ORANGE COUNTY >> Whatever Monterey Bay FC is doing in the second half, it needs to bottle it going forward.

For the second time this season, the Union erupted for three goals in the second half Saturday to produce a 3-0 win over Orange County.

For the first time since April 13, the Union have a two-game winning streak going in the United Soccer League Championship.

Counting their 4-0 win last Wednesday over Inter San Francisco in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Monterey has produced 10 straight goals in their past three matches.

The 10 goals are more than the Union (2-1-0) produced in their last 15 matches last year.

With the win, Monterey Bay FC sits in a tie for second in the USL’s Western Conference, just three points behind San Antonio — which beat the Union in the season opener.

The win also snapped a four-game winless streak to Orange County, which was unbeaten in its first two USL Championships matches.

Monterey Bay FC had not beaten Orange County since its inaugural season in 2022, when it swept the season series.

Ilijah Paul, who produced his first goal as a member of the Union on Wednesday, collected the teams’ first two goals in the second half to break up a scoreless battle.

Paul is the second player for Monterey Bay FC to produce two goals in a match, joining Xavi Gnaulati, who scored a pair in Wednesday’s win over Inter San Francisco.

Luke Ivanovic recorded his first goal in the 90th minute for the Union, who will host Phoenix Rising FC next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cardinale Stadium.

Goalie Nick Campuzano recorded his first shutout between the pipes for Monterey Bay FC, which registered the team’s second clean slate in as many games.