Pro Soccer: Union’s scoreless streak continues in draw with Orange County

SEASIDE — An historic scoreless streak is not the ingredient for chasing a playoff spot.

Yet, through Monterey Bay F.C.’s string of five straight matches without a goal, it has managed to collect a point in three of them, including Saturday’s scoreless draw with Orange County at Cardinale Stadium.

As a result, the Union are just two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference of the United Soccer League Championship, which is currently held by Orange County.

The Union have now gone a franchise record 10 straight matches without a win, a streak that dates back to July 6 when they beat Pittsburgh 1-0 on the road.

Having been shutout 13 times this season, Monterey Bay F.C. is next to last in scoring in the USL. It’s 0-5-5 during its current skid — 0-3-3 since the hiring of Jordan Stewart as its new head coach.

The Union have five matches remaining on the year, including next Saturday’s home game against Detroit. The final four matches are against Western Conference rivals all ahead of them in the standings.

While Monterey Bay F.C. still controls its fate, three of its final four matches are on the road, where it has struggled to a 3-9-2 mark. It’s 4-4-7 at Cardinale Stadium. Adding to the challenge is it’s 1-2-1 against its final four opponents.

Carlos Herrera earned his second straight shutout between the pipes with eight saves. The goalkeeper has been subbing for Antony Siaha, who still leads the USL in saves this year with 102.

The Union played the match without single-season goal record holder Alex Dixon and current scoring leader Tristan Trager, both of whom are nursing injuries — a theme all season for the third-year snakebitten franchise.

Earlier this year Orange County shutout the Union 2-0 and had won three of the previous five matches between the California and Western Conference rivals.