Monterey Bay Wraps 2023 Campaign with 1-0 Defeat to Orange County SC in Season Finale at Cardinale Stadium

SEASIDE, California (Saturday, October 14, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (11-15-8, 41 points) fell 1-0 to Orange County SC (17-11-6, 57 points) at Cardinale Stadium in the season finale of its sophomore campaign. Monterey Bay had two shots cleared off the line before a first-half goal from Milan Iloski put Orange County in front for good.

Access the postgame quote sheet here

In front of a nearly sold-out, pinked-out crowd at Cardinale Stadium, Monterey Bay came out with intensity in its season finale match. In the 14th minute, the Crisp-and-Kelp came dangerously close to scoring with back-to-back opportunities on frame, but shots from Ugo Okoli and Adrian Rebollar in succession were both cleared off the line by Orange County defenders to deny the hosts the opener. Orange County responded with a rocket from Iloski in the 18th minute, but the shot was stopped and covered up by Antony Siaha. With Orange County pinned back in their own box in the 31st minute, the Union found themselves another opportunity with a second shot from Rebollar, but it was saved. Orange County ultimately found the opener eight minutes later on a tap-in from Iloski to put the visitors up 1-0 at the halftime break.

Orange County flew forward on the break six minutes into the second half with Iloski making a run deep into the box on the left side, but Siaha closed the space down quickly and thwarted the chance. Orange County almost doubled its lead again in the 73rd minute, but Bryce Jamison’s right-footed shot from the right side of the box was clawed out of the near post by the outstretched arm of Siaha for his fourth save of the night. Applying pressure in the 85 minute of the match, a shot from Max Glasser earned the Union a corner, but the Orange County defense stood tall to end the hosts’ possession. Monterey Bay created another corner kick opportunity a minute later, but Mobi Fehr’s shot from just outside the six missed over the crossbar. The Crisp-and-Kelp earned one last corner in the 90th minute of the match, but the ensuing attempt was saved by the goalkeeper. Orange County’s Kevin Partida received his second yellow card for a tackle on Sam Gleadle in the fourth minute of stoppage time, leaving the visitors with 10 men for the final moments of the match, but Monterey Bay was unable to take advantage and the match ended 1-0 in favor of Orange County.

Notes

– Walmer Martínez missed the match due to his international duty with El Salvador in the CONCACAF Nations League group stage, while Alex Dixon was unavailable for the match due to a family matter.
– Grant Robinson and Mobi Fehr made long-awaited returns to the pitch following extended recoveries from injury. However, missing the match due to injury were Simon Dawkins (knee) and Jesse Maldonado (knee).

Information

Date: October 14, 2023
Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Weather: Clear and 61 degrees
Attendance: 5,278

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

Monterey Bay F.C. 0 0 0
Orange County SC 1 0 1
OC: Milan Iloski (Kevin Lankford) 39’

Lineups

Monterey Bay F.C. (4-2-3-1): Antony Siaha; Sam Gleadle, Hugh Roberts II, Kai Greene, Morey Doner; James Murphy (Mobi Fehr, 65’), Rafa Baca (Nevello Yoseke, 65’); Chase Boone (Chuy Enríquez, 65’), Christian Volesky, Adrian Rebollar (Max Glasser, 65’); Ugo Okoli (Grant Robinson, 77’)
Subs not used: Carlos Herrera, Alex Lara

Orange County SC (4-4-2): Colin Shutler; Ryan Doghman, Andrew Fox, Dillon Powers, Owen Lambe; Seth Casiple, Kyle Scott (Ashton Miles, 90+6’), Kevin Partida, Bryce Jamison (Brent Richards, 75’); Kevin Lankford, Milan Iloski (Alex Villanueva, 61’)
Subs not used: Eric Lopez, Taj Eagleston, Ben Barjolo, Nico Ruiz

Stats Summary: MB / OC

Shots: 14 / 13
Shots on Goal: 2 / 7
Saves: 6 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 9
Fouls: 13 / 12
Possession: 55.2% / 44.8%

Misconduct Summary

OC: Kevin Lankford (caution) 22’
MB: Max Glasser (caution) 76’
OC: Kevin Partida (caution) 88’
OC: Kevin Partida (second caution, dismissal) 90+4’
OC: Andrew Fox (caution) 90+8’