Phoenix Rising FC extended its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 2-2 draw against Las Vegas Lights FC last weekend. Aodhan Quinn tallied his third-straight goal and fourth of the season, while Santi Moar tied Solomon Asante for the team lead with his eighth of the year.
Rising now returns home to Wild Horse Pass to face Orange County SC in a battle of the top two teams in the Pacific Division. While OCSC (7-6-4) has struggled at home this season (2-3-3), it has found success on the road, going 5-3-1 and scoring 16 of its 21 goals. Rising has been untouchable at home, going 7-0-1 and outscoring opponents 28-5. Phoenix has won by an average margin of 2.9 at Wild Horse Pass.
More historically, OCSC has been a difficult opponent for Rising. The club is tied with Real Monarchs with seven wins against Phoenix all-time, the most of any club in the league. Last season, Rising and Orange County split a three-game set, 1-1-1, with two of the three matches in California. But with Aodhan Quinn joining Phoenix during the offseason, Rising hopes the struggles against Orange County are a thing of the past.
"Orange County has some really good players," said Quinn. "They're experienced players that are going to be motivated… Every team that comes to Phoenix is motivated. Plus there's a little bit of a rivalry between Orange County and Phoenix."
Quinn spent three seasons and played in 80 matches for Orange County, starting all but one and tallying 23 goals and 23 assists in his time there.
"I'm excited," said Quinn. "I've been motivated to get to this game and I'm looking forward to it. They're in second right now so the next couple of matches against them is going to decide the top of the table in our conference. Hopefully we can come out strong this first game."
Rising head coach Rick Schantz expect to face an organized team with plenty of speed and firepower up front.
"For us, it's going to have to be putting them under so much pressure that we don't give them the time to get out in transition," said Schantz. "I don't just mean defensive pressure. When we have the ball, we need to be confident and patient."
Phoenix Rising FC extended its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 2-2 draw against Las Vegas Lights FC last weekend. Aodhan Quinn tallied his third-straight goal and fourth of the season, while Santi Moar tied Solomon Asante for the team lead with his eighth of the year.
Rising now returns home to Wild Horse Pass to face Orange County SC in a battle of the top two teams in the Pacific Division. While OCSC (7-6-4) has struggled at home this season (2-3-3), it has found success on the road, going 5-3-1 and scoring 16 of its 21 goals. Rising has been untouchable at home, going 7-0-1 and outscoring opponents 28-5. Phoenix has won by an average margin of 2.9 at Wild Horse Pass.
More historically, OCSC has been a difficult opponent for Rising. The club is tied with Real Monarchs with seven wins against Phoenix all-time, the most of any club in the league. Last season, Rising and Orange County split a three-game set, 1-1-1, with two of the three matches in California. But with Aodhan Quinn joining Phoenix during the offseason, Rising hopes the struggles against Orange County are a thing of the past.
“Orange County has some really good players,” said Quinn. “They’re experienced players that are going to be motivated… Every team that comes to Phoenix is motivated. Plus there’s a little bit of a rivalry between Orange County and Phoenix.”
Quinn spent three seasons and played in 80 matches for Orange County, starting all but one and tallying 23 goals and 23 assists in his time there.
“I’m excited,” said Quinn. “I’ve been motivated to get to this game and I’m looking forward to it. They’re in second right now so the next couple of matches against them is going to decide the top of the table in our conference. Hopefully we can come out strong this first game.”
Rising head coach Rick Schantz expect to face an organized team with plenty of speed and firepower up front.
“For us, it’s going to have to be putting them under so much pressure that we don’t give them the time to get out in transition,” said Schantz. “I don’t just mean defensive pressure. When we have the ball, we need to be confident and patient.”
