The Nor'easters drop to 3-3-0 on the season, but the schedule is backloaded with home games, giving the team reason for optimism going forward.

The Ocean City Nor’easters found themselves against the fifth place New York Red Bulls Under-23s on Wednesday night in Hanover, NJ at the Red Bull training facility. Unfortunately, Ocean City would fall short in a 1-0 loss, snapping a two-game road win streak.

The Nor'easters fall to 3-3-0 on the season and suffer their second straight loss, and their first-ever loss to the Red Bulls but there is reason for optimism in Ocean City. Despite the loss, the club remains in third place in the Mid-Atlantic Division, just two points behind the first-place Baltimore Bohemians who the Nor'easters beat 3-0 in the season opener.

Also, Ocean City's home schedule is backloaded with home games. So far this season, five of the first six contests have been on the road and yet the team has managed to emerge with a .500 record.

The Nor’easters were on the front foot early in the game but the play quickly changed and had the visiting Nor’easters playing a lot in their own end.

Shots rained on goal in the first half but only meeting the gloves of goalkeeper Andrew Garcia (St. Francis/Sayreville, NJ). Garcia's play would keep the chances close as the game remained scoreless after an early barrage from the Red Bull forwards.

Possession was dominated by the quick-moving Red Bull midfielders, while play from Martim Galvao (Pfeiffer University/Lisbon, Portugal) and Fraser Colmer (Radford/Southampton, England) allowed for a few chances for the Nor’easters in the first half on long balls from outside the box. One such chance set up Chevaughn “Chevy” Walsh (Jefferson University/ Jamaica) for a shot that rang off the post in the 42nd minute.

The second half would bring more physicality to the game than we had seen in the first 45 minutes of the match.

The Nor’easters seemed less offensive, and again, just like in the first half, played in their own zone. This style of play would prove fatal for the scoreline as the Red Bulls would break the deadlock in the 47th minute. Sevag Kherlopian scored what would prove to be the game's only goal on an assist by Florian Valot.

The latter stages would provide a much more physical contest and would see both Chevy Walsh and Daniel Nimmo (Campbellsville/Lithgow, Scotland) exit the game due to injury.

Physical challenges would continue back and forth as the Nor’easters looked to turn defensive play into counter attacking offense, coming close in the 82nd minute with a ball into the box that would find Nathan Regis (Pfeiffer/Arima, Trinidad & Tobago), but his shot ended up in the side netting.

While the Nor’easters back line allowed the early second half goal, they remained steadfast and provided an opportunity late for the counter attack but unfortunately it was too little too late as the final score line would finish 1-0.

The Nor’easters will look to tweak their game Saturday, when they play a friendly against the New England Revolution Under-23s at Carey Stadium in Ocean City. The next league game will be in the friendly confines of The Beach House on June 18 when the Nor'easters welcome Evergreen FC to Ocean City. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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The Ocean City Nor’easters is a professionally run amateur soccer club with the focus of developing, educating and promoting soccer, health and leadership. Located in Ocean City, New Jersey, “America’s Greatest Family Resort”, the Nor’easters provide quality entertainment to families throughout the Tri-State area and the thousands of visitors every summer.

The Nor’easters organization was established in 1996 and made Carey Stadium, in Ocean City, NJ, its permanent home in 2005. Competing in North America’s top amateur league, the Premier Development League (PDL), the Nor’easters provide the highest level of soccer in Southern New Jersey. The 65-team PDL is the 4th level of soccer in the United States, below the professional leagues; Major League Soccer (MLS), North American Soccer League (NASL) and United Soccer League (USL). As part of the PDL, the Nor’easters’ have the sixth-best overall record since joining the league in 2003 and have upset five professional teams in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, third-most of any amateur team in the country. Ocean City players have the ability to compete during the summer months in a professional environment while maintaining their collegiate eligibility and pursuing their academic goals.