2018 Nor'easters in the Pros report

Tyler Miller shines with LAFC, Hines-Ike makes mark overseas, Dobrowolski wins USL Cup again, Donatelli three-peats and more

2018 Nor'easters in the Pros report

With 2018 drawing to a close, it's time to take a look at how all of our former Ocean City Nor'easters are currently performing at the professional level (in alphabetical order).

Borja Angoitia (Quinnipiac / Bilbao, Spain)

Ocean City 2014
Toronto FC II (USL League One)

Borja Angoitia signed with Arcos CF of Spain’s third tier in January of 2018 but later joined Toronto FC II (USL Championship) on June 7, 2018 on a free transfer. In his abbreviated season with Toronto, Angoitia started five matches for the club. Next season, Toronto FC II is set to join the newly-formed pro league USL League One (Division 3).

Nate Bourdeau (Rutgers / Baldwinsville, NY)
Ocean City 2012
Utica City FC (MASL)

Nate Bourdeau began his seventh season of indoor soccer in a new location with Utica City FC. The Syracuse Silver Knights moved about an hour east to Utica City and Bourdeau joined them in their new home. The former Rutgers standout is off to a great start in the 2018/19 MASL season with three goals and is tied for second on the team with six assists in the first five games of the campaign. His performance has helped UCFC to a 5-2 start to the season, which, at the time this was written, has them in first place in the East.

Keasel Broome (Providence / Claymont, DE)
Ocean City 2013
Free Agent (Last: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)

After recovering from an injury this past season, Keasel Broome is looking for a new team. He suffered a season-ending injury with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2017 and struggled to get back to 100 percent during the 2018 calendar year. Once he did, he continued to represent Barbados at the international level. It’s only a matter of time before he signs with a new club for the 2019 season.



Aaron Dennis (Villanova / Elmont, NY)
Ocean City 2014
Free Agent (Last: Penn FC)

Dennis played for Penn FC in 2018, scoring three goals in 22 appearances with the squad. Having dual citizenship with the United States and the United States Virgin Islands, Dennis represented the Virgin Islands at the international level, making two appearances. Dennis is on the move again in 2019 as he will play for his fourth club in as many seasons (Miami FC in 2016, Arizona United in 2017) as Penn FC will be going on hiatus to give them time to sort out their stadium situation. It was recently announced that Dennis has signed with the New York Cosmos.



Tim Dobrowolski (Loyola - Chicago / Rockford, IL)
Ocean City 2015
Louisville City FC (USL Championship)

For the second year in a row, Tim Dobrowolski and Louisville City FC are USL champions. Once again, the former Loyola Chicago star backed up Gregory Ranjitsinghty, and only made two regular season appearances (last year he played in 12). Where he shined was in the US Open Cup when he was the starting goalkeeper for LCFC as they advanced to the Quarterfinals. This was farther than any lower division team in the tournament in 2018. Dobrowolski played every minute in goal for Louisville City as they made their first trip to the Quarterfinals in the club’s short history. Louisville was the last lower division team standing, which earned them $25,000 in prize money. Dobrowolski earned a pair of shutouts in City’s first two games, then helped the team upset the New England Revolution (MLS) and defeat USL rival Nashville SC before the run ended with a one-sided loss to the Chicago Fire (MLS) on the road. His performance earned him a nomination for the 2018 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament award.

It was announced that Dobrowolski has re-signed with Louisville City and with Ranjitsinghty signing with Orlando City SC of MLS, Tim appears to have the inside track to be City's starting goalkeeper for the 2019 season.


Tony Donatelli (Temple / Glenside, PA)

Ocean City 2004-05
Baltimore Blast (MASL)

Out of the more than 70 Ocean City players who have moved on to play professionally, Tony Donatelli has won the most trophies. By far. After one of his best individual seasons of his indoor soccer career, he helped the Baltimore Blast win the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) championship for the third year in a row in 2018.

For Donatelli, the former Temple University player has now won seven professional championships. Four of them with indoor teams (2007 Philadelphia Kixx, 2012/13 Baltimore Blast, 2015/16 Baltimore Blast, 2016/17 Baltimore Blast) and the other three came outdoors in the United Soccer League (2006 Vancouver Whitecaps, 2009 Montreal Impact, 2012 Charleston Battery). This past season, Donatelli was a significant contributor to the Blast’s success. He tallied 22 goals and contributed 21 assists in 20 games and finished as Baltimore's leading scorer. His 43 total points ranked 10th in the entire league and earned him Second Team All-MASL honors. He re-signed with the Blast for the 2018/2019 MASL season as he tries to lead the club to a fourth straight league championship. (Read a full story about Tony Donatelli's accomplishments here)

With his latest championship, no one has won more professional indoor soccer championships than Donatelli. The Glenside, Pa. native is one of seven players who has won five career titles.

The Blast have started the season with a 4-2 record and at the time of this publication, Donatelli is tied for second on the team in scoring with 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists).



Martim Galvao (Pfeiffer / Lisbon, Portugal)
Ocean City 2016
Enosis Neon THOI Lakatima (Cypriot Second Division)

The year after Martim Galvao helped the Nor'easters reach the USL League Two Semifinals, he joined the Nashville SC Under-23s. His performance with the U-23s earned him a contract with the senior team in the USL. This past August, Galvao and Nashville SC mutually agreed to terminate his contract to enable him to explore professional opportunities elsewhere. The Portuguese midfielder found an opportunity overseas in the second division of Cyprus with Enosis Neon THOI Lakatima.


Brendan Hines-Ike (South Florida / Denver, CO)
Ocean City 2014
KV Kortrijk (Belgian First Division A)

Hines-Ike was drafted by the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer in 2016, but turned down the offer to sign with Orebro SK in the top division of Sweden. (Allsvenskan). After playing in 17 games in his first season (five starts), he started all 29 games in 2017. After his breakout performance with Orebro SK, he made the switch to the Belgian First Division where he was the largest sale in club history when he was moved to KV Kortrijk (where he broke the club’s transfer fee record). His impact has brought him a lot of attention with many American soccer reporters speculating that his impressive play in Europe could eventually lead to a call-up to the U.S. National Team.


Miguel Jaime – (Florida Gulf Coast / Denver, CO)
Ocean City 2016
Free Agent (Last: Penn FC)

Miguel Jaime played for Penn FC of the USL in 2018, signing his first pro deal. He scored two goals and recorded an assist during the USL regular season. Jaime also excelled in the US Open Cup, scoring a goal in two matches. Penn FC will not play in or the 2019 season as they search for a new stadium. Jaime is currently searching for a new club and after his impressive rookie season in Harrisburg, he should have no trouble finding a new team.


Logan Ketterer (Bradley / Racine, WI)
Ocean City 2016
Free Agent (Last: Columbus Crew SC)

Being a goalkeeper is challenging because only one of them gets to play at a time. For Logan Ketterer, after being drafted by the Columbus Crew in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, he has struggled to see the field with breakout star, and U.S. international Zack Steffen getting almost all of the first team minutes. After not getting any playing time in his rookie season with the Crew, the former Bradley University standout made his professional debut in the US Open Cup when he got the start against the Chicago Fire in the Fourth Round. After 120 minutes, the two teams finished tied at 2-2, which meant the game had to be decided by penalty kicks. It would take 11 rounds for the match to be decided with the Fire advancing 10-9. After the season ended, it was announced that Ketterer would not be returning to the club in 2019, making him a free agent and looking for a new club.

Mike Kirk (La Salle / Mechanicsburg, PA)
Ocean City 2016
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Championship)

After a season with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL) last year, Kirk signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the USL. He made his first career professional start in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup when he helped the Riverhounds earn the club’s first tournament win since 2015, with a 2-1 victory over the Erie Commodores FC (NPSL). He would later earn six starts in league play for the Hounds that won the most games (15-5-14) since 2004. The club’s historic season came to an end in the conference semifinals by the hands of the Bethlehem Steel.



Eric Klenofsky (Monmouth / Lincoln Park, NJ)

Ocean City 2014-2015
Hapoel Marmorek FC (Israeli National League)

After an outstanding career at Monmouth University, Klenofsky came on the scene after being drafted by D.C. United in the Second Round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. With limited minutes available behind U.S. international Bill Hamid, Klenofsky was loaned to the Richmond Kickers of the USL. The Lincoln Park, N.J. native only appeared in one league match, a 1-0 home loss to Louisville City FC. Klenofsky played well, making five saves and the only goal that was scored came from a penalty kick. Despite his limited playing time professionally in the U.S., he found an opportunity in Israel where he signed with Hapoel Marmorek FC of the Israeli National League. The 24-year-old has earned the regular starting job and has been in between the sticks for all but one match this season so far.



Markhus “Duke” LaCroix (Pennsylvania / New Egypt, NJ)

Ocean City 2012-13
Reno 1868 FC (USL Championship)

After starting the 2017 season with a pair of goals for Orange County SC (USL), Duke LaCroix’s campaign was cut short with a season-ending injury. In 2018, he got back to 100 percent and found a new club in Reno 1868 FC. The former UPenn star scored a goal and was second on the team with five assists in 28 games (23 starts) as he converted from forward to left back where he uses his speed to get up and down the flanks. With his new home at left back and his “rising star” status, Reno signed him for the upcoming 2019 USL Championship season.


Derek Luke (Monmouth / Bridgewater Township, New Jersey)
Ocean City 2015
Rio Grande Valley FC (USL Championship)

This was Luke’s first season with Rio Grande Valley FC of the USL but only saw limited action, making four appearances. Before the move to his current club, Luke played in 29 games for FC Cincinnati (USL) in almost two full seasons in the Queen City.

Issey Maholo (Boston College / Tokyo, Japan)
Ocean City 2006
Kwung Tong FA (Hong Kong First Division)

Maholo moved to Hong Kong for work in June of 2011, and while he was working his day job, a friend introduced him to Hong Kong FC. It is known as one of the oldest sporting clubs in Hong Kong. He took part in a month-long trial and eventually made the team. He would be the starter for six years after helping the club earn promotion to the Hong Kong Premier League. After the club was relegated the next season, he took on a new challenge by signing with first division club Kwung Tong FA. (FULL STORY ABOUT ISSEY MAHOLO)

John McCarthy (La Salle / Cinnaminson, NJ)
Ocean City 2011-12
Philadelphia Union (MLS) / Bethlehem Steel (USL Championship)

John McCarthy continued his role of being one of the best backup goalkeepers (and fan favorites) in Major League Soccer as he played behind Jamaican international and 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake. McCarthy only played in one league match this year, and it was a shutout in a 2-0 home win over Sporting Kansas City. In the past, he had gotten much of his playing time for the Union in the US Open Cup, but this year he made just one appearance, a 5-0 shutout win over the Richmond Kickers (USL) in the Fourth Round. With playing time with the Union limited, McCarthy was able to stay fresh by playing with the club’s USL affiliate Bethlehem Steel where he started 12 matches and led the team in save percentage and earned four clean sheets. He was part of the Steel team that had its best season in the club’s brief history, winning a club record 14 games and qualifying for the USL Playoffs.



Shawn McLaws (Coastal Carolina / Edmond, OK)

Ocean City 2013-14
Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL Championship)

After making a name for himself with the Harrisburg City Islanders, Shawn McLaws returned home to play for the Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL) in 2018. He played 12 games, starting 10 of them as a defender. He also started the club’s lone US Open Cup match in Round 2.

Steven Miller (Colgate / Ivyland, PA)
Ocean City 2008-09, 2011
North Carolina FC (USL Championship)

While the league North Carolina FC played in changed in 2018 (moving from the NASL to the USL), one thing that remained consistent was the play of Steven Miller. The defender scored four goals on the offensive end, but also did his job on the defensive end, leading the team in interceptions and duels won. He was also tied for third on the team in minutes played (2,742 minutes in 33 games played). Miller also played against his former club as he played all 90 minutes in NCFC’s 4-1 win over the Nor’easters in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.



Tyler Miller (Northwestern / Woodbury, NJ)
Ocean City 2012
Los Angeles FC (MLS)

Tyler Miller has only been a professional for three years, but it’s been a pretty incredible career so far. After being part of the Seattle Sounders team that won MLS Cup in 2016 and lost in the 2017 MLS Cup Final, Miller was selected No. 1 overall in the MLS Expansion Draft by Los Angeles FC. In the club’s inaugural season in MLS, Miller had a breakout season as the full-time starter. He started 33 matches and led LAFC to a third place finish in the Western Conference and a trip to the MLS Playoffs. Miller finished third in the league in shutouts (10) and his performance earned him a call-up to the U.S. National Team's January camp. And on top of his performance on the field, being in Los Angeles with a team connected to a variety of celebrities, he made appearances in videos, ads and late night talk shows (SEE BELOW).



Andre Morrison (Hartford / Clarendon, Jamaica)
Ocean City 2016
Free Agent (Drafted by Toronto FC)

Morrison was drafted by Toronto FC in the third round of the 2018 MLS Super Draft.  He was the third Hartford Hawk to be drafted by an MLS club and the first since 2014. It also marked the fourth year in a row that an Ocean City alum was drafted. The Jamaican, who was the Nor’easters’ 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, returned to school and finished his degree, while also playing for an amateur club located near the university. With his degree taken care of, Morrison is currently looking to sign with a pro club.


Jordan Murrell (Syracuse / Markham, Ontario)
Ocean City 2013
Reno 1868 FC (USL Championship)

After being part of a record-breaking (highest-scoring team in league history) USL expansion side Reno 1868 FC in 2017, Jordan Murrell followed that up with playing 21 games (14 starts) and dished out 1 assist as a defender for the club in 2018 as they finished fifth in the Western Conference. The season would come to an end in the conference semifinals when they lost 1-0 to the top-seeded Orange County SC.

Mutaya Mwape (Lindsey Wilson / Lusaka, Zambia)
Ocean City 2016
Charlotte Independence (USL Championship)

After Mutaya Mwape helped the Nor’easters reach the PDL (USL League Two) national semifinals in 2016, Mutaya Mwape moved on and helped the Charlotte Eagles win the PDL championship. His performance caught the eye of the USL’s ‘Charlotte Independence which is where he played during the 2018 season. He recorded his first professional goal on June 16, 2018 against the Charleston Battery in a rivalry game. He also dished out two assists in league play. Mwape had a reunion of sorts in the US Open Cup when the Nor’easters traveled down to the Charlotte area for their matchup in the Second Round. Mwape played all 90 minutes but the Nor’easters pulled off the upset on the road, 3-1.


Daniel Nimmo (Campbellsville-KY / Linlithgow, Scotland)
Ocean City 2016
Free Agent (Prev: Queen’s Park FC)

Daniel Nimmo clawed his way through the soccer ranks and made his way back to his home country to play for Queen’s Park FC. The club is a member of the Scottish Professional Football League, but QPFC is the only fully amateur club in the league. During the 2017-2018 season with QPR he saw action in four matches, totaling 293 minutes. After the season, Nimmo landed a another job and the sport of soccer took a back seat as the Nor'easters' 2016 Young Player of the Year is currently playing part-time.

Jeremy Ortiz (La Salle / Mt. Laurel, NJ)
Ocean City 2006-08
Rochester Lancers (MASL)

The last time Jeremy Ortiz was playing professional soccer, it was 2016 and he was lifting the Major Arena Soccer League championship trophy as a member of the Baltimore Blast (along with fellow Nor’easters alum Tony Donatelli). After playing seven years in the pros, Ortiz appeared ready to hang up his boots. After two years away from the game, head coach Doug Miller and the Rochester Lancers needed some veteran leadership and called him up to be a part of this year’s team. The Lancers are just two games into the 2019 season and they won both games with Ortiz scoring one goal.

Nicolas Perea (Syracuse / Hollywood, FL)
Ocean City 2013
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL Championship)

After two seasons with the Jacksonville Armada of the NASL, and getting limited playing time with Rio Grande Valley FC last season, Perea had a breakout season with the Toros in 2018. Perea was second on the team in games played (30) and minutes played (2,435). He scored three goals as the Toros finished 8-12-14.



Alex Ridsdale – (Xavier / Nelson, New Zealand)
Ocean City 2015
Tasman United (New Zealand Football Championship)

Risdale has spent the past few seasons in his native country of New Zealand bouncing between two clubs. During the 2016-17 season he scored four goals in 17 games for Tasman United before moving to Southern United where he scored four more goals. Ridsdale is back with Tasman United for the 2018-19 season and so far he has played in nine games.

FLASHBACK: When Ridsdale was playing at Xavier, he made ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays of the week with an unbelievable bicycle kick.



Mitchell Taintor (Rutgers / Storrs, CT)
Ocean City 2013
Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)

Taintor has established himself as a mainstay in the Sacramento Republic starting lineup. He started 33 games and was among the team’s leaders in minutes played. As a defender he also scored a goal and had an assist while helping the Republic finish with the third-most wins in the entire league.

Kyle Thomson (Loyola University Chicago / Park Ridge, IL)
Ocean City 2016
Free Agent (Previously: Greenock Morton FC)

Kyle Thomson currently plays in the second division of the Scottish Professional Football League with Greenock Morton FC. However, after some limited playing time this past season, Thomson had to return home to the Chicago area to be with his father, who was in the hospital. Thomson and Greenock Morton agreed to mutually terminate his contract so he could be with his family. (NOTE: Thomson’s father has since been released from the hospital and, according to Thomson is “doing much better”) With his father on the mend, Thomson is looking for a new club and is currently exploring options both in the U.S. and overseas. Luckily for Thomson, he has a UK passport, so this gives him more options in his search for a new team.


Ken Tribbett (Drexel / Centennial, CO)
Ocean City 2013
Nashville SC (USL Championship) (Prev: Penn FC)

Ken Tribbett had another great season in the USL Championship with Penn FC as he was one of the best defenders in the league. He started 21 games and scored six goals, the most of any defender in the league. He was named the midseason USL Defender of the Year only to have his season cut short in the second half due to injury. After his impressive season, the former Philadelphia Union defender became a free agent and was snatched up by Nashville SC and will suit up for them in the 2019 season.


Oscar Umar (Villanova / Tamale, Ghana)
Ocean City 2016
Saint Louis FC (USL Championship)

After a solid season and a half with the Richmond Kickers, Oscar Umar has found a new home with Saint Louis FC. As a defensive midfielder, Umar recorded one goal in 36 appearances with the club, including two games played in the US Open Cup.

 

Chevy Walsh (Jefferson College / Spanish Town, Jamaica)
Ocean City 2016
Free Agent (Prev: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)

After Chevy Walsh re-wrote the Nor’easters’ record books in 2016 en route to winning the 2016 PDL MVP award, he chose to sign with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds mid-season rather than return to college. After scoring a goal in his first pro start at the end of 2016, Walsh came into 2017 with confidence for his first full season. Walsh played in 22 games (13 starts) and was the team’s second leading goalscorer with five.

Unfortunately, with a new manager stepping in for the 2018 season, he wasn’t offered a new contract, so he has returned home to Jamaica and is looking for a new team.

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