With the Copa América Centenario tournament coming to the United States, it's only fitting that international soccer is coming to Ocean City, N.J.

The Ocean City Nor'easters' 2016 roster will have a very international flair as the club is proud to announce seven new additions to the squad. The seven newcomers, who hail from five different South American countries and Jamaica, will join the Nor'easters for the club's 20th campaign in hopes of bringing home a PDL championship. All of the countries represented in this new batch of players will be a part of this summer's Copa América tournament.

Marcelo Petit is a forward who was born in Asuncion, Paraguay.  Petit, a senior from Campbellsville University, is experienced in front of goal with 17 goals and six assists last season. His 2014 season was even more impressive.  He scored 22 goals in 19 games along with four assists which earned him a spot on the NCAA All-American first team. In addition to that impressive achievement, he was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year.  His home nation of Paraguay is in Group A with the United States, Costa Rica, and Colombia, which is considered to be the “group of death.”

The Nor’easters back line is bolstered by NCAA Division 2 All-American Cristobal Allendes. The Chilean had an incredibly successful first season at Pfeiffer University.  In 24 games played, the defender scored four goals.  His goal total is not only impressive because he is a defender, but, also because three of them were game-winners. His heroics helped his team in an undefeated season where they won the NCAA Division 2 National Championship. Chile are the defending Copa America champions after beating Argentina in a penalty kick shootout in the Final. 

Jamaican native, Chevaughn Walsh, is another one of the many talented forwards joining the Nor’easters this season. At Jefferson College in Missouri, he had 25 goals and 14 assists in 20 games. His impressive .472 shooting average makes him stand out from the pack, and he was named to the 2015 NJCAA All-American first team. Jamaica starts their Copa America quest in Chicago against Venezuela on June 5.

The Bolivian duo of Jose Veizaga and Jona Argote will have no problem feeling at home in Ocean City. Veizaga, a forward, and Argote, a midfielder, are teammates at Jefferson College in Missouri.  The two, along with Walsh, led the team to an 18-win season and decent postseason run that saw them win the Region XVI championship. Bolivia will be up against last year’s finalists, Chile, and Argentina, in the group stage.

Joaquin Peluffo will be another important addition to the backline in the PDL this season. Born in  Montevideo, Uruguay, the sophomore at Calumet College of Saint Joseph has scored six goals and added seven assists in 19 games played for the Crimson Wave.  He will hope to replicate the play of the Uruguayan international and UEFA Champions League finalist, Diego Godin. He will feature in their Copa America squad along with other world class stars such as Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Argentine midfielder, Emil Cuello, is yet another international player who will play at The Beach House this summer.  In his freshman season at Southern Medodist University (SMU), the midfielder played in 21 games, scoring three goals, all of which were game winners, and contributed four assists. He was named to the All-American Conference All-Rookie team.  His native Argentina will be one of the tournament’s favorites with world class stars like Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, and many more.

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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.