With the Ocean City Nor’easters Women’s team preparing to kick off their inaugural season in the Eastern Development Program in early June, they began setting their roster, starting at the back. The club is proud to announce the signing of a pair of goakeepers: Courtney Simpson and Nicole Pallante.

Nicole Pallante (left) and Courtney Simpson

Both keepers bring great skills to the Nor’easters and both have been trained by professional coaches with Sky Blue FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Simpson has trained under Jill Loyden, a Sky Blue and Widener University goalkeeper coach and former U.S. National Team netminder. In 2015, Simpson started seven games in goal and produced a 4-2-1 record with four shutouts.  Simpson’s strong work in goal helped lead Rowan University to become NJAC Champions in 2015. She also won the 2010 Pennsylvania State Cup with FC Bucks.

"I'm extremely excited to be a part of the Ocean City Nor'easters," said Simpson, who hails from Marlton, NJ. "It's an honor to be a member of the first women's team in the program and I'm looking forward to a great summer!"

Pallante had a stellar freshman year at Stockton University where she was named NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year. The Brick, NJ native played in 23 games in 2015 for Stockton, posting a 12-4-6 record. Pallante led the NJAC in shutouts (11.3) and has been named NJAC Rookie of the Week four times this year. She is Stockton's first NJAC Rookie of the Year and had top notch training working with Sky Blue’s head coach Christy Holly.

“We are very lucky and grateful to have two outstanding goalkeepers with us," said assistant coach Charlie Flowe. "Most of the time, I am happy to have one strong keeper on a team I coach but to have two strong keepers it will making training that much better. I expect both keepers to push each other at each training session and battle for playing time.”

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