By: Sal Nicosia As the Premier Development League season is fast approaching for the Ocean City Nor’easters, there are some new faces on the squad for the 2016 season. With a diverse group of young men from across the country and across the globe, the quality of the PDL is ever-improving for fans all around the country. This new season for the Nor’easters will bring in a group of players with a sense of urgency to prove themselves on the PDL stage.

They are newcomers come from a variety of places, but all have the same goal, gaining valuable PDL experience while helping the Nor'easters keep up the club's winning tradition. Fresh players coming in for the season will include a bulk of new talent.

The Nor’easters are delighted to announce the signing of 10 players for the 2016 campaign.

Lisbon, Portugal native Martim Galvao comes to the club as a Division 2 All-American selection, his nine goals and 20 assists in 21 games for Pfieffer University make the 6’0 midfielder a great addition to the squad. Galvao will look to continue his fine performance in midfield as he comes to represent the Nor’easters.

Daniel Nimmo comes to the Nor’easters as a freshman from Campbellsville University. Nimmo, who originally hails from Lithgow, Scotland played in all 21 games for Campbellsville this past season. The defender has a touch for an offense in addition to being a stellar defensive presence with four goals and an assist past year for Campbellsville. At 6’4 and 190 lbs, Daniel will have a large presence on the Nor’easters’ backline this season.

Akron University freshman and Dallastown, Pa. native, Bryce Cregan, will also find a home with the Nor’easters. The 6’0, 145-pound defender, has already accrued an impressive record, playing 12 games for the Zips with one assist and two shots on goal. Cregan’s other accomplishments include his inclusion in the United States Under-17 team. Cregan was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and was ranked the No. 2 recruit in the state of Pennsylvania. With an impressive track record and an abundance of talent, Bryce looks to add depth to the Nor’easters defensive line this season.

Midfielder Kyle Thomson will find himself at Carey Stadium this season with an opportunity to show fans and scouts alike the level of play he exhibited at Loyola University in Chicago. In his time there he’s seen action in 38 games with four goals, and one assist. In a short time, Thomson has compiled several accolades including 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and a 2015 NCSAA All-West Region Second Team selection.

Sophomore Ruben Sanchez brings a defensive attitude into the Nor’easters midfield. He compiled 1,482 minutes in 17 appearances at Marquette University this past season. He managed one assist on the season and was named Big East Defensive Player of the Week in the final week of September.

New Jersey native Robert Gillin has had an impressive season for the University of Delaware. His excellent midfield play helped guide the Blue Hens to a Colonial Athletic Association Finals appearance. Gaining vital experience in the PDL will not only help the Nor’easters, but it will also be a key to more success on the collegiate level.

Rocky Mountain College forward, Nolan Sherwood, is yet another exciting goalscoring prospect making the move to the Beach House. The freshman scored 29 goals and tallied 11 assists in his first college season. His natural ability to find the back of the net and set up teammates will be a sight to see this summer.

Another international player coming to play at The Shore this season is Raheem Somersall, who is a talented player born in St. Kitts. The 5’11 midfielder played in 19 games for Appalachian State this past season. Coaches and scouts alike have always seen him as a promising player. He was a member of the United States under-17 national team and earned an invite to U.S. Soccer training in 2013.

Gunner Stray-Gundersen joins the Nor’easters from Southern Methodist University. The forward has shown signs of being a threat in the attack but did not feature at SMU in 2015.

Mutaya Mwape is a unique name on this list. Mwape is an exciting high school prospect. He has committed to the University of Connecticut beginning in the 2016 season.

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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, 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.