Article by George Diamond

The 2024 Ocean City Nor’easter season saw multiple franchise records set in both team and individual categories. In Head Coach Matt Perella’s second year at the helm, the Nor’easters had their best start in franchise history, winning the first 8 games. The Storm finished with the best defense and goal difference in the Mid Atlantic Division, ending the season with +21 GD while only allowing 9 goals.

The undefeated start culminated in Ocean City achieving a 3rd straight Division Title and 4th straight playoff appearance. This marks the first ‘three-peat’ in club history, and the first time in the USL-2 era that a Mid-Atlantic team has won the division three years running.

Personnel wise, a few key contributors returned for their second seasons with the team, while many new signings made their impact felt. At keeper, two first year players split starts during the season: Nathanael Sallah (Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha/Hamburg, Germany) and Marc Bonnaire (WVU/Warrenton, VA) each shared net-minder duties. Across 7 starts, Bonnaire got 5 wins and kept 3 shutouts while Sallah drew 5 starts, getting 4 wins and keeping 2 shutouts.
 

In the field, there was a wide distribution of goals and assists, with 12 different goal scorers and 11 different assist makers. New signing Agustin Resch (Seton Hall Univ./Arata, Argentina) and returner Josh Jones (Louisville/Hatfield, PA) led the team in scoring, each finishing with 5 tallies. This comes despite both playing as center-backs. Resch would go on to be named the team’s MVP, DPOY, and OPOY and Jones would be awarded as the USL-2 Defender of the Year, the Mid-Atlantic Division's POY, as well as earn a spot on the USL-2 Team of the Year. Kaelan Debbage (Spring Arbor Univ./Queensland, Australia) led the team in assists with 5. Also of note, Colin Veltri, Marco Silva and Nolan Spicer all finished with 3 assists each.

 

Pictured: Carey Stadium home of the Nor'easters

Photo: Jack Verdeur (Instagram)

Game Recaps

4-1 W vs Philadelphia Lone Star on May 25th

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

13’ Alberto Cruz (Arthur Widiez)

42’ Nolan Spicer (Colin Veltri)

53’ Arthur Widiez (Kaelan Debbage)

85’ Andrew Kitch (Marco Silva)

The Nor’easters got the season started off on the right foot with a dominating 4-1 victory against Philadelphia Lone Star in the home opener at Carey Stadium, the Beach House, down at America’s Greatest Family Resort in Ocean City. The result saw 4 different goal scorers and 4 different players register assists, a trend that would continue throughout the season.

Alberto Cruz (Univ. of Memphis/ Madrid, Spain) scored the first Nor’easter goal in 2024, assisted by club Co-Captain Arthur Widiez (Florida Atlantic Univ./ Eze, France). Later in the match, Widiez would score his first goal for the club. At the end of the year, the Frenchman was honored as the team’s Breakout Player of the year. Andrew Kitch (UNC/Medford, NJ) scored the final goal on the night but he also scored in last season’s home opener against Philly on May 26th, 2023. The sole Lone Star goal came from a PK. The Nor’easters would not concede again until June 11th when West Chester scored in the 76th minute. Meaning the Nor’easters would go 436 minutes without conceding a goal from open play, one of the longest streaks in team history.

3-0 W @ Real Central New Jersey on May 29th

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

16’ Colin Veltri (Marco Silva)

48’ Agustin Resch

72’ Theo Da Silva (Marco Silva)

Following their home opener victory, the Nor’easters began a 4 game road trip. The first away day was at Rider University, home of Real Central New Jersey. It was a rainy evening and thunderstorms caused a delay prior to kickoff. After the impeded start, the Nor’easters brought the storm to Real Central, running out as 3-0 victors, achieving their first shutout and road win in 2024.

Colin Veltri (Elon/Mays Landing, NJ) opened the scoring, Agustin Resch added his first goal for the club, and Theo Da Silva (Rider Univ./ São Paulo, Brazil) found the dagger late in the second half. Marco Silva (Marshall/Coopersburg, PA) put up two assists, the first of 3 players to record a multi-assist performance on the season. Keeper Sallah made his first appearance for the Storm, keeping a clean sheet.

Pictured (L-R): Diego Palma, Theo DaSilva, Nathanael Sallah, Moses Kafeero

Photo: Jack Verdeur (Instagram)

2-0 W @ Lehigh Valley United on June 1st

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

28’ Marco Silva (Nolan Spicer)

33’ Alberto Cruz

In another road game the Nor’easters achieved another victory and pitched another shutout. Lehigh Valley hit the upright in the first half but it didn’t matter as OC scored two quick goals courtesy of Alberto Cruz and Marco Silva.

Silva's opener saw him hit a 3-game point streak. Nolan Spicer’s (Notre Dame/Bay Village, OH) assist marked the beginning of a streak that would last three games. The Nor’easters could’ve found the back of the net again in the second half, but LVU’s defense cleared two shots off the goal-line.

3-0 W @ Reading United on June 8th

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

26’ Agustin Resch (Jalen Anderson)

59’ Andrew Kitch (Theo Da Silva)

67’ Theo Da Silva (Nolan Spicer)

Continuing their marathon of road games, the Nor’easters traveled to long-time rival Reading United on their home turf at Alvernia University. This matchup is the oldest rivalry across all levels of the United Soccer League and stretches all the way back to 1997, when both teams were professional clubs. Following Resch’s headed opener, and a red card to Reading, the Nor’easters went on to score two second half goals through Andrew Kitch and Theo Da Silva to claim yet another road victory and shutout. Da Silva was later named the team’s Young Player of the Year.

Pictured (L-R): Agustin Resch, Theo DaSilva, Colin Veltri

Photo: Lukas Graham (Instagram)

3-1 W @ West Chester United on June 11th

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

45’ Marco Silva (Nolan Spicer)

64’ Josh Jones (Agustin Resch)

90’ Jalen Anderson (Andrew Kitch)

Before returning to the friendly confines of the Beach House, the Nor’easters first had to travel to YSC Sports Complex in Wayne, PA to face off with West Chester United. At the stroke of halftime, Nolan Spicer and Marco Silva combined for a quick counter attack that saw Silva slot home past the keeper to open the scoring. Spicer’s helper saw him achieve a 3 game assist streak.

In the second half, Josh Jones got his first of the season following a corner. Despite WCU pulling back a goal in the 76th minute, the Nor’easters found the dagger through Jalen Anderson (USF/Hamden, CT), who went coast to coast before rounding the United keeper to score his first of the season.

Pictured: Jalen Anderson

Photo: Jack Verdeur (Instagram)

3-1 W vs Philadelphia Lone Star on June 15th

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

16’ Josh Jones (Agustin Resch)

31’ Josh Jones (Colin Veltri)

75’ Josh Jones (Kaelan Debbage)

The Nor’easters were then able to benefit from a string of home games down at the Beach House. In their second matchup with Philadelphia, Josh Jones put his stamp on the game with a hat-trick as the Storm came out 3-1 victors. This marked the first OC hat-trick since Alessandro Arlotti's in 2022 and the first time a defender had achieved the feat in team history.

3-0 W vs Lehigh Valley United on June 21st

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

9’ Alberto Cruz (Jensen Miller)

13’ Colin Veltri (Jensen Miller)

67’ Jalen Anderson (Colin Veltri)

On a rare weekend double header, Ocean City played host to Lehigh Valley on June 21st and Real Central New Jersey on the 23rd. They would go on to complete the seasonal double against both of their opponents. Against LVU, the Storm scored two goals within the first 15 minutes. Both were assisted by fullback Jansen Miller (Indiana/Ballwin, MO), who became the second Nor'easter to record a multi-assist game in 2024.

First, Miller deftly crossed the ball across the 6-yard box where forward Alberto Cruz was waiting to finish at the back stick. Next, Miller slipped a sideways pass to Veltri in the box who banged in a shot off both posts. Later in the second half, Veltri was involved again in the opposition box, assisting on Anderson's goal. In the 2024 Team Awards, Veltri would claim Creative Player of the Year.

Pictured: Colin Veltri

Photo: Lukas Graham (Instagram)

                                                               
4-1 W vs Real Central New Jersey on June 23rd

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

13’ Maruki Kawahara (PK)

38’ Maruki Kawahara (PK)

47’ Josh Jones

56’ Andrew Kitch (Kaelan Debbage)

In the second game of weekend action, the Storm made quick work of RCNJ. Maruki Kawahara (Univ. Nebraska-Omaha/Tochigi, Japan) was the standout player on the night, converting two first half PKs. Those tallies marked his first goals for the club across two seasons. At the conclusion of the year, Kawahara was honored with the team’s President’s Award.

In the second half, the Storm kept the energy up with Jones scoring in the 47th minute. Shortly after, Andrew Kitch got his 3rd goal of the season. After Veltri backheeled a pass to Debbage, the Australian’s cross found the Medford native. He struck the ball on the bounce and it rocketed past the RCNJ keeper. Despite a late consolation goal, OC finished with a 4-1 win.

Pictured: Maruki Kawahara

Photo: Jack Verdeur (Instagram)

                                                     
Josh Jones: A Season to Remember

The Nor’easters were bolstered by club captain Josh Jones’s performances in these early games, especially through the month of June. Despite playing a defensive position, Jones was also an attacking threat. He frequently started attacks and looked to advance the ball past mid-field. His dominating presence in the box led to his goal scoring prowess. On June 11th Jones scored the game winning goal against West Chester United, in the next game he bagged a hat-trick versus Lone Star. After missing the next contest, Jones returned to the team, played all 90 minutes, and scored in a 4-1 defeat of RCNJ for his 5th goal of the season. That tally saw him break the ‘single season defensive scoring record’, previously held by Ken Tribbet (2013) and John Fletcher (2010) with 4.

These performances saw him earn four league awards in 2024. In June, Jones was named the Player of the Month. At the end of the season, the league office awarded him as the Defender of the Year, marking just the second time an Ocean City defender has done so. He was furthered honored with the Mid-Atlantic Division POY award as well as a placement on the 2024 USL-2 Team of the Year. Jones will play his final season at Louisville this fall, where he is also a team captain, before turning professional with MLS club Real Salt Lake. Jones is the latest of over 110 former Nor’easters to become a professional soccer player.

Graphic: CATTA DESIGN (Instagram)

Game Recaps Cont.

Unfortunately, the good form didn’t last as the Nor’easrters would struggle down the back-half of the season. The Storm went 1-3-0 in their final 4 games, scoring just one goal. All three of those losses came at the Beach House. Hard fought games against rivals West Chester and Reading United book-ended an away rout of Lone Star, before Ocean City was knocked out in the Round of 32 by eventual league champions Seacoast United.

0-1 L to West Chester United on June 28th

In the first of two home matches against a strong West Chester United side, who were still pushing for a playoff spot, the Nor’easters would end up losing despite a valiant effort. The United winner in the 85th minute marked the first time the Nor’easters had trailed any team during the season.

Despite losing, the standout player on the night was Storm goalie Nathanael Sallah. Sallah put up a Man of the Match performance between the sticks, making a number of key saves including stopping a WCU penalty kick. After a handball was called in the Ocean City box, United’s leading scorer Josh Pulla stepped up to take the kick, only to be stonewalled twice! Sallah's initial save was called back for encroachment. The West Chester coach actually tried to call Pulla off the kick, but the WCU striker refused and attempted it again… but Sallah dove the right way and claimed the rebound.

Watch the full sequence here:

Video: Sallah saves two PKs versus West Chester

The next night, due to the 1-1 draw between Reading United and Real Central Jersey, OC mathematically clinched the Mid-Atlantic Division title for the 3rd year in a row, thus securing their spot in the postseason for the 4th year running, both club records.

Pictured above: Team lifts Mid-Atlantic Trophy

                    

A moment in club history

4-1 W @ Philadelphia Lone Star on July 3rd

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

63’ Agustin Resch (Kaelan Debbage)

66’ Agustin Resch (Kaelan Debbage)

69’ Theo Da Silva (Jalen Anderson)

88’ Sam Scott (Edward Gordon)

The team’s final victory of the year came in their third fixture against Philadelphia. In the shadows of Quick Stadium, the Storm opened the floodgates and scored 4 unanswered goals in the second half. Resch opened the scoring by heading home two goals in quick succession. Both were assisted by Debbage via a corner and long throw making Debbage the third player to put up a multi-assist game.

Theo Da Silva and Sam Scott (UCLA/Frisco,TX) added one each on the counter to complete the seasonal sweep against Philly. The win extended the Nor’easters club record ‘Road Unbeaten Streak’ to 26 games. Their last road loss came against Reading on July 3rd, 2019 and remains intact entering the 2025 season.

Pictured: Agustin Resch

Photo: Jack Verdeur (Instagram)

                                                       
1-2 L vs Reading United on July 7th

Nor’easters Goalscorers:

84’ Agustin Resch (FK)

In a frustrating home loss against bitter rivals Reading, defender Agustin Resch set another historical marker in team history. After he drew a foul right outside Reading's 18 yard box, the Argentine scored directly from the resulting free kick. With that goal, Resch equaled the record that Jones had set earlier in the year, and became the 2nd defender on the year to break the single season goal scoring defensive record. Resch would go on to claim team MVP plus Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year awards.

Video: Agustin Resch scores from a free kick

0-2 L vs West Chester United on July 13th

Ocean City was once again frustrated in front of net in the final regular season game. Forward Hale Lombard (Lafayette/Belleair Bluffs, FL) thought he'd opened the scoring, only for the goal to be called back for Offside. Then, Jalen Anderson rounded the keeper and rolled a tight off-balance shot on frame but a West Chester defender was there to clear the ball off the line. Despite these chances, United scored twice and the Storm would go on to lose.

Pictured: Arthur Widiez

Photo: Lukas Graham (Instagram)

                                                           

Carey Stadium Selected as Regional Site

In the lead up to the USL Playoffs Round of 32 matches, Carey Stadium was named as a Regional Hosting Site for the early playoff rounds. This meant that the Nor’easters could play at least the first two rounds with home field advantage. First however, they needed to take care of business against a formidable Phantom side that boasted an impressive 13-1-0 record, scoring 40 goals along the way to a Northeast Division title.

USL-2 Playoffs Round of 32

0-1 L vs Seacoast United Phantoms on July 19th

Despite playing a free flowing, attack minded, brand of soccer the Nor’easters were unable to break the deadlock in the first half. Moses Kafeero (Carleton Univ./ Ontario, Canada) and Rocco Haeufgloeckner (Temple/ Kirchzell, Germany), both at outside back, made their presence felt in attack. Kafeero had a golden opportunity directly from a Nathanael Sallah long pass but was unable to steer his shot on frame past the onrushing keeper. The brutal luck for the Nor’easters continued as Resch rose to direct a header on goal only to see the ball clang off the crossbar.

The Storm would go on to rue their missed chances as Seacoast United held out and found a goal late in the second half. Despite a desperate push from the Nor’easters they were unable to find an equalizer and saw their championship hopes dashed in the Round of 32. Seacoast United would go on to win the 2024 USL Championship.

Pictured: Rocco Haeufgloeckner

Photo: Lukas Graham (Instagram)