The Ocean City Nor'easters will welcome four new forwards to go along with two returning players to make up the core of the club's offensive attack for the 2024 USL League Two season.

The six forwards that will start the campaign this summer are listed below in alphabetical order:

2024 Ocean City Nor'easters Player Profiles

2024 Nor’easters Defenders 2024 Nor'easters Midfielders 2024 Nor'easters Goalkeepers

Jalen Anderson (South Florida / Hamden, CT)

Jalen Anderson arrives in Ocean City after completing his first season at the University of South Florida. As a graduate student, the Hamden, CT native had the best individual season of his college career, leading the Bulls in scoring with 7 goals and 2 assists and was named First Team All-Conference. This fall he will be back at USF for his final college season where he will team up with fellow Ocean City teammate Felix Schafer.

Prior to enrolling at USF, he was part of the Houston Dynamo Academy and then played four years at UNC Wilmington. With the Seahawks, Anderson scored 12 career goals and led the team in scoring as a senior and was an All-Conference selection. 

Alberto Cruz (Memphis / Madrid, Spain)

A newcomer to Ocean City, Cruz currently plays for the University of Memphis and originally hails from the city of Madrid in Spain. As a youngster, he spent time in some top academies in the nation including stints at Real Madrid and Atlético. He later played for the Leganés U-19s and spent a year with ED Moratalaz B.

In 2022, he took his talents stateside and enrolled at the University of Memphis. He spent two seasons with the Tigers as they competed in the American Athletic Conference. He totaled 33 games, drawing 18 starts. As a true Freshman, he led the team in goals, scoring seven including three game winners as the Tigers qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004 (and the third time overall). Cruz was rewarded for his efforts with a unanimous placement on the AAC All-Rookie team in 2022, as well as making Second Team All-Conference and the All-Tournament Team.

This past season, Cruz added 3 goals and an assist as a sophomore as the Tigers made a second straight trip to the NCAA tournament and picked up the program’s first-ever tournament win (2-1 vs. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville). He repeated as a member of the AAC All-Tournament team.

Angus Kenson (Rider / Riverton, NJ)

Another attacking player from the Garden State comes to the Nor’easters this summer. Angus Kenson comes to the Beach house from nearby Rider University. After a challenging 2022 season that saw the Broncs only win three games, Kenson was part of a major turnaround last season. The Broncs won 12 games, knocked off top-seeded Iona in the MAAC tournament championship game and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament (falling to the University of Vermont in Round 1). Kenson played in just four games in his freshman season, but is looking to use a successful summer in Ocean City to build momentum into a breakout sophomore season.

Before arriving at Rider University, Kenson played club soccer at Real Jersey FC and won two youth national championships. He scored eight goals in 17 appearances for RJFC.

Milton Jones (North Carolina / Glassboro, NJ)

Milton Jones is an exciting young prospect who hails from Glassboro, NJ. He played for Inter Continental Football Academy in MLS NEXT and made a name for himself at Berkshire School, a boarding school in Massachusetts. He has two US Youth Soccer national championships under his belt and was a high school All-American. He has also suited up for Liberia’s Under-20 national team. He even got a shout out from Sports Illustrated who named him one of the best high school forwards in the country after leading Berkshire to a 13-3-3 record as a senior. He was heavily recruited and eventually chose to enroll at the University of North Carolina where he will play alongside fellow Ocean City teammate Andrew Kitch. 

Andrew Kitch (North Carolina / Medford, NJ)

Andrew Kitch was a top recruit after an impressive career at Shawnee High School and playing club ball for Real Jersey Football Club. He won the US Youth Soccer National Championship in 2019 and 2021. Kitch was also named to the Best XI at the national tournament four times (2017-19, 2021). He also won the Olympic Conference Player of the Year in 2021. With all of his accomplishments, the Medford, NJ native got the attention of the Tar Heels and he ultimately chose to play for the University of North Carolina. Kitch redshirted his first season at Chapel Hill, as UNC reached the Final of the ACC tournament and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. 

Kitch comes from a strong soccer family with his dad having played college soccer, and how older brother Owen playing at Stockton University and his twin brother is a defender at St. John’s University (and also a member of the 2024 Ocean City Nor’easters)

Last summer with the Nor’easters Kitch was named the team’s Young Player of the Year as he scored two goals in nine regular season games, in addition to two playoff game appearances. Both goals were game-winners against Lehigh Valley United (May 24) and the Philadelphia Lone Star FC (May 26).

Kevin Mejias (Bradley / Fermo, Italy)

Born in Cuba but spending formative years in Italy, Kevin Mejias has a history of prolific goal scoring that he will bring to the 2024 Nor’easters roster. After his family moved to Italy, he played with the local youth team before moving to the Fermana FC’s Under-19 team. A spell with Montegiorgio in Serie D also provided some valuable experience. Opting for college soccer in the United States, Mejias joined Lubbock Christian University (NCAA Div. 2) for their Fall 2021 season.. As a true freshman, he scored six goals and provided three assists across 18 games, earning a spot on the Lone Star Conference All-Freshman team. 

He transferred to Indian Hills Community College for the 2022 season. As a sophomore he scored 12 goals with three assists, leading his team to victory in the NJCAA Region XI finals. Recognized for his contributions, he was named to the All-Region Honorable Mention team and the All-Region Tournament Team. Upon transferring to Bradley University (NCAA Div. 1), Mejias competed in the Missouri Valley Conference. While an injury ended his junior year prematurely, Mejias was a regular starter for the Braves and managed three goals and an assist across seven games. Now, Mejias brings his talent and experience to the Nor'easters.

Jake Ross (West Virginia / Wilmington, DE)

Delaware native Jake Ross, hailing from Wilmington, will add pure goalscoring to the Nor'easters in 2024. Ross had an accomplished high school career for Salesianum, including 22 goals and 6 assists as a Junior in fall 2021. He was duly awarded the Gatorade Delaware Boys Soccer Player of the Year award for that impressive season, which ended with a state title. His senior year saw him contribute 19 goals and 3 assists, ending with another title. Ross also played soccer at Penn Fusion, one of the most prestigious youth clubs on the East Coast.

Following high school, Ross signed with West Virginia (NCAA Div. 1). During his freshman year, he gained valuable experience, appearing in 17 games including a College Cup appearance. Now, Ross aims to bring his pure goal-scoring threat and winning mentality to the Nor'easters.

Sam Scott (UCLA / Frisco, TX)

Sam Scott, a forward out of Frisco, Texas comes to Ocean City after a standout club and high school career. Scott played varsity soccer at Rick Reedy. He also played for Solar Soccer Club, one of the foremost youth development clubs in the nation. Through Solar, Scott competed against MLS NEXT Pro teams as well as other professional club’s youth academies in tournament play.

Scott is enrolled at UCLA and unfortunately was injured for most of his freshman season last year and earned a medical redshirt. Now, he is healthy again and is hoping for a successful season with the Nor’easters will carry some momentum into his first full season with the Bruins in the fall.