USL’s Orange County Soccer Club Signs Fan Favorite Michael Seaton
As the USL club fights in the playoffs for the USL Cup, Orange County SC signs key talent. Last week, the club announced signing Head Coach Braeden Cloutier and then top pro Aodhan Quinn.
PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: ORANGE COUNTY SC VS. RENO 1868 FC
Upcoming USL Orange County SC Playoff Match: Reno 1868 FC will look to spring another road upset in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs when the No. 5 seed heads to take on No. 1-seed Orange County SC in the Western Conference Semifinals this Saturday night in Irvine, CA at Champions Soccer Stadium. #OCvRNO kicks off at 10 p.m. ET and can be watched live on ESPN+ in the United States and YouTube internationally, and followed live via the USL Match Center. Tickets are available now.
Orange County SC has agreed to terms on a contract extension with one of the team’s top leading goal scorers, Michael Seaton.
“I’m very excited for Michael’s new deal,” said Orange County SC Head Coach Braeden Cloutier. “Michael has shown throughout the season and most recently last weekend versus St. Louis his ability to score goals and terrorize defenses. I’m really looking forward to continuing working with Mike and building consistency within this team and organization for the future,” said Cloutier.
Seaton is coming off a career game where he scored his first professional hat-trick in a 4-0 quarterfinal playoff victory over Saint Louis FC. Seaton was among the teams scoring leaders in 2018.
“I am excited to extend my contract with OCSC and would like to thank Braeden and the entire technical staff for believing in me this season. I am motivated to lead this team to the USL Cup and build on it for next year,” said Orange County SC Forward Michael Seaton.
“Playing soccer is what I was born to do.”
“Scoring the hat trick against Saint Louis felt great – not only was it great to help my team win and advance, but my mom was there to watch me. She used to always watch me when I played for ODP and my academy games. My mom is crazy about the game and loves the game,” said Seaton.
Read ORANGE COUNTY SC VIDEO: DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PRO SOCCER TEAM on Michael Keaton
“We are delighted to sign Michael to a well-deserved contract extension,” said Orange County General Manager & Executive Vice President Oliver Wyss. “Michael is a powerful center forward who can change any game with his pace and goal scoring qualities. Our fans will be excited to see him continuing his development at OCSC.”
“We know for a fact that Michael has the talent to play on the highest level,” said Wyss.
Seaton is a 22-year-old footballer from Spanish Town, Jamaica who made his MLS debut at 17 years old. He has over 4 years experience with Major League Soccer, playing for D.C. United and Portland Timbers where he made over 67 appearances and scored 15 goals in his MLS career.
Being a success on the pitch is never easy and Seaton, like so many others, has faced challenges along the path. And, Seaton has always chosen to always keep pushing. His advice to players who want to become professionals? “Keep working hard and stay focused,” said Seaton who never believes in being complacent. “Block out the negativity and you can break down those walls that are stopping you.”
Ecstatic to have signed his new contract, Seaton said, “The Orange County SC coaching staff and our fans really believe in me. I have had a lot of ups and downs and this is new to me — to have people who really believe in me and push me. And, they haven’t even seen my best season yet.”
“Orange County SC is my #1 priority.”
Seaton has also played for the Jamaican National Team. “In Jamaica, soccer is the number one sport, along with track and field, and I was automatically driven to the game,” said Seaton.
Jamaica-born Seaton started playing when he was 5 years old and joined his first club when he was 9 years old while living in Maryland.
Seaton’s MLS debut was as a substitute for DC United against Philadelphia Union and went on to make another four appearances for the club before being loaned to the USL’s Richmond Kickers in March 2013, where he scored 8 goals from 23 appearances.
Seaton moved to the Portland Timbers before making the transition to playing professionally in Israel. His most recent appearance for the Jamaican National Team was October 2017 when the country took on Saudi Arabia and is still part of the player pool. Seaton spent the last two years playing in Isreal for Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayi F.C. and Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. of the Liga Leumit League.
Terms of the deal with Orange County SC were not disclosed.
Read: ORANGE COUNTY SC INKS BRAEDEN CLOUTIER and ORANGE COUNTY SC SIGNS AODHAN QUINN
