On Saturday night, the Ocean City Nor’easters picked up right where they left off last season. The Nor’easters opened the 2023 USL League Two season with a 1-0 road win over Real Central New Jersey in Lawrenceville Township, N.J.

Sander Roed (Louisville / Tranby, Norway) scored the lone goal for the Nor’easters in the 55th minute. Nick Pariano (Duke / Philadelphia, PA) delivered a cross to Roed who made a run through the middle of the box and volleyed it past the goalkeeper at point blank range.

With the win, the Nor’easters extended a number of streaks and broke a club record. The Storm win to extend their season opener unbeaten streak to seven games. Their last season opening loss was back in 2015. Ocean City’s club record road unbeaten streak reaches 15 games. Their last road loss was June 15, 2019 at Reading United.

The most impressive accomplishment came with Nor’easters goalkeeper Felix Schafer (Santa Clara / Berlin, Germany). Last year’s USL League Two Golden Glove winner made two saves and earned his sixth career clean sheet. He extended his personal shutout streak to 499 minutes, which breaks the club record of 460 minutes set by Adam Edwards in 2007. The streak dates back to last season. The last time Schafer allowed a goal in the regular season was on June 29, 2022 when Charles Wilson of West Chester United scored in the 18th minute (Ocean City would respond with two goals to win 2-1).

The clean sheet was Shafer's sixth of his Ocean City career, which ties current Los Angeles FC (MLS) goalkeeper John McCarthy for third-most in club history.

It was the 26th season opener in Ocean City's club history and the 20th as a member of USL League Two.

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“It's a great way to start the season,” said Nor’easters head coach Matt Perrella. “The group battled against a tough and stubborn opponent and we're happy to have come out on top. There are lots for us to improve on but you can see bits and pieces or really fantastic combination play. We're excited about our potential and where this team can go.”

The first half was dominated by numerous chances by the Nor’easters, but they were unable to put any of them away.

RCNJ had their only real dangerous chance of the half take place in the fifth minute. A ball was chipped into the penalty area and one of the forwards volleyed it on goal by Shafer was there to make the save.

The rest of the half was all Ocean City. Most of the chances involved Kyle Galloway (Marist / Rutgers / Manahawkin, NJ) and Brad Dildy (Charlotte / San Antonio, TX) on the left wing.

In the 11th minute, Galloway shook a defender and made a great run down the left wing and found Dildy at the near post. Dildy volleyed a shot that rattled off the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Galloway chipped a ball into the box for Alessandro Arlotti (Harvard / San Remo, Italy) who gathered the ball but had his shot saved by RCNJ goalkeeper Eric Wnorowski.

In the 24th minute, Pariano intercepted a pass out of the back and played it to Galloway who danced along the end line, beat a couple defenders and fired a low near post shot that was saved.

One of the most impressive saves of the half came in the 33rd minute when Dildy made a run down the left wing and played it to Galloway at the corner of the penalty area. Galloway faked right, cut back to his left and launched a shot into the near upper corner, but Wnorowski made an acrobatic save.

Galloway’s best chance of the game came a minute later when he intercepted a pass from an RCNJ defender and was in alone on a breakaway. He tried to curl the ball around the goalkeeper to the far post, but hit it just wide.

Kyle Galloway (No. 7) of the Ocean City Nor'easters goes up for a header against Real Central New Jersey in the 2023 USL League Two season opener on May 20, 2023. Photo: Jack Verdeur

Arlotti had two excellent chances before the halftime break. A shot from 30 yards was saved by Wnorowski but the rebound fell to last year's Offensive Player of the Year on the doorstep but he hit it over the bar.

Dildy would deliver one more opportunity in the 37th minute when his run down the left wing produced a low ball across the mouth of goal where Arlotti slid in and nearly put it in but Wnorowski was there to make the save.

After the break, the Nor’easters nearly broke the deadlock when a cross from the left wing was headed away by an RCNJ defender in the 53rd minute. The ball fell to the far post where Pariano was waiting for it and he volleyed it on frame but Wnorowski made one of his six saves at point blank range.

About two minutes later, the Storm would finally get on the scoresheet when Pariano delivered a ball to Roed. It was Pariano’s fourth assist in an Ocean City uniform. He also assisted on the first goal of last season in the Storm’s 1-1 draw against RCNJ. For Roed, it was a goal in his Nor’easters debut.

RCNJ only managed a couple more chances but the Nor’easters defense held strong to deliver Matt Perrella his first regular season win as Nor’easters’ head coach.

“For me there's not as much to say about the first win,” said Perrella. “I think for any new group or coach the first one is really tough but now we need to compound some results together and the group is very capable.. There was a lot of talent left on the bench tonight that will add to this group and give us some really amazing lineup options.”

With the win, Ocean City remains undefeated against RCNJ all-time, improving to 5-0-1. The two teams will get a rematch on the same field on June 14, and they will meet at Carey Stadium in Ocean City on June 30.

Next up, the Nor’easters will play another road game on Wednesday, May 24 when they travel to take on Lehigh Valley United. Ocean City will then host Philadelphia Lone Star FC on Friday, May 26 in the club’s home opener at the Beach House.

Prior to the home opener, the Nor’easters are hosting a kickoff party at Josie Kelly’s Public House on Thursday, May 25 from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. This meet-and-greet event will give attendees an opportunity to meet Nor'easters players, coaches and team officials. Also, the club's 2023 home uniforms will be unveiled.