April 5, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Orange County SC News Release
Kickoff: Saturday, April 6 (1:00 PM PDT)
Where: AutoZone Park (Memphis, TN)
How to Watch: ESPN+, The Harp Inn in Costa Mesa with The County Line Coalition
After successfully defending The Champ during their two match homestand, the County Boys head on the road again for their first of two straight away from home. They’ll visit AutoZone Park in Memphis, TN for a battle with new Western Conference opponent Memphis 901 FC at 1:00 PM PDT. OCSC is currently 2-0-2 on the season and looking to extend their regular season unbeaten streak to nine matches.
MORE BLUES THAN RHYTHM
Memphis 901 FC enter Saturday’s contest in 9th place, their first season in the USL Championship’s Western Conference, after last season’s conference realignment. They have struggled out of the gate, with their only win of the season coming against Las Vegas Lights FC on Matchday 1. Memphis signed the USL Championship’s active leading goal scorer, forward Neco Brett, this offseason. Brett has scored 82 goals in the USL Championship regular season across five clubs, but has featured sparingly for Memphis so far this year. Memphis 901 FC’s most exciting and intriguing young prospect is forward Nighte Pickering. The 19-year-old forward from Birmingham, AL scored the match winner against Las Vegas and also leads the club in shots (5) and shots on target (2).
2024 Regular Season Record: 1-2-0 9th in USL-C Western Conference (14-10-10 in 2023, 4th in USL-C Eastern Conference)
Goals Scored: 3 | Goals Allowed: 4 | Clean Sheets: 0
Players to Watch
F Nighte Pickering
D Akeem Ward
ROCKIN’ AND ROLLIN’ INTO AUTOZONE PARK
Orange County SC retained their position on top of the USL Championship’s Western Conference after a 1-0 victory over FC Tulsa last Saturday at The Champ. The first professional goal from midfielder Sofiane Djeffal in the 27th minute was enough for the Black and Orange to secure all three points at home. Djeffal’s goal also continued the streak of unique goal scorers for OCSC, making it now seven goals scored by seven different players. Goalkeeper Colin Shutler kept his 14th clean sheet in Black and Orange and recorded his 19th win between the posts, surpassing previous club records set by former goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky. The Black and Orange have matched their best four game start to a season in club history (2020, 2-0-2) and they have done so while missing key contributors all over the pitch. Midfielder…