IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC earned a 2-1 victory against the Loyola Marymount University in its preseason opener at the training facility at Orange County Great Park Field Saturday morning as goals from Ethan Zubak and trialist Mouhamadou War were enough to lead the Black and Orange to victory.

Orange County’s first chance of the match came in the 21st minute when Thomas Amang intercepted a back-pass to move through on goal, only to send his shot wide of the post. That proved the only big opportunity of the half as the game went to the break scoreless.

Setting up with a rotated lineup to begin the second half, things began to open up for the Black and Orange with Zubak front and center. The California native nearly put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute with a half-volley near the top of the box, but his shot flew just over the crossbar.

OCSC’s Owen Lambe kept the pressure on in the 65th minute with a free kick from the left that rattled the crossbar, but 12 minutes later the hosts found the breakthrough as Academy product Joey Buckley played a perfectly weighted through ball to War, who beat the defender to the ball and calmly slotted home.

Zubak doubled the lead for the hosts with five minutes to go to cap his half of play when he collected a long ball at the top of the penalty area, struck on the half-volley and powered the ball past the goalkeeper.

The Lions scored two minutes later in the 87th minute, but it ended up being merely a consolation goal as OCSC held on for a 2-1 victory.