Orange County SC Announces the Signing of Three Local Products to USL Academy Contracts
Published on March 10, 2023 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Orange County SC News Release
Orange County SC is thrilled to announce the signing of goalkeeper Mark Hyan, defender Ashton Miles and forward Nico Ruiz to USL Pro Academy contracts for the 2023 season.
Hyan, Miles and Ruiz are all currently members of the OCSC II reserve team, and are now eligible to feature for the senior team while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. This is the second USL Pro Academy contract for both Miles and Ruiz.
"We are excited to resign Ashton and Nico along with with newcomer Mark to USL Academy contracts which are a critical component of our path to pro structure at OCSC," President of Soccer Operations Oliver Wyss said. "The players are training daily with our senior team, and both Nico and Ashton, have already made their professional debut for OCSC last season. We are looking forward to further their development in our professional structure and seeing them perform on our full time reserve team and get quality minutes on our senior team."
Mark Hyan is OCSC II's new goalkeeper for the 2023 USL Academy League season and will now be available for selection to the senior team with the USL Pro Academy contract. The 18-year-old from Los Angeles, CA is currently at Loyola High School where he has a 4.1 GPA, plays in goal and also has been the starting kicker and punter for the varsity football team for the past three years. He plays his club soccer with LA Surf.
An 18-year-old center back from Fullerton, CA, Ashton Miles signs his second USL Pro Academy contract with OCSC. Miles recorded 147 minutes in two starts against Pittsburgh and San Antonio last season. Miles has been a standout with the reserve team and attends Orange Lutheran High School where he plays soccer and golf. He is currently committed to play collegiate soccer at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Nico Ruiz, a 16-year-old forward from Huntington Beach, CA, is also on his second USL Pro Academy contract with OCSC. Ruiz appeared in four matches in the 2022 season, making his debut against Sacramento. He played 68 minutes in total as a substitute. Ruiz also helped lead OCSC II to a Showcase Division win at the 2022 USL Academy Finals last season and was named to the All-Tournament team.
These three Southern California teenagers are the newest class of young talent to embark on OCSC's "Pathway to Pro." They will look to follow the footsteps of young players that have come before them, like Kobi Henry.
OCSC II begins 2023 USL Academy League action in the Southwest Division later this summer.
Per league and club policy, terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.
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