The 2022 Orange County SC season was the club's eleventh season of existence, and their eleventh consecutive season in the United Soccer League Championship, the second tier of American soccer.
Orange County came into the 2022 season the reigning champions of the USL Championship, after beating the Tampa Bay Rowdies to win the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs.[1][2] However, the team failed to replicate their championship season, only winning seven games all season and placing last in the Western Conference with a record of 7–13–14.[3][4]
At the end of the season, despite having one of the worst records in the league, starting forwardMilan Iloski, with 22 league goals,[5] won the USL Championship Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals in the 2022 season.[6][7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
In preparation for the 2022 USL Championship season, Orange County played in five pre-season friendlies, mainly against fellow USL Championship teams. They announced these pre-season matches on February 16, 2022.[9]
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
Results summary
Overall
Home
Away
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
34
7
13
14
49
54
−5
34
5
8
4
28
24
+4
2
5
10
21
30
−9
Match results
On January 12, 2022, Orange County released their full regular season schedule.[10]
As a member of the USL Championship, Orange County entered the Open Cup in the second round,[11] matched up against the Los Angeles Force, a member of the NISA, a league in the third tier of American soccer.[12] After winning 5–2 at home,[13] they got thrashed in the third round away at BMO Stadium against Los Angeles FC,[14] a member of the highest tier of American soccer, MLS.[15]