Head Coach: Tyler Silva
Venue: Championship Stadium
2024 Regular Season: 11W-4D-3L, 37 pts, finished 2nd in the NISA Western Conference, 2024 NISA Playoffs: Defeated the Michigan Stars in semifinal but lost in championship final to the LA Force
2024 Season Recap:
Irvine Zeta FC completed its first season in the NISA league, finishing second in the NISA Western Conference with 37 points. Zeta FC was announced as an expansion team in NISA last May. Despite having a rough start in the offseason and going through multiple head coaching changes, the club pushed through and added some quality pieces in preparation for their inaugural season in NISA. The club signed NISA veterans Shinya Kadono, Alex Culwell, Andrew Kleszewski, Harold Hanson, and goalkeeper Mitch North. Zeta FC also had George Almeida at the top, leading the attack. Irvine Zeta FC’s first match was in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, edging out a 1-0 victory over SC MesoAmerica in the opening round. Zeta FC won its second round matchup in the Open Cup with a 3-0 win over MLS NEXT Pro side Ventura County FC before falling to USL Championship side Monterey Bay FC 2-1 in the third round. In league play, Zeta FC began its NISA season with back-to-back draws against the Los Angeles Force and Capo FC. Irvine’s first win was a 4-0 victory over Arizona Monsoon FC before suffering their first league defeat, losing 1-0 to the LA Force. Following the loss, Irvine Zeta FC went on a roll, a nine-match unbeaten streak throughout the summer. That included a win and a draw against 405 derby rivals LA Force. In the 2024 NISA Independent Cup, Zeta FC dominated NISA Nation side Bay Area United FC 7-1 in the first round. Silicon Valley Rush forfeited their round 2 matchup, so Zeta FC advanced to the Pacific Regional final. Zeta FC rolled past NISA Nation side ALBION Silicon Valley 10-2 to win the Pacific Regional championship. After that, Zeta FC won four out of its final six matches to close out the regular season (Note: the two matches against Arizona Monsoon towards the end of the regular season were forfeit wins). Their two losses during that span were against the LA Force. George Almeida finished as the top goal scorer for Zeta FC with seven goals. Goalkeeper Mitch North tied for first in the NISA Golden Glove race with six clean sheets, but LA Force goalkeeper Seth Torman edged out North for the award by having a better save percentage (75.61 percent to 71.79 percent) and average conceded goals (.7692 per match to .8462 per match). In the 2024 NISA playoffs semifinal, Irvine Zeta FC cruised past the Michigan Stars 3-0 but fell 3-2 in penalties after a thrilling 1-1 draw after extra time to the LA Force in the 2024 NISA Championship final and see their season end in heartbreaking fashion and just short of their first championship trophy. The 405 derby has grown into an intense rivalry in NISA between these two sides, with Los Angeles holding the edge over Irvine Zeta FC this time in their seventh meeting on penalties and a 3-3-1 overall record.
Offseason Updates
This offseason has been quiet for Irvine Zeta FC in Orange County. I know there are rumors that the club may not return to NISA next season, according to Dan Creel of Protagonist Soccer. I’ve contacted club representatives for updates since the season ended but haven’t heard anything. The club hasn’t announced any roster moves or its plans for 2025. I do know that their captain, Alex Culwell, announced this season was his final one as a professional soccer player as he plans to retire. Culwell announced the news in NISA’s recent documentary Rise of A Derby. Irvine Zeta FC has also announced tryouts for its academy teams.
I’ll keep you posted if any more news develops regarding Irvine Zeta FC during the offseason. What are your thoughts on Irvine Zeta FC’s 2024 season in NISA? Let me know in the comments section below. I have one more season recap to go, and next week, I’ll recap the LA Force’s 2024 season in NISA. Till then, have a Merry Christmas!
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