Preview: Playoff push continues as Nor'easters host FA Euro in first of six straight home games
Ocean City most likely needs to win remaining league games to have shot at PDL playoffs
The Ocean City Nor'easters begin a crucial stretch of the 2018 Premier Development League (PDL) season when they host FA Euro New York on Saturday night. The game is the first of four straight PDL home games at Carey Stadium ("The Beach House") to close out the season.
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Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and 13-year-old Olivia Currier will be back to sing the national anthem (Read all about her HERE). All tickets are $10 each and are available at the Carey Stadium box office.
There will be no live stream available so follow the action as it happens on the Nor'easters official Twitter account: @OCNoreasters.
To have a chance at making the PDL playoffs, the Nor'easters most likely have to win all four games. They currently sit in fourth place in the Mid-Atlantic Division, four points behind the second place Long Island Rough Riders. The three division winners in the Eastern Conference will all qualify for the postseason and the best second place team of the three divisions will enter as a wild card.
The Nor'easters enter Saturday's game riding a two-game win streak. Last Saturday, Ocean City blanked Evergreen FC 3-0 before traveling to Allentown, Pa. on Wednesday where they defeated Lehigh Valley United, 2-1. Deri Corfe (Wright State / Chester, England) who leads the team in goals with four, scored a goal and assisted on Alex Rose's (North Carolina / Cary, NC) goal to improve Ocean City's record to 6-4-0.
Saturday's game will be a rematch of the Nor'easters' regular season opener back on May 13. Ocean City overcame an early 1-0 deficit with a 21st minute goal from Corfe and an own goal eight minutes later to beat FA Euro, 2-1.
Ocean City has won all seven of the all-time meetings against FA Euro in a matchup that dates back to 2013.
FA Euro New York is back in the Mid-Atlantic Division for the second year in a row. The club made it's PDL debut in 2013 and last year's fifth place finish in the division was their best in the club's short history. This year, they have struggled with a 2-8-0 record. Their two wins came against the Lehigh Valley United on the road back on June 9, and on June 22 when they beat Evergreen FC 3-1 in front of their home fans.
WILD CARD STANDINGS
Top second place team earns playoff berth
UPDATED through June 29
TEAM | RECORD | PTS | GD |
Long Island Rough Riders | 7-2-1 | 22 | +10 |
New York Red Bulls U-23s | 7-2-0 | 21 | +22 |
OCEAN CITY NOR'EASTERS | 6-4-0 | 18 | +1 |
Myrtle Beach Mutiny | 5-2-3 | 18 | +14 |
GPS Portland Phoenix | 5-2-2 | 17 | +5 |
Boston Bolts | 5-2-2 | 17 | +3 |