The Ocean City Nor’easters have linked up with one of the best Division I teams in college soccer and will be taking their 3 standout performers to the shore for 2012. Bradley University is a fantastic soccer institution lead by Head Coach Jim DeRose who has taken the Bradley Braves to five NCAA Tournament Appearances and is the most winningest coach in Bradley University history.

The 3 players coming to the Nor’easters are Zimbabwean defender Tapiwa Machingauta, New Zealand born defender Alexei Davies-Campbell and forward Scott Davis.

Tapiwa Machingauta was born and raised in Zimbabwe and before coming to America for a scholarship with Bradley University he was named the tournament’s Best Defender during the 2008 Benoni Tournament in South Africa and trained with the Zimbabwe Under 20 National Team in 2008. Tapiwa Machingauta is only the 2nd player from Zimbabwe to play for Bradley University. He has become a key figure in a strong defense starting all 47 games that he has played. After spending the 2010 PDL season with MPS Portland, Machingauta has come to the east coast to show the Nor’easters fans what he can do. Coach Oswald was immediately impressed, "Tapiwa comes to use as a seasoned and experienced veteran player with international experience. He had the opportunity much younger in his career to play for GPS Portland Pheonix and makes the move to OC this summer in a 2nd stint in the PDL. He is super athletic and tenacious. We believe his physical presence and savvy sense of the game as a defender will help solidify our defensive 3rd."

New Zealander Alexei Davies-Campbell has progressed through the ranks of the up and coming New Zealand soccer scene and found his way to one of the top Division 1 schools in the nation. Davies-Campbell started 10 of the 15 games he played in his Freshman year picking up a goal away to Butler. At 5’11 he makes up for the lack of height with an incredible leap and great timing. He is one to look out for in the future. Davies-Campbell Trained with the New Zealand U20 National Team Development Squad and played at the club level for the prestigious Waikato Football Club. Coach Oswald knows the Kiwi can fit in straight away "Alexei is a great 2 way player that is super fit and can bring balance in the midfield 3rd. He will be featured as either a wide or central player. He is a great server of the ball and elusive with the ball at his feet. He will make those around him better and will flourish in our style of play."

In 2 years Scott Davis has played 40 games, starting 17 for Bradley University. Although yet to score a goal in his college career his movement and pressing ability causes defenses throughout their division a lot of headaches. Davis is a team player, he will make unselfish runs for the benefit of the club, this is a very important skill that the Nor’easters need in 2012. "Scott is a relentless pursuer of the ball and creates a good percentage of our scoring chances with hustle plays," said Neuqua Valley coach Tony Kees, who returned to the high school sidelines this season after spending last year with the Chicago Fire Academy. "He also is quite technical on the ball and has very quick feet." Before college Scott Played for the Chicago Fire Juniors and helped them to state and regional runner-up finishes in 2009 and was named Best XI from the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships. The future is bright for the Sophomore and this exposure to the PDL level should be what he needs to start flying up the scoring charts at college in Fall 2012. Coach Oswald agrees, "Scott is extremely versatile and has the ability to line up in many different roles within our shape; some that will be clearly defined, while other times undefined. His work rate is impeccable and based on our style of play on a particular day, he is keen enough to adjust to what we intend to do and have success doing it."

The addition of the Bradley boys completes the 2012 Ocean City Nor’easters roster. They will now prepare for the new season with some mini camps and practices ahead of the Nor’easters first home game at Carey Stadium on Sunday May 27th, 7pm kick off, against the Central Jersey Spartans.

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