Wikipedia

2016 Orange County Blues FC season

The 2016 Orange County Blues FC season was the club's seventh season of existence, and their seventh season playing in the third tier of American soccer, USL.

Orange County Blues FC
2016 season
OwnerMansouri Family
Head CoachOliver Wyss
StadiumAnteater Stadium
USLConference: 8th
Overall: 15th
USL PlayoffsQuarterfinals
U.S. Open CupSecond
Top goalscorerLeague: Trevin Caesar (10)
All: Trevin Caesar (10)
Average home league attendance1,010
← 2015
2017 →

Unlike the previous season, the Blues weren't as dominant in their conference, losing five more games, and only qualifying for the USL Playoffs as the eighth seed over the Portland Timbers 2 via goal difference.[1] In the first round, the Blues had an upset over the first seeded Sacramento Republic FC, winning off of penalties,[2] but ultimately fell to eventual finalists Swope Park Rangers in added extra time 2–1.[3]

This season would be a season of lasts for the Blues. At the end of the season, the Mansouri Family sold the team to James Keston,[4][5] who would rebrand the team to their current name, Orange County Soccer Club.[6][7] Additionally, he would move the team from Anteater Stadium on the campus of UC Irvine to their own stadium, Championship Soccer Stadium.[8][9][10]

Roster

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As of July 3, 2024[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   USA Josh Cohen
2 DF   USA Jackson McCracken
3 DF   USA Kwame Watson-Siriboe
4 MF   USA Jonathan Howe
5 MF   USA Nikola Ilich
6 DF   GER Maurice Pluntke
7 FW   USA Christopher Santana
9 FW   TRI Trevin Caesar
10 MF   ENG Richard Chaplow
11 FW   SRB Tyler Feeley
12 DF   JAM Andrae Campbell
13 DF   USA Matthew Sheldon
14 FW   USA Akwafei Ajeakwa
15 DF   USA Ryan Felix
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF   USA Mats Bjurman
17 MF   FIN Verneri Valimaa
18 MF   SRB Dusan Stevanovic
19 MF   SRB Ivan Mirkovic
20 DF   ESP Oriol Cortes
21 MF   SUI Didier Crettenand
22 MF   ARM Gevorg Karapetyan
23 DF   JAM Brenton Griffiths
24 MF   CAN Andrew Gray
25 DF   USA Steven Purdy
27 FW   ISR Orr Barouch
33 GK   USA Brandon Miller
37 DF   BEL Roy Meeus
90 FW   URU Max Rauhofer

Competitions

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United Soccer League

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Main article: 2016 USL season
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
6 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 30 12 9 9 44 44 0 45 Conference Playoffs
7 Oklahoma City Energy 30 10 13 7 32 30 +2 43
8 Orange County Blues 30 12 4 14 39 41 −2 40
9 Portland Timbers 2 30 12 4 14 38 42 −4 40
10 San Antonio FC 30 10 8 12 36 36 0 38
Source: 2016 USL Standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots

U.S. Open Cup

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Main article: 2016 U.S. Open Cup

As a member of the USL, the Blues entered the U.S. Open Cup in the second round, matched up away against amateur club L.A. Wolves FC of the USASA.[12] After losing 2–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in open play, the Blues' loss marked the third time in a row the Blues lost to an amateur club in the U.S. Open Cup.[13]

May 18 Second Round L.A. Wolves FC (USASA)   1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		 Orange County Blues FC (USL)   Wilmington, California
8:00 PM PDT Sánchez   72' Report Howe   77' Stadium: Phineas Banning High School
Referee: Vincent Apple-Chiarella

References

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  1. ^ "Summary - USL Championship - USA - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  2. ^ "Orange County Blues FC at Sacramento Republic FC - 2016 Playoffs". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  3. ^ "Orange County Blues FC at Swope Park Rangers - 2016 Playoffs". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  4. ^ Register, Orange County Register | Orange County (2016-09-08). "Irvine-based soccer team changes ownership". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  5. ^ "Blues Purchased by Southern California Businessman Keston". Orange County SC. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  6. ^ Staff, USLSoccer com (2017-01-20). "Orange County Soccer Club Reveals New Name, Logo". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  7. ^ Calhoun, Damian (2017-01-20). "Orange County Blues FC gets new name and logo". 100 Percent Soccer. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  8. ^ Mueller, Mark (2017-07-25). "OC Soccer's Reboot". Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  9. ^ Bruning, Jon (2017-08-15). "Orange County SC is on the Rise". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  10. ^ [email protected], CHRIS HOCKMAN- (2017-08-17). "New Stadium puts Orange County on Map". USL Championship. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  11. ^ "Roster". USL. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  12. ^ "2016 US Open Cup: Round 1 draw, Round 2 scenarios unveiled for 103rd tournament". thecup.us. 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  13. ^ "2016 US Open Cup Round 2: LA Wolves hand Orange County Blues 3rd straight loss to amateur team". thecup.us. 2016-05-22. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
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