Galaxy II coaching staff finalized

The coaching staff for LA Galaxy II was finalized Wednesday.

Mike Munoz was hired recently as coach to replace Curt Onalfo. Laurent Courtois and Claine Plummer were added to the staff. Plummer will take role of Goalkeeper coach.

Courtois, 38, was a player/coach for the team’s first season in 2014. His professional career dates back to 1998, with stops at AC Ajaccio, Toulouse, Istres, Grenoble and Lyon. He also played in the Premier League with West Ham United and Spain with Levante.

Plummer has had coaching stops with Chivas USA, Cal State LA, UCLA, Chicago Fire Academy, Jamaican National Team and Real Salt Lake Academy. As a player, he was a member of A.D. Limonese in the Costa Rican First Division after four years as a starting goalkeeper for Cal State LA.

“Laurent is a great addition to our staff, not only because of his extensive experience in soccer, but also his experience with soccer in Los Angeles,” Muñoz said. “With our goalkeeping position, Claine’s wide range of experience and success coaching soccer at the youth and collegiate level is going to make him a very effective piece of this staff.”

Los Dos will kick off the 2017 campaign at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium on Saturday, March 25 when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.

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Orange County SC acquires Salomon Wbias on loan

Orange County SC announced Thursday the signing of Mexican youth national team defender Salomón Wbias on a season-long loan from from Pachuca of Liga MX.

Wbias, 20, is a central defender and has played at the U-15, U-17 and U-20 Mexican National teams.

“We are thrilled to welcome a world class talent like Salomon to our organization and demonstrate our intention to showcase some of the most talented young players from Orange County and around the globe” Orange County SC General Manger Oliver Wyss said.

Orange County SC is the USL affiliate of Los Angeles Football Club, who will debut in Major League Soccer next year.

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Orange County Soccer Club announces three signings

The Orange County Soccer Club, formerly known as the Orange County Blues FC,

Orange County Soccer Club

Orange County Soccer Club

announced three signings last week.

OCSC signed a 24-year-old winger Jerry Van Ewjik, who spent the last three seasons playing for De Graafschap and Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie. He scored 24 goals with nine assists.

Also returning is veteran midfielder Richard Chaplow. Chaplows joined the Blues in the second half of last year.

The club also announced the signing of Dusan Stevanovic

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Orange County Blues FC gets new name and logo

The Orange County Blues FC has been rebranded as the Orange County Soccer Club, it was announced Friday.

The club also unveiled a new logo which was developed with fan input.

“In selecting a name and logo, I wanted the primary focus to be on

Orange County Soccer Club

Orange County Soccer Club

Orange County,” Owner James Keston said. “Where most teams in Orange County in the past have shied away from having the OC be a part of their logo, we really wanted to embrace it and make it a focal point. We wanted to give fans something that readily identifies the club as Orange County’s team.”

The logo was designed by branding company Art Machine. The club hosted a series of events with fans to give their input on design options.

The club plays in the USL.

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Former Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause named Orange County Blues coach

Pause

Logan Pause, who served as head coach of the Chicago Fire’s PDL affiliate, while also an assistant coach with the senior squad after a 12-year MLS playing career, has joined the OC Blues team, as head coach, the USL club announced today.

“We went through an exhaustive search over the last couple of months to identify a head coach who not only could succeed in the USL, but also understands the importance of developing talented professional soccer players within Orange County and for our partner club LAFC,” GM Oliver Wyss said. “We feel that Logan is the prototype of what we were looking for based on his experience, passion, work ethic and commitment to the community.”

The Blues have struggled for market visibility since the club began playing in 2011, are now under new ownership and are affiliated with MLS expansion club LAFC.

The Blues attracted just over 1,000 fans a game last season in Irvine, one of the lowest home averages in the USL.

A rebranding is under way.

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USL announces conference alignment for 2017 season

Here is the conference alignment for the upcoming 2017 USL Season

Western Conference Eastern Conference
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Bethlehem Steel FC
LA Galaxy II Charleston Battery
OKC Energy FC Charlotte Independence
Orange County Blues FC FC Cincinnati
Phoenix Rising FC Harrisburg City Islanders
Portland Timbers 2 Louisville City FC
Real Monarchs SLC New York Red Bulls II
Reno 1868 FC Orlando City B
Rio Grande Valley FC Ottawa Fury FC
Sacramento Republic FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds
San Antonio FC Richmond Kickers
Seattle Sounders FC 2 Rochester Rhinos
Swope Park Rangers Saint Louis FC
Tulsa Roughnecks FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Toronto FC II

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LAFC and Orange County Blues FC announce partnership

Los Angeles Football Club and the USL’s Orange County Blues FC announced a new partnership that will expand player development and create a loan system between the two franchises.

LAFC is set to join MLS in 2018. lafc

“We are incredibly excited about this partnership, which will contribute significantly towards our goals of building a competitive roster in 2018 and growing the game here in Southern California,” LAFC Executive VP of Soccer Operations John Thorrington. “In the OC Blues, we have a fantastic partner with an owner and staff who closely align with our vision to bring world-class professional soccer to Southern California.”

The deal will provide LAFC the ability to loan players to the Blues as soon as the 2017 season.

“We are thrilled to launch this exciting new era in Orange County soccer with our LAFC affiliation,” Orange County GM and Executive VP of Soccer Operations Oliver Wyss. “This partnership will significantly enhance the quality of our first team and strengthen the bonds between the two clubs. Together we will expand opportunities for coaching education and focus on all aspects of player development.”

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Jack McBean earns first team All-USL honors

Galaxy II forward Jack McBean, who’s currently on loan with Coventry City, was selected to All-USL first team, Tuesday.

McBean, 21, scored 15 goals with two assists in 17 games for Galaxy II. He finished the season tied for second the USL’s Golden Boot race.

McBean joined the senior club and made four appearances. He has scored six goals for the Coventry City U-23 team.

 

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USL: Orange County Blues FC advances to semifinals

The eighth-seeded Orange County Blues upset top seeded Sacramento Republic, 5-4 on penalty kicks in the first round of the USL Western Conference playoffs Saturday night.

The Blues will again be on the road in the next round, Oct. 9 against the fourth-seeded Swope Park Rangers.

 

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