The Ocean City Nor’easters have clinched the 2022 USL League Two Mid-Atlantic Division championship.

The Nor’easters, who are undefeated at 9-0-2, have won the division for the fourth time (2004, 2012, 2013, 2022) and the first time since 2013.

After Ocean City defeated Real Central New Jersey 1-0 on Friday night at Carey Stadium (“The Beach House”), the Nor’easters just needed a little help from a long-time rival. If Reading United earned a win or a draw against second place West Chester United on Saturday night, Ocean City (9-0-2) would clinch the division. Reading came through with a 1-1 draw at home which gave the Storm a nine-point lead over West Chester with three games left to play.

Even if Ocean City was to lose their remaining three games and West Chester would win their last three to tie them for first place, the Nor’easters would win the head-to-head tiebreaker, having beaten United twice this season.

With the division title in hand, the Nor’easters have punched their ticket to the USL League Two playoffs for the second year in a row. The goal is simple: a USL League Two championship.

“It’s a huge accomplishment to win the division. This division is extremely tough with great players and great coaches,” said Nor’easters head coach Kevin Nuss “I’m proud to be able to win the division for the club for the first time since 2013 but I know we still have a huge task ahead of us. Our only focus is winning the last game of the season.”

While the Nor’easters entered the 2022 season with the 7th most wins in league history (despite joining USL-2 in 2003, eight years after the league launched). Since joining the league in 2003, the Storm have the fifth best overall record, and the fourth best home record. But despite all the regular season success and two national semifinal appearances (2013, 2016), the team has yet to win a league championship.

The Nor’easters have three more regular season games left to play before the postseason begins. Wednesday, July 6 they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Lone Star FC. Then they host West Chester United on Saturday, July 10 in Ocean City’s regular season home finale before closing the regular season out back in Philly in a rematch with Lone Star FC on July 16.