2025 Orange County SC season
| 2025 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | James Keston |
| Manager | Danny Stone |
| Stadium | Championship Soccer Stadium Irvine, California |
| USL Championship | Western Conference: 7th Overall: 13th |
| USL Championship Playoffs | Conference Semi-Finals |
| U.S. Open Cup | Third round |
| USL Cup | Group stage |
| Highest home attendance | 5,000 (ten times) |
| Lowest home attendance | 3,020 (March 22, against Monterey Bay FC) |
| Average home league attendance | 4,470 |
The 2025 Orange County SC season was the club's fifteenth season of existence, and their fifteenth consecutive season in the United Soccer League Championship, the second tier of American soccer.
After leading the team from out of playoff positioning to the conference semi-finals, former interim head coach Danny Stone became the official head coach of Orange County in the mid-December 2024.[1]
Roster
- As of January 19, 2025[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
- ^ USL Academy Contract
Technical staff
| Role[3] | Name |
|---|---|
| President of Soccer Operations & General Manager | Peter Nugent |
| Head Coach | Danny Stone |
| Assistant Coach | Didier Crettenand |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Victor Nogueira |
| Performance Data Analyst | Amanda Preciado |
| Performance Consultant | Dan Guzman |
| Head Academy Scout | Shawn Beyer |
| Team Operations Coordinator | Mario Lemus |
Competitions
Exhibitions
In preparation for the 2025 USL Championship season, Orange County played in eight pre-season friendlies, mainly against local collegiate, MLS, and fellow USL teams.[4]
| January 25 | Orange County SC | 1–2 | Portland Timbers | Irvine, California |
| Report | Rodríguez 83' Kelsy 84' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 |
| February 1 | Orange County SC | 3–1 | UC Irvine Anteaters | Irvine, California |
| Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 5 | Orange County SC | 0–2 | Sacramento Republic FC | Irvine, California |
| 1:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 12 | Los Angeles FC | v | Orange County SC | |
| Note: Due to unreleased circumstances, Orange County matched up against Real Salt Lake instead of LAFC | ||||
| February 12 | Real Salt Lake | 3–1 | Orange County SC | Indio, California |
| Report | Stadium: Empire Polo Club |
| February 15 | Orange County SC | 1–0 | AV Alta FC | Irvine, California |
| Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 22 | Orange County SC | 4–0 | Loyola Marymount Lions | Irvine, California |
| Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 23 | Orange County SC | 0–2 | Los Angeles FC 2 | Irvine, California |
| Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 28 | Orange County SC | 5–2 | LA Galaxy II | Irvine, California |
| Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
USL Championship
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Phoenix Rising FC | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 40[a] | Playoffs |
| 6 | San Antonio FC | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 39 | 38 | +1 | 40[a] | |
| 7 | Orange County SC | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 39 | |
| 8 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 30 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 35 | 47 | −12 | 37 | |
| 9 | Lexington SC | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 31 | 42 | −11 | 36 |
Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per-game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per-game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
Match results
On December 19, 2024, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 24 teams.[5]
All times are in Pacific Standard Time.
March
| March 8 1 | Orange County SC | 4–2 | Oakland Roots SC | Irvine, California |
| Doghman 28' Zubak 47' Benalcazar 52' Scott 90'+1' |
Report | Gibson 3' Johnson 59' Gomez 62' Prentice 71' Njie 90'+4' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva |
| March 15 2 | Orange County SC | 2-2 | Lexington SC | Irvine, California |
| 7:30 PM | Doody 9' War 90'+7' |
Report | Rodrigues 45'+1' Epps 53' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,550 Referee: Muhammad Hassan |
| March 22 3 | Orange County SC | 0-3 | Monterey Bay FC | Irvine, California |
| Doghman 65' | Report | Gindiri 60', 75' Ivanovic 90' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,020 Referee: Corbyn May |
April
| April 5 4 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1-0 | Orange County SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM | Pickering 90'+3' | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 2,353 Referee: Brad Jensen |
| April 12 5 | Orange County SC | 2-1 | Sacramento Republic FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Vitiello 18' (o.g.) Willey 48' (o.g.) |
Report | Herrera 56' | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,606 Referee: Elton García |
| April 19 6 | Oakland Roots SC | 2-0 | Orange County SC | Oakland, California |
| 1:00 PM | Prentice 10' [[Peter Wilson (footballer, born 1996) |Wilson]] 31' |
Report | Stadium: Oakland Coliseum Attendance: 6,058 Referee: Alyssa Nichols |
May
| May 3 7 | Orange County SC | 2-1 | FC Tulsa | Irvine, California |
| Mackinnon 55', 80' | Report | Calheira 74' | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,075 Referee: Trevor Wiseman |
| May 9 8 | North Carolina FC | 0-1 | Orange County SC | Cary, North Carolina |
| da Costa 45' | Report | Stadium: First Horizon Stadium Attendance: 2,788 Referee: Rodrigo Albuquerque |
| May 17 9 | Orange County SC | 0-3 | New Mexico United | Irvine, California |
| Report | Maples 28' (pen.), 53' Fernando 79' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: John Matto |
| May 24 10 | Orange County SC | 3-1 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Irvine, California |
| Hegardt 28' Dunbar 61' War 90'+3' |
Report | Anthony Fontana 66' 56' 78' | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Atahan Yaya |
June
| June 7 11 | Phoenix Rising FC | 3-1 | Orange County SC | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Formella 21' Essengue 67' Dennis 72' |
Report | Latinovich 58' | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,193 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
| June 14 12 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 0-3 | Orange County SC | El Paso, Texas |
| Report | Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 4,573 Referee: Edson Carvajal |
July
| July 3 13 | Loudoun United FC | 0-0 | Orange County SC | Leesburg, Virginia |
| Ryan 31' | Report | Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 3,871 Referee: Benjamin Meyer |
| July 12 14 | Monterey Bay FC | 2-1 | Orange County SC | Seaside, California |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 3,080 Referee: Brad Jensen |
| July 19 15 | Orange County SC | 4-0 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, California |
| Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Elton García |
| July 30 16 | Orange County SC | 4–1 | Phoenix Rising FC | Irvine, California |
| Zubak 30' Doghman 58' Jamison 72' Guimaraes 89' |
Report | Sacko 68' Boye |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,536 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
August
| August 9 17 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 1-1 | Orange County SC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Vacter 67' | Report | Zubak 40' | Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 5,166 Referee: Mark Verso |
| August 16 18 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 0-1 | Orange County SC | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Report | Benalcazar 62' | Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 7,525 Referee: John Griggs |
| August 20 19 | Orange County SC | v | San Antonio FC | Irvine, California |
| Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium | |||
| Note: Match rescheduled to October 15 due to San Antonio FC advancing to the quarter-finals of the USL Cup | ||||
| August 23 20 | FC Tulsa | 1–0 | Orange County SC | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 7:30 PM CDT | ElMedkhar 24' | Report | Kelly 20' | Stadium: ONEOK Field Attendance: 3,317 Referee: Nabil Bensalah |
| August 30 21 | Orange County SC | 4–4 | Birmingham Legion FC | Irvine, California |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Corbyn May |
September
| September 6 22 | Detroit City FC | 4–1 | Orange County SC | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| 4:00 PM | Report |
|
Stadium: Keyworth Stadium Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Edson Carvajal |
| September 12 23 | Lexington SC | 1–1 | Orange County SC | Lexington, Kentucky |
| 3:00 PM | Ajago 58' | Report | Jamison 45'+3' | Stadium: Lexington SC Stadium Attendance: 3,503 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
| September 20 24 | San Antonio FC | 3–1 | Orange County SC | San Antonio, Texas |
|
Report | Benalcazar 54' | Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 5,970 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| September 27 25 | Orange County SC | 2–2 | Charleston Battery | Irvine, California |
| Zubak 63', 76' (pen.) | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Natalie Simon |
October
| October 1 26 | Sacramento Republic FC | 2–1 | Orange County SC | Sacramento, California |
| 7:15 PM |
|
Report | Zubak 52' (pen.) | Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 9,088 Referee: Rodrigo Albuquerque |
| October 4 27 | Orange County SC | 0–0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Elton García |
| October 11 28 | New Mexico United | 3–3 | Orange County SC | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 6:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Isotopes Park Attendance: 8,148 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
| October 15 19 | Orange County SC | 1–0 | San Antonio FC | Irvine, California |
| Sylla 90'+2' | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,340 Referee: Greg Dopka | ||
| Note: Rescheduled match that was moved from August 20 due to San Antonio FC advancing in the USL Cup | ||||
| October 18 29 | Orange County SC | 0–0 | Louisville City FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
| October 25 30 | Orange County SC | 2–1 | Indy Eleven | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM |
|
Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
USL Championship playoffs
As the seventh seed in the Western Conference, Orange County qualified for the 2025 USL Championship playoffs, being matched up away against fellow Californian club Sacramento Republic FC for the first time in nine years.[6] Matched up away in Sacramento, Orange County SC played to a scoreless draw through added extra time, ultimately prevailing 5–4 over the home team in a penalty shootout, led by 120th minute substitute goalkeeper Tetsuya Kadono, who made three saves in the shootout.[7] Following the quarter-finals, Orange County SC was matched up against third seed New Mexico United away in Isotopes Park, where the club would ultimately fall in stoppage time.[8]
| November 2, 2025 West Quarter-Finals | Sacramento Republic FC | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Orange County SC | Sacramento, California |
| 6:00 PM PT | Report | Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 9,367 Referee: Nabil Bensalah | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| November 8, 2025 West Semi-Finals | New Mexico United | 2–1 | Orange County SC | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 9:00 PM ET | Report |
|
Stadium: Isotopes Park Attendance: 10,150 Referee: Elton García |
USL Cup
Orange County participated in the second edition of the USL Cup, the first edition to feature teams from both the USL Championship and League One.[9][10]
Standings
| Pos | Lg | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | USLC | Las Vegas Lights FC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 9 |
| 3 | USLC | Monterey Bay FC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | USLC | Orange County SC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 6 |
| 5 | USL1 | AV Alta FC | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 5 |
| 6 | USLC | Oakland Roots SC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 |
Updated to match(es) played on July 26, 2025. Source: USL
Group stage
| April 26, 2025 | Orange County SC | 1–3 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,350 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| May 31, 2025 | Monterey Bay FC | 3-2 | Orange County SC | Seaside, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Report | Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 3,006 Referee: Calin Radosav |
| June 28, 2025 | Orange County SC | 1–0 | Sacramento Republic FC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,328 Referee: Muhammad Kaleia |
| July 26, 2025 | Oakland Roots SC | 0–1 | Orange County SC | Oakland, California |
| 1:00 PM PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Oakland Coliseum Attendance: 5,418 Referee: Cristian Campo |
U.S. Open Cup
Orange County, as a member of the second division USL Championship, entered the U.S. Open Cup in the Third Round based on its performance in the 2024 USL Championship season.[11] Drawn away against Division 3 USL League One club AV Alta FC for the first competitive match against the two clubs,[12] the club was eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup after losing in a penalty shootout.[13]
| April 15 | AV Alta FC (USL1) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Orange County SC (USLC) | Lancaster, California |
| 7:00 p.m. PDT |
|
Report |
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Stadium: Lancaster Municipal Stadium Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| Penalties | ||||
References
- ^ USLChampionship Staff (December 13, 2024). "Orange County removes interim tag, appoints Danny Stone as Head Coach". USL Championship. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ "Roster". Orange County Soccer Club. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Technical Staff". Orange County SC. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY SC ANNOUNCES 2025 PRESEASON SCHEDULE". Orange County SC. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ USLSoccer Staff (December 19, 2024). "USL Championship reveals the 2025 season schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ USL Championship Staff (October 26, 2025). "Ousman Sylla leads Orange County into playoffs with win vs. Indy". USL Championship. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ Calhoun, Damian (November 3, 2025). "Orange County Soccer Club defeats Sacramento Republic in penalty kicks to advance in USL playoffs". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ Webber, Will (November 8, 2025). "United beat Orange County 2-1 to reach Western title game". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (December 12, 2024). "ANOTHER COMPETITION: USL adds Jägermeister Cup for Championship, League One teams". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ Silverman, Alex (December 12, 2024). "USL expanding Jägermeister Cup to all teams". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (April 17, 2025). "ROUND OF 32 DRAW: For the U.S. Open Cup". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Michael (April 16, 2025). "2025 US Open Cup Round 3: AV ALTA FC earns PK win over Orange County in SoCal classic". thecup.us. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Press, Valley (April 17, 2025). "AV Alta advance to 4th round of US Open". Antelope Valley Press. Retrieved May 5, 2025.