Taylor Peay received a second start in place of the suspended Kyle Curinga from a sweaterless Coach Mark Briggs, but it was Chandler Hoffman and Charlie Adams who stole the early highlights as they combined to score a beautiful goal about 55 seconds into the match.
Although the Monarchs continued to look dangerous off interceptions and breakouts for the rest of the first half, Orange County goalie Charlie Lyon easily kept the ball out of the net and the game close. It was the Monarch’s defensive work and effort however, that that drew from the home commentators on how effectively they were able to funnel the Orange County attack off to the sides and deny them movement up the center of the field despite their large lead in time of possession.