After such a successful season it’s difficult to select just a few members of the squad for individual awards, but after polling the Nor’easters staff here are the official 2013 season Ocean City Nore’asters players of the season;

Defensive: Tapiwa Machinguata

Despite strong competition from Mike O’Keeffe and Nor’easters stalwart Kevin Curran, commanding centreback Tapiwa is the deserved winner of our Defensive MVP award. After a strong debut season last year saw him top 1000 minutes, this year Tapiwa took another step forward as he lead the team in minutes played as well as developing into a real leader in the back four, captaining the team in Curran’s absence. Along with consistently strong performances throughout the regular season Tapiwa also demonstrated his ability to perform at the highest levels with a notable display against Philadelphia Union, where he marshalled their international striking duo Connor Casey and Jack McInerney with aplomb.

Offensive: Dwayne Reid

After finishing the 2013 season as Nor’easters top goal scorer, as well as the fourth highest in the entire PDL, with 12 goals in 15 games Dwayne has thoroughly earned his place as our Offensive MVP. After coming to Ocean City early in the season from Westchester Flames ‘Bullet’, as he is known to the fans, has been a constant threat and attacking outlet for the team with his intelligent movement and electric pace. Forming a dangerous partnership with Frank Tweneboa, he consistently showed his ability to deliver in the biggest games as he scored crucial goals in the title-winning game against Reading United as well as the opening goal in the Eastern Conference Final.

Overall MVP: Ken Tribbett

In the most hotly contested of our three awards, box-to-box midfielder Ken Tribbett overcame competition from our two other winners as well as O’Keeffe to seal our overall MVP for the year. Athletically gifted, technically strong and possessing a prodigious leap Tribbett is very much an all-round midfielder, capable of shielding his defense as well as getting forward and providing a real threat in the opposition penalty area, as illustrated by his 5 goals and 3 assists for the year. His partnership with Nick Perea was a cornerstone of the Nor’easters run to the Eastern Conference title this year and, at just 20 years old, the entire Nor’easters staff are confident that his continued development could see him join the ranks of Nor’easters alumni playing in the MLS.