season: 18 Luis López20025
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource MF Christian Duke Swope Park Rangers Terms of the deal were undisclosed. December 14, 2017 MF Aodhan Quinn FC Cincinnati Terms of the deal were undisclosed. December 15, 2017 MF Mats Bjurman Saint Louis FC Terms of the deal were undisclosed. February 7, 2018 FW Thomas Enevoldsen NAC Breda Terms of the deal were undisclosed. February 10, 2018 DF Thomas Juel-Nielsen AGF Terms of the deal were undisclosed. February 14, 2018 DF Joe Amico Swope Park Rangers Terms of the deal were undisclosed. February 16, 2018 DF Owusu-Ansah Kontor AEL Terms of the deal were undisclosed. February 26, 2018 DF Noah Powder New York Red Bulls II Terms of the deal were undisclosed. February 27, 2018 FW Nansel Selbol Swope Park Rangers Terms of the deal were undisclosed. March 8, 2018 FW Michael Seaton Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Terms of the deal were undisclosed. March 12, 2018 FW Giovanni Ramos-Godoy UC Irvine Anteaters Terms of the deal were undisclosed. March 12, 2018 DF Walker Hume FC Dallas Terms of the deal were undisclosed. March 15, 2018 GK Aaron Cervantes Pateadores SC Terms of the deal were undisclosed. March 15, 2018 MF Koji Hashimoto Mito HollyHock Terms of the deal were undisclosed. March 16, 2018 DF Jos Hooiveld Twente Terms of the deal were undisclosed. June 5, 2018 DF Kevin Alston Orlando City SC Terms of the deal were undisclosed. June 8, 2018 FW Darwin Jones IFK Värnamo Terms of the deal were undisclosed. July 17, 2018 FW Rafael Espinoza Slammers FC Signed to a USL Academy contract. August 16, 2018
Loan in Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource GK Andre Rawls New York City FC Duration of the 2018 USL season. March 15, 2018 November 4, 2018DF Alex Crognale Columbus Crew SCOn a match-by-match basis. March 15, 2018 May 5, 2018 May 22, 2018 June 2, 2018 June 18, 2018 November 4, 2018 MF Mark Segbers New England Revolution Duration of the 2018 USL season. March 15, 2018 August 29, 2018 MF Nicolás Czornomaz Los Angeles FC Duration of the 2018 USL season. April 24, 2018 November 4, 2018GK Luis López Los Angeles FCOn a match-by-match basis. July 13, 2018 July 26, 2018 August 1, 2018 August 5, 2018 August 22, 2018 August 24, 2018
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource DF Sola Abolaji Contract expired. Retired. October 14, 2017 MF James Baxendale Alfreton Town Contract expired. Signed for Alfreton on December 19, 2017. October 14, 2017 DF Jeannot Esua Contract expired. October 14, 2017 FW Wuilito Fernandes North Carolina FC Contract expired. Signed for NCFC on January 25, 2018. October 14, 2017 DF Joe Franco Contract expired. October 14, 2017 MF Kevin Jeon Contract expired. October 14, 2017 FW Duke Lacroix Reno 1868 Contract expired. Signed for Reno on April 19, 2018. October 14, 2017 GK Charlie Lyon Los Angeles FC Contract expired. Signed for LAFC on March 2, 2018. October 14, 2017 DF Roy Meeus Contract expired. October 14, 2017 DF Beto Navarro Fresno FC Contract expired. Signed for Fresno on March 17, 2018. October 14, 2017 MF Frank Olijve De Graafschap Contract expired. Signed for De Graafschap on January 10, 2018. October 14, 2017 MF Irvin Parra Contract expired. October 14, 2017 MF Victor Pineda Contract expired. October 14, 2017 MF Dusan Stevanovic California United FC II Contract expired. Signed for Cal United II for the 2018 UPSL season. October 14, 2017 GK Michael Suchy Contract expired. October 14, 2017 FW Jerry van Ewijk Reno 1868 Contract expired. Signed for Reno on January 26, 2018. October 14, 2017 FW Gustavo Villalobos California United FC II Contract expired. Signed for Cal United II for the 2018 UPSL season. October 14, 2017 DF Oscar Sorto Departed through mutual consent. May 9, 2018 FW Nansel Selbol Departed through mutual consent. June 25, 2018
Awards
USL Team of the Week WeekStartersBenchOpponent(s)Link 3 Thomas Enevoldsen Alex Crognale OKC EnergyTulsa Roughnecks 4 Mark Segbers LA Galaxy II 5 Andre Rawls Thomas Enevoldsen San Antonio FC 7 Thomas Juel-Nielsen Rio Grande Valley FC TorosColorado Springs Switchbacks 11 Thomas Enevoldsen Fresno FC 13 Andre Rawls LA Galaxy II 15 Aodhan Quinn Thomas Enevoldsen Tulsa Roughnecks 18 Aodhan Quinn San Antonio FC 19 Aodhan Quinn Giovanni Ramos-Godoy Saint Louis FC 21 Darwin Jones Aodhan Quinn Portland Timbers 2Swope Park Rangers 22 Michael Seaton Phoenix Rising 23 Michael Seaton Thomas Enevoldsen Las Vegas Lights 26 Aodhan Quinn OKC Energy 27 Walker Hume Fresno FC 28 Aodhan Quinn Real Monarchs 29 Michael Seaton Thomas Enevoldsen Las Vegas Lights 30 Jos Hooiveld Seattle Sounders FC 2
USL Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponent(s)Link 3 Thomas Enevoldsen OKC EnergyTulsa Roughnecks 23 Michael Seaton Las Vegas Lights
Postseason USL All-League First Team FW Thomas Enevoldsen MF Aodhan Quinn
Kits
Type Shirt Shorts Socks First appearance / Record HomeBlackBlackBlackMatch 1 vs. Phoenix / 16–4–5 AwayWhiteWhiteWhiteMatch 6 vs. San Antonio / 6–2–5
See also Orange County SC 2018 in American soccer 2018 USL season
References