IRVINE, Calif. (March 17, 2017) — Phoenix Rising FC kicked off the 2018 season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw on the road against Orange County SC. It was the fourth consecutive draw between the two clubs and the third time in that stretch the equalizing goal was scored in the last five minutes of the match.

Phoenix Rising (0-0-1) jumped out to an early lead with its first goal of 2018 just 11 minutes into the season. Forward Billy Forbes got out wide down the left flank and then drove into the box. He fired
a cross toward the other side of the box where midfielder Solomon Asante was there to finish and put the club up one.

Rising FC almost held on to that lead for the rest of the match, but in the 90th minute a deflected ball bounced to the feet of Orange County (0-0-1)
sub Alex Crognale in the box and he found the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Phoenix Rising opens its home season on Saturday, March 24, against OKC Energy FC. That match will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. and the first 3,000 fans will receive an Equality Health Schedule magnet. Fans interested in purchasing tickets can head to www.PHXRisingFC.com.

ORANGE COUNTY SC 1-1 PHOENIX RISING FC

Scoring Summary:
PHX: 11’, 20-Solomon Asante (7-Billy Forbes)
OC: 90’, 9-Alex Crognale

Disciplinary Summary:
PHX: 20’, 2-Doueugui Mala (yellow)
OC: 28’, 9-Michael Seaton (yellow)
PHX: 36’, 20-Solomon Asante (yellow)

PRFC Starting XI: 1-Carl Woszczynski; 13-Amadou Dia, 4-Mike da Fonte, 2-Doueugui Mala, 32-Devante Dubose; 8-Collin Fernandez, 27-Kevon Lambert, 10-Gladson Awako; 7-Billy Forbes (74’, 17-Alessandro Riggi), 20-Solomon Asante (60’, 51-Kevaughn Frater), 14-Jason Johnson

Substitutions Not Used: 28-Zac Lubin, 9-Chris Cortez
,, 6-Evan Waldrep, 3-Kody Wakasa, 25-Victor Vasquez,