Undefeated Nor'easters in first place after road win over West Chester United

Ocean City improves to 5-0-0 for the second time in club history

Undefeated Nor'easters in first place after road win over West Chester United

Photo by Jack Verdeur (IG: @jackverdeur)

The Ocean City Nor’easters vaulted into first place in the Mid-Atlantic Division with a 3-1 road win over West Chester United on Tuesday night.

On a beautiful night at the YSC Sports Center in Wayne, Pa., the Nor’easters improved to 5-0-0 for just the second time in club history (2007). The Storm now sit alone atop the division by two points over United with a game in hand.

Ocean City received goals from Marco Silva (Marshall / Coopersburg, PA), Josh Jones (Louisville / Hatfield, PA), and Jalen Anderson (South Florida / Hamden, CT).

The Nor’easters defense allowed a goal in the run of play for the first time all season, but ultimately goalkeeper Marc Bonnaire (West Virginia / Warrenton, VA) and the Nor’easters backline held on for the win. For Bonnaire, he improves his personal record to 3-0-0 on the campaign.

With the win, the Nor’easters improve to 7-3-2 all-time against West Chester and are now unbeaten in their last five road games against WCU. The victory also extended Ocean City’s club record regular season road unbeaten streak to 25 games, a streak that dates back to the 2019 season.

“I'm very pleased with the group,” said Nor’easters head coach Matt Perrella. “We were put under pressure by West Chester and dealt with it well. The guys found a way to continue to score goals and support each other defensively. 

It was an evenly played first half with the Nor’easters creating more chances. In the 22nd minute, the Storm took advantage of a giveaway by the WCU backline and Arthur Widiez (Florida Atlantic / Eze, France) forced an impressive save from goalkeeper Alexander Geczy.

In the 38th minute, Nolan Spicer (Notre Dame / Bay Village, OH) hit the crossbar but just before halftime, the Nor’easters would break the deadlock. After winning possession near midfield, Ocean City went on a counter attack as the ball was played up to Spicer, who quickly played the ball to Marco Silva on the left wing who blasted the ball past the keeper for his second goal of the season. Silva finished the night as OCN’s leading scorer with two goals and three assists having scored or assisted on goals in four of the team’s five games. 

The Nor’easters would double the lead in the 64th minute when a pair of defenders would link up. A corner kick was driven in to the head of Agustin Resch (Seton Hall / Arata, Argentina) who headed the ball to the middle of the box where it fell to Josh Jones, who fought off a defender and fired a right-footed shot into the back of the net from close range. For Jones, who is the only player on the roster who has played in every minute of the first five games, it was his third career goal for the Storm and his first of 2024.

“This was a big one,” said Jones after the game. “The top teams in the table going at it. It was the last team  we hadn’t played before. We knew West Chester’s a good opponent so it’s going to be a good game. It’s always a battle when we play them and to be able to come away with three points, still be undefeated and get into our [four game] home stand now is great. So I think we’re in a really good position.”

In the 76th minute, West Chester took advantage of a rare defensive miscue and Joshua Pulla broke in on goal and scored to cut the Ocean City lead in half.

United pushed hard for an equalizer but the Nor’easters defense held strong and eventually would put the game away in the 90th minute. Second half substitute Andrew Kitch (North Carolina / Medford, NJ) delivered a pass to Jalen Anderson who broke in on goal and scored his first regular season goal of the season.

“This group has shown me, and I hope each other, that at this point we are not only here for individual success but our shared team goals,” said Perrella. “These young players have not only shown they are great players but great teammates and that is really really hard to find. I'm in awe of the group, they fight for everything. I believe this is potentially a very special team we've got here.”

After four straight road games, the Nor’easters are returning home for their next league game. This Saturday, June 15, Ocean City will host the Philadelphia Lone Star FC at Carey Stadium in Ocean City, N.J., “America’s Greatest Family Resort”. It will be the first of four straight home games at the Beach House. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Single-game tickets for Nor'easters home games can be purchased for $10 each. Season memberships, which include all seven regular season home games and any potential exhibition games, are $50. The easiest way to purchase tickets is to buy them online through the Nor'easters website (OceanCityFC.com). Tickets can also be purchased at the Carey Stadium gate either with cash or with a smartphone.

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