Nor'easters open 2017 PDL season with 4-1 win over Evergreen FC (VIDEO)

Ignacio Tellechea scores twice as the two teams will play again Sunday night

Nor'easters open 2017 PDL season with 4-1 win over Evergreen FC (VIDEO)

The Ocean City Nor'easters opened their Premier Development League campaign on the boardwalk at Carey Stadium and they rewarded their home fans with a 4-1 win over Evergreen Hammers FC.

Ignacio Tellechea (Madrid, Spain / West Virginia Tech) scored twice, while Fredlin Mompremier (Limbe, Haiti / Farleigh Dickinson) and Daniel Kozma (Budapest, Hungary / Grand View) added a goal each as the Nor'easters won their second straight season opener.

Any hangover from Wednesday's disappointing penalty kick loss in the U.S. Open Cup to the Harrisburg City Islanders was nowhere to be found on Friday night. And just as they did against Junior Lone Star in the First Round of the Open Cup, the Nor'easters scored a goal within the first 15 minutes to take the early lead. Mompremier finished off a low cross from Frantzly Zephirin (Montreal, Quebec / Midwest Nazarene) to get things started in the 13th minute. 

The attack slowed down for about 20 minutes or so before Tellechea scored twice in four minutes to put Ocean City up 3-0 at the break. The first of his two goals came on a quick free kick, which caught the keeper out in no man's land. 

"The referee told me to take it whenever I was ready," Tellechea said. "I noticed the keeper was out of position and went for it."

For his second goal of the night, he took advantage of a slip-up at the back where the defender poked the ball right to him. He collected the ball at his feet, dribbled a few yards forward, and calmly finished into the bottom corner.

The second half dragged on a bit until the final moments of the game. Francisco Neto (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil / West Virginia Tech) took a corner that hit the first defender and rolled back to him. He then fizzed a rebound cross into the box that was put home with a first-time finish by Kozma. The defender did well to react to this cross and just get a slight touch to poke it in.

Evergreen added a late consolation goal in the 88th minute that they will hope can boost their confidence into Sunday's rematch at The Beach House. Lewis Long pounced on miscommunication at the back and finished into an empty net to give the visitors one positive to takeaway.

Second-year center back, Daniel Nimmo, stated that he was a bit disappointed to give up such a late goal and not keep a clean sheet. It is something to build on for the rest of the season.

With this win, the Nor'easters improved to 4-1-1 in the last six PDL season openers. They also boast an impressive 8-0-1 all-time record vs Evergreen. The four-goal output was the most goals scored by Ocean City in a season opener since a 6-2 road win over the Westchester Flames on May 14, 2005.

The Nor'easters will go for the weekend sweep on Sunday night when they will face off with the Hammers again at Carey Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS

FULL GAME VIDEO

Store Banner

Store Banner