Following a disappointing PDL opener for the Nor’easters Saturday night in Virginia, Ocean City is back in action as they travel to Whippany, N.J. to take on the first placed New York Red Bulls Under-23s at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening.

John Manga, in action with Cincinnati

The Nor’easters jumped out to an early lead against the D.C. United U23s thanks to a fifth minute finish by Ocean City striker John Manga. D.C. stormed back to find the equalizer in the 23rd and the eventual go ahead twenty minutes later just before the stroke of half time. Ocean City came back revamped in the second half and had multiple scoring chances but we’re unable to convert. While the Nor’easters were pressing late in the game, a D.C. United counter attack in the 90th minute sealed the match for the home side bringing the score to 3-1.

Ocean City now faces a quick turnaround; with just four days separating their first match and their date with New York, the Nor’easters will go back to the drawing board.

“It’s never easy to blend 24-26 guys into a system and become a cohesive team right away, but we have a great feeling about this team and our expectations are high,” said Ocean City Head Coach Tim Oswald. “Hopefully, we can impose our will on the match and execute what we have trained in our sessions and come away with three points.”

Although this is New York’s first season in the PDL, this is not the first time the Nor’easters have faced the 2014 National Premier Soccer League Champions. The two sides have met twice previously, last summer being the most recent of the fixtures. New York made the trip down the Garden State Parkway for a preseason friendly a season ago which saw them earn a thrilling 3-3 draw at Carey Stadium.

Frank Tweneboa in action against New York Red Bulls U23 during their 2013 U.S. Open Cup match

This Wednesday will be the first time the Nor’easters travel to the New York Red Bulls. Before last season’s draw, Ocean City and New York had matched up one previous time. The 2013 installment of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup played host to the fixture. Ocean City came out on top 2-0 and would move on to the second round while the Red Bulls were sent packing.

The undefeated Red Bulls are currently three games into their season and led by Alexander Tejera of Siena College and Mael Corboz from the University of Maryland; both lead the team with four points. New York is coming off a 2-1 triumph this past Sunday against fellow PDL newcomers and 2012 NPSL Champions, Lehigh Valley United Sonic.

With New York holding two more games played than Ocean City so far this season, the Nor’easters will look for their first win of the season this Wednesday.

“You have to come together as a team and you have to have a game plan but also be dynamic enough to change in order to win and get results,” said Ocean City General Manager Kevin Nuss.

Mitch Lurie

Ocean City will be led into the match up with New York by defender Mitch Lurie. Lurie played in 13 games last season, logging over a thousand minutes for the Nor’easters. Now in his second year with Ocean City, Lurie went the full 90 minutes Saturday night against D.C. United. 

“I think it’s going to take constant repetition as to what the coaching staff wants us to do,” said defender Mitch Lurie. “We just need to go out there and play our game, we need to have leadership everywhere on the field in order to be successful and I think it’s just constant repetition and constant communication that’s going to help us be successful and get a good result against New York Wednesday night.” 

2015 Individual Match and Season ticket packages are on sale now. For more information, call (609) 432-8271 to speak with a Nor'easters ticket representative, email us at tickets@oceancityfc.com, or visit www.oceancityfc.com/tickets for ticket package information.

Text "NYRB23" to (609) 432-8271 to receive an exclusive promo code, for ticket purchases made online via www.oceancityfc.com/tickets.

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