RENO, Nev. – Expansion club Reno 1868 FC will make its USL regular season debut on Saturday night at Greater Nevada Field when it plays host to Orange County SC to kick off its inaugural season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT.
Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2nwzSQN | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2nvvWjp | Broadcast: My21TV (RNO)
Reno 1868 FC news and notes
Current record: 0-0-0, 0pts
1868 FC kicks off its inaugural season with Head Coach Ian Russell in charge after having previously served as an assistant coach for the San Jose Earthquakes, Reno’s MLS partner.
Reno made a big first signing in club history with the addition of USL all-time leading scorer Dane Kelly from the Swope Park Rangers. The Jamaican has scored 48 goals in his USL career entering the 2017 season.
1868 FC also signed a number of veterans, including defender Brenton Griffiths, who could go up against his former club on Saturday after making the move to Reno from Orange County this offseason.
The side will be without Junior Burgos for its inaugural contest, however, as the attacking midfielder is on international duty with El Salvador.
Orange County SC news and notes
Current record: 0-0-0, 0pts
Orange County earned back-to-back postseason berths for the first time in club history last season, reaching the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs before falling to the Swope Park Rangers.
The club underwent an offseason overhaul, led by its new partnership with 2018 Major League Soccer expansion side Los Angeles FC.
Orange County will have a new Head Coach this season, with former Chicago Fire player Logan Pause joining the club this offseason.
Former San Antonio FC attacking midfielder Carlos Alvarez is among a number of new signings for the club, with former LA Galaxy players Oscar Sorto and Joe Franco and former Chicago Fire Homegrown signing Victor Pineda also in Orange County’s squad for the new season.
Series Notes
This is the first meeting between the clubs.
Squads
Reno - GK: Andrew Tarbell, Russ Klaybough, Matt Bersano; D: Thomas Janjigian, Jake Ward, Jimmy Ockford, Brenton Griffiths, Brent Richards, Matheus Silva, Jordan Murrell; M: Nick von Niederhausern, Jordan Roberts, Junior Burgos, Anibal Echeverria, Chris Wehan, Matt LaGrassa, Antoine Hoppenot, Cameron Vickers, Seth Casiple, Jackson Yueill; F: Dane Kelly, Boxi Yomba, Mackenzie Pridham, Brian Brown
Orange County - GK: Charlie Lyon, Michael Suchy, Casey Beyers; D: Alberto Navarro, Oluwanisola Abolaji, Roy Meeus, Juan-Pablo Ocegueda, Oscar Sorto, Joe Franco, Salomon Wbias; M: Victor Pineda, Richard Chaplow, Dusas Stevanovic, Gustavo Villalobos, Kevin Jeon, Jerry van Elwijk, Carlos Alvarez, Amirgy Pineda; F: Duke Lacroix
Discipline
Reno – None
Orange County – None
Officials
REF: VICTOR RIVAS
AR1: Chris Elliot
AR2: Joe Pickens
4TH: Scott Conner
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Reno 1868 FC – @Reno1868FC
Orange County SC – @OrangeCountySC
Tag(s):