The Nor’easters, who travel to Reading on Friday and host Northern Virginia AT 8PM on Sunday, will look to stay in PDL contention and pick-up six crucial points. 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Ocean City, NJ - Founded as the Reading Rage in 1995, Ocean City’s next opponent became Reading United A.C. in 2010. Reading United is the official player development partner of the Philadelphia Union, and a noted rival of the Nor’easters. Reading plays this season's home matches at Don Thomas Stadium on the Exeter High School campus, and its colors are white, charcoal black, navy blue, and gold. When it comes to past achievements, Reading United has earned their fair share, winning three straight PDL Mid-Atlantic Division titles from 2008-2010. In 2010, the team won the PDL Eastern Conference Championship. Reading boasts more than 30 alumni who played professional soccer either before or after their time with the team. Current Nor’easter midfielder Jason Plumhoff played with Reading United last summer. Ocean City leads this rivalry with an all-time record of 18-11-6, and will look to build upon a win and draw against Reading last season. Reading United is unbeaten this season and will bring a 3-0-2 record into Friday evening’s clash. Players to watch for Reading are keeper Alex Bono, defender Tim Lazorko (11), midfielders Oumar Ballo (18) and Owen Griffith (12), and forward Darius Madison (11) who has four goals and one assist in three games this season. Game time is 7pm in Reading. 

Ocean City will host the Northern Virginia Royals at Carey Stadium on Sunday night at 8pm. The Royals were founded in 1998 as a USL D-3 Pro League and minor league affiliate of DC United. In 2006 they self-relegated to the PDL where they have bounced between the South Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Divisions in the past 8 seasons. The blue, gold, and white qualified for the US Open Cup in 1999 but apart from that success, their highest PDL finish has been 2^nd place, in the South Atlantic Division. Current Royals keeper Joel Helmick and midfielder Bernardo Majano (14) have been drafted by the Colorado Rapids and DC United, respectively, and will be key players to watch on Sunday night in Ocean City. Ocean City is unbeaten (4-0-1) all-time against the Royals, and will expect to sweep Northern Virginia again this season. The Nor’easters won this season’s prior matchup 3-2 thanks to a brace of goals from Zoncher Dennis, and a goal and assist from Jason Plumhoff. *Game Note: Due to the USA v Portugal match, this home game will begin at 8pm*