The Orange County Club turned to rookie goalkeeper Tetsuya Kadono in the penalty kick shootout against Sacramento Republic FC Sunday.
The Irvine-native was subbed on, replacing starter Colin Shutler, and delivered, making a pair of saves in the first round of kicks and then made the stop on Jack Gurr’s attempt to send Orange County into next week’s Western Conference semifinals.
Tom Brewitt converted the winning kick for OCSC, booking its passage to the next round, 5-4 on penalty kicks.
OCSC, the seventh seed, will be on the road again, visiting third-seeded New Mexico United, Saturday.
The shootout was tied 3-3 after five kicks. In the sudden-death period, Nico Benalcazar and Brewitt converted.
The game was scoreless through 90 minutes and two 15-period extra time periods. The teams combined for 25 fouls, both ended with 10 men.
Kadono, 24, signed with OCSC in March. He was the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year at CS Fullerton in 2023. He played his youth soccer with the Irvine Strikers.