MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis 901 FC will square off with Orange County SC in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix on Saturday with each side carrying a positive run of form to close the regular season into the contest. Kickoff at AutoZone Park is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

Memphis 901 FC (14-11-9, 51pts) – Memphis earned its fourth consecutive trip to the postseason – and its third consecutive top-four finish – after a campaign that saw different players play key roles at different parts of the season. The first half of the season was dominated by Marlon Santos, who claimed Player of the Month honors in May before a quiet second half of the season, whereupon Bruno Lapa took the wheel to end the campaign with a team-high 11 goals. 901 FC’s defense was also solid sitting in the middle of the pack in shutouts and goals conceded, but the side earned its No. 3 seed thanks to victories in its last two outings, including a 3-2 win on the road against top seed New Mexico United on the final day of the season that jumped the side up the standings and earned the opportunity to host a playoff opener for the third consecutive year.

Orange County SC (13-14-7, 46pts) – Orange County SC rode a rollercoaster of a season that saw three different Head Coaches take the helm before a late upswing carried the side back to the playoffs. OCSC opened the season with a six-game undefeated streak before a period of ups and downs that preceded the departure of Head Coach Morten Karlsen for a position in his native Denmark. The side’s fortunes took a downturn following that move as Paul Hardyman took over as interim Head Coach, including a stretch of six consecutive games without a goal, but after Danny Stone’s appointment to take over as interim Head Coach from Hardyman in late August, the side’s form has improved. Orange County is currently on an eight-game undefeated streak (5-0-3) and has conceded only three goals in that span as goalkeeper Colin Shutler took September’s Player of the Month award, giving the 2021 title winners a boost in confidence as they enter the playoffs.

All-Time Series

Orange County has gone 3-0-1 in its prior four meetings with Memphis, including a sweep of the regular season series this year in which OCSC took a 2-0 victory at AutoZone Park on April 5 behind goals from Brian Iloski and Thomas Amang.

Opta Says

11 – Memphis 901 FC has recorded 11 goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season, tied for the most in the league with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

14 – Orange County ranked third in the USL Championship with 14 shutouts in the regular season, with regular starter Colin Shutler recording 12 clean sheets and 98 saves at a 72.6% save percentage in the campaign.

Players to Watch

Memphis 901 FC – Bruno Lapa: The Brazilian playmaker recorded a team-leading 11 goals and tied for the team lead with five assists for a career season in his fifth campaign in the USL Championship. Lapa appeared in every game of the regular season and will be key to unlocking Orange County’s back line.

Orange County SC – Bryce Jamison: The 18-year-old United States youth international had a career-best five goals and three assists in the regular season and was ready to do the defensive work as well, winning 50.8 percent of his duels. His speed on the right side will be a threat for the visitors.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

Memphis 901 FC – No suspensions

Orange County SC – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Ricardo Fierro
AR1: Nicholas Balcer
AR2: Nicholas Seymour
4TH: Trevor Wiseman