Recap by: George Diamond
Photo by Jack Verdeur (IG: @jackverdeur)

The Ocean City Nor’easters knocked off intrastate rivals Real Central New Jersey on a stormy Sunday with a score of 4-1 in USL League Two play. Ocean City completed the season sweep over RCNJ on the back of two first half penalty kicks converted by Maruki Kawahara (Nebraska-Omaha / Tochigi, Japan), a close range finish from Josh Jones (Louisville / Hatfield, PA), and a left-footed banger from Andrew Kitch (North Carolina / Medford, NJ).

The result sees the Storm improve to the first 8-0-0 start in club history. Ocean City also extends their lead on top of the Mid-Atlantic Division to 10 points over second place West Chester United (OCN also has a game in hand). However, since WCU was held to a 1-1 draw with Lehigh Valley United Rush over the weekend, they now do not have enough remaining points to win the division. The only team in the division who can catch the Nor'easters is third place Reading United. Now, if Ocean City wins another game and Reading United suffers a loss or a draw, the Nor'easters will clinch a third straight division title and a fourth straight postseason appearance.

UCLA forward Sam Scott (UCLA / Frisco, TX) made his first start after debuting in Friday’s win over Lehigh Valley United. Real Salt Lake draftee Josh Jones returned to the team to anchor the backline as a starting center back.



The first real chance of the match was created by Scott in the 5th minute. His forward run carried the ball into RCNJ’s final third. He squared a pass into RCNJ’s box which was cleared away for a corner. Kaelan Debbage’s (Spring Arbor / Queensland, Australia) delivery found the head of Andrew Kitch but his shot was saved.

This would be a sign of things to come as Scott’s energy continually stretched the opposing backline and Debbage’s set pieces proved troublesome for the RCNJ defense.

In the 13th minute, Josh Jones won a penalty. A long throw from Debbage was bobbled by RCNJ’s keeper Andrew Kempe into the path of Jones. Kempe pulled down Jones from behind and the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Kawahara stepped up to take the spot kick. The Japanese midfielder, who is in his second season with the Nor'easters, calmly flipped the ball into the net and past the goalie for his first goal in an Ocean City uniform.

Head coach Matt Perrella was forced to make his first change of the game in the 23rd minute. Agustin Resch (Seton Hall / Arata, Argentina) picked up the ball in his own third and carried to midfield before passing forward. As he passed, he was tackled by an RCNJ defender and stayed down. Unfortunately, Resch's injury was deemed too serious to continue and defender Phillip Naef (UCLA / Copenhagen, Denmark) replaced Resch.

In the 37th minute, the Nor’easters won a second penalty. After a slick passing sequence between Andrew Kitch, Theo Da Silva (Univ. of Rio Grande / Sao Paulo, Brazil), and Nolan Spicer (Notre Dame / Bay Village, OH) the ball was worked into RCNJ’s box and came to Spicer. The midfielder was judged to have been brought down by a defender and the referee awarded another penalty to OC. Kawahara again stepped up to take, this time freezing the goalie as he clinically placed the ball into the bottom left corner.

The Nor’easters largely dominated proceedings in the first half, particularly on set pieces. They racked up close to 10 corners and were able to generate shots from many of them. Debbage proved his versatility as he is not only capable of taking corner kicks but also has a dangerous long throw. RCNJ defenders and their keeper were under heavy pressure, and had to make big defensive plays throughout just to keep the Nor’easters from running away with the game.

The Nor’easters picked up where they left off after the break. In the 47th minute, a Debbage long throw caused trouble for the RCNJ defense. His delivery got through traffic and sat right in front of Jones who calmly passed it into the net from close range. It was Jones' team-leading fourth goal of the season, and tied the single-season club record for goals by a defender. The record is held by John Fletcher (2010) and Ken Tribbett (2013). 

Debbage earned himself his team-leading fourth assist shortly thereafter. In the 56th minute, Debbage again drove the ball into RCNJ’s third. His cross came on the carpet to the feet of Kitch. Kitch’s first touch popped the ball up on him but his second touch was a fierscome volley with his left foot that rocketed past Kempe for OC’s fourth goal of the night and Kitch’s third of the season (5th in his OCN career).

In the 70th minute, Coach Perrella opted to bring in some fresh legs. Usual defensive closer Diego Palma (Indiana-Wesleyan / Sanitago, Chile), defender Tre Wright (UCLA / Austin, TX) and forward Jalen Anderson (South Florida / Hampden, CT) all entered the game.

In the 76th minute, for the final sub of the game, Kevin Mejias (Bradley / Fermo, Italy) was brought on to make his Ocean City debut in place of the energetic Sam Scott.

Ocean City simply had to close up shop for the last 15 minutes plus added time. Despite a lack of true attacking chances during the game, RCNJ pulled one back in the 82nd minute. Luke Pompliano held off his defender and fed attacker Curt Calov in behind the defense. His toe poke finish snuck past the onrushing goalkeeper Nathanael Sallah (Nebraska-Omaha / Hamburg, Germany) and crossed the line moments before Jones or Wright could clear it away. 

An RCNJ goal in added time was ruled back for offside and the referee blew his whistle shortly thereafter, sealing the result for the Storm.

Ocean City returns to action on Friday June 28 at 7 p.m. back at America’s Greatest Family Resort against West Chester United (4-3-2).