Orange County SC left it late to edge Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1–0 at home on Saturday, with Tyson Espy striking in the 88th minute to settle a tight USL Championship contest.

The first half produced little in the way of decisive action, with neither side able to find a breakthrough. The game followed a similar pattern after the break, grinding along without a goal as the minutes ticked away.

Orange County defender Tom Brewitt picked up a yellow card in the 62nd minute, the only booking of the match, but the game's defining moment was still more than 25 minutes away.

With the clock winding down and a goalless draw looking increasingly likely, Espy found the net in the 88th minute to send the home crowd into celebration. It was the kind of late winner that can define early-season momentum — a goal that rewarded Orange County's persistence after a long stretch of frustration.

Colorado Springs, to their credit, had kept things organized for the vast majority of the match, but conceding so close to full time left them with nothing to show for their defensive effort. The Switchbacks were unable to muster a response in the closing moments and went home empty-handed.

The result gives Orange County SC a valuable three points early in the 2026 USL Championship season, and a late winner like that — scrappy or not — could prove to be the kind of result that builds confidence heading into a long campaign.