It's all about winning: Ocean City Nor'easters feature story from 2018
Ocean City Nor'easters
USL League Two
The Ocean City Nor'easters currently compete in USL League Two (previously the Premier Development League), which runs from May through August. USL League Two is a development league operated by United Soccer Leagues (USL). It is currently considered the top-level men's amateur soccer competition in North America, although it has no official designation as such from the US Soccer Federation. USL League Two features more than 70 clubs from the United States and Canada and is considered to be the fourth tier of national competition in the United States, behind Major League Soccer, the USL Championship, and USL League One.
History
After being founded in 1996, the club debuted in the 1997 season under the name the South Jersey Barons as a professional team in the D-3 Pro League. Their biggest highlight of their six seasons as a pro team was finishing with the best record in the D-3 Pro League in 1999. Despite winning the league's regular season championship, they had to play both playoffs games on the road, falling to the Western Mass Pioneers in the title game.
After a change in ownership, the Barons moved to the Premier Development League in 2003 and made history the following year by becoming only the fifth team ever to go through the regular season with an unbeaten record (14-0-4).
In 2005, the South Jersey Barons were taken over by local businessmen Russ McPaul and Giancarlo Granese. Their first act as new owners was to move the Barons to Ocean City, N.J. and rename the team the Ocean City Barons. While the team played the majority of their home games in Ocean City from 1997-2004, the Barons made Carey Stadium ("The Beach House") on the Boardwalk between 5th and 6th streets the club's permanant home.
After the 2009 season, the club rebranded its self, becoming the Ocean City Nor'easters and taking a blue and orange color scheme. The club's success continued with Eastern Conference championships in 2013 and 2016 and four more appearances in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Since joining USL League Two in 2003, the Nor’easters have the seventh-best regular season record and the fourth-best home record. If you include the entire history of the league (which dates back to 1995), despite joining the league eight years into its existance, the Nor'easters have the seventh-most wins of any club.
The Nor'easters also hold the distinction as one of two USL League Two clubs in history to have three players win the league's most valuable player award. Ruben Mingo was the first in 2004, Chevaughn "Chevy" Walsh took home the award in 2016 after leading the league in scoring, and most recently, Deri Corfe tied for the league league in scoring and won the award in 2019.
2021 will mark the club's 24th season and during this time, more than 90 Ocean City alums have moved on to play professional soccer, including Jeremiah White who became the first alum to earn a cap with the senior U.S. National Team. Click here for a list of all of the Ocean City alums that have played or are currently playing professionally.
For more information on the Ocean City Nor'easters or to "Follow the Storm", check us out at www.oceancityfc.com/followthestorm or text "FOLLOWTHESTORM" to 22828 to join the "Storm Watch" e-newsletter.
Ocean City Nor'Easters Goal Compilation - 2017 Season
OCN Nor'Easters in the Community 2017
Playing for the Nor'easters
TOP PERFORMING PDL CLUBS SINCE 2003 | ||||||
Team | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | ||
1. | Flint City Bucks | 175 | 44 | 39 | 564 | |
2. | Des Moines Menace | 168 | 58 | 36 | 540 | |
3. | Chicago FC United | 158 | 63 | 39 | 513 | |
4. | Reading United AC | 153 | 50 | 41 | 500 | |
5. | Thunder Bay Chill | 152 | 76 | 34 | 490 | |
6. | OCEAN CITY NOR'EASTERS | 145 | 68 | 49 | 484 |
Season Information
Ocean City Nor'Easters 2018 Squad
Food
The Ocean City Nor’easters will provide food for players accomodated in club housing through the "Frieds of Nor'Easters" foundation who will provide a weekly food shop throughout the season, and through club sponsors, access to discounted meals at various restaurants around the city of Ocean City, NJ.
Jobs
The Ocean City Nor’easters, in coordination with the city of Ocean City, NJ, provide seasonal employment to any interested players, through the completion of employment application. In previous years, the club has helped in coordinating the following employment…
Ocean City Nor’easters Youth Academy
ACMEGillian’s Wonderland Pier
And numerous local businesses around the city & on the OCNJ Boardwalk
Schedule
The Ocean City Nor’easters will be competing in USL League Two, as well as friendlies.
Technical Staff
Front Office Staff
Owner/President, Giancarlo "El Presidente" Granese, with his wife, Nancy
Training
The goal of the Ocean City Nor’easters is to provide training to keep players sharp, fit and fresh while preparing them for their upcoming collegiate season. The Nor’easters staff works diligently to monitor every player's health and fitness, through workload.
The Ocean City Nor’easters will begin training as soon as they arrive from college.
The Ocean City Nor’easters technical staff conducts 3-4 team training sessions a week throughout the season. Of the weekly training sessions, one session is entirely focused on the preparation of the week’s match.
The Ocean City Nor’easters, led by team Sports Therapist, conduct recovery sessions after every match.
The Ocean City, NJ beach hosts over 150,000 visitors each summer
Travel
The Ocean City Nor’easters provide all players and staff with professionally driven transportation from Ocean City, NJ to all matches and club functions.
The Ocean City Nor'easters do not cover any costs associated with travel to or from Ocean City, NJ, for any player.
The Ocean City Nor'easters can arrange for pick up from and/or drop off to the following airports.
Philadelphia International Airport (Philadelphia, PA) - $60.00 per roundtrip
There is a train service from Philadelphia Airport to Atlantic City Train terminal that costs around $15.
Facilities
The Ocean City Nor’easters play all home matches at Carey Stadium (6th Street & Boardwalk), right off the Ocean City Boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. Players will have access to Carey Stadium’s training facilities and locker rooms, two hours prior to every home match. The City have installed a new turf field with new cork infill that keeps the survace cool. The playing surface is 120 yards x 72 yards.
The Ocean City Nor’easters conduct all team-training sessions at Tennessee Avenue Soccer Complex, right off the Bay & 6th Street Field, steps from the Nor'easters clubhouse.
Gym Membership
Club sponsor, Greate Bay Racquet & Fitness Club provides full fitness facilities for all players & staff for the entirety of the season.
Team Doctor, Sports Therapist & Athletic Trainer(s)
The Ocean City Nor’easters provide a team doctor available to all players and staff; available upon appointment.
Gear & Equipment
Players are provided with all official Ocean City Nor’easters gear, such as training & match day apparel.
The Ocean City Nor’easters DO NOT provide any personal player gear, such as boots, shin guards, goalkeeper gloves.
Game Film
All Ocean City Nor'Easters games are recoreded by the media department at Stockton University and games posted onto our Youtube Channel the day after so that players can expose themselves to potential scouts and clubs. Our games are broadcast live on the radio and internet.
Global Premier Management
Ocean City Nor'easters have a working relationship with Global Premier Management who are recognized as one of the top agencies for professional soccer players in the USA. Any Ocean City Nor'easters player who Global Premier Managment feel are professional will be watched by GPM and or recommended to them by the Ocean City Nor'easters staff.
The firm is led by President and Owner Patrick McCabe, who has more than 18 years of experience in the business of player management. We have a worldwide network of contacts and relationships that allows us to place clients in several key market and an extensive track record of success both in the US and abroad. Most importantly, we have continued to operate in a way that gives our clients the feel of a small business: individual attention and constant availability. Unlike other big agencies the company is privately owned, which is crucial in allowing us to meet our clients’ needs and make decisions in their long-term interest without having to a seek a quick return to cover corporate overhead and appease shareholders. We provide personal service that is based on honesty and respect.
All Ocean City Nor’easters players are responsible for their own behavior and for conducting themselves as professionals during their time in affiliation with the club. Due to storied success and popularity of the Nor’easters within Ocean City, NJ and the local southern New Jersey shore area, all Ocean City Nor’easters players and staff are viewed as public figures.
The Ocean City Nor’easters do numerous community-driven events and players are expected to participate (when available) as the club’s involvement in the community is important to our success, on and off the field.
All Ocean City Nor’easters players are responsible for managing and maintaining all club-issued team and personal gear and equipment.
All Ocean City Nor’easters players are responsible for cleaning, managing and maintaining the club provided housing, as well as all fixtures, furniture, appliances and anything within the property limits of the provided housing, in which belongs to the club or any player housed by the club.
All Ocean City Nor’easters players are responsible for communicating all injuries & illnesses to the club technical and medical staff. The Ocean City Nor’easters cannot be held responsible for any injury or illness, which was not communicated properly.
All Ocean City Nor’easters players are expected to communicate their availability at the earliest convenience, throughout the entirety of the season.
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Nor'easters in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Adding to their success in the league, the Barons have also qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on five occasions.
They made their first appearance in 2002, their final year as a professional franchise. That year, they defeated Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Eastern Pennsylvania) of the USASA 4-0 in the first round but were eliminated in the next round 1-0 by the Hampton Roads Mariners, who played on the level above the Barons, in the A-League (the league just below MLS).
OCEAN CITY NOR'EASTERS IN THE US OPEN CUP |
2002 (as South Jersey Barons in D3 Pro League) 2013 (as Ocean City Nor'easters in PDL) 2014 (as Ocean City Nor'easters in PDL) 2017 (as Ocean City Nor'easters in PDL) |
In 2004, the year of their undefeated league season in the PDL, they began the tournament with a 5-0 thrashing of the USASA’s Allied SC, and once again met an A-League team in the second round. The Syracuse Salty Dogs were the club, which featured Anthony Maher, the older brother of the Barons’ Matt Maher. It was only the second time in the history of the Open Cup that two brothers played against each other in a Cup game. The original match seemed to be heading in the Barons’ direction in the 75th minute with the score tied at 1-1, and the Salty Dogs were playing with nine men. Unfortunately for the underdogs, the referee abandoned the match at that point due to lightning and darkness. Six days later, the match was replayed, Syracuse was too strong, knocking the Barons out of the tournament by the score of 4-2.
The following year, the Barons made a return to the Cup and made an enormous impression. They began as they had the previous two tournament appearances with a shutout win over a USASA club, 3-0 over the New York Greek-American Atlas. The Barons would host their second round match against the Long Island Rough Riders of the USL Second Division, and they used their home field advantage at Carey Stadium to thrash the Rough Riders 4-0. Ruben Mingo, Tony Donatelli, Chris Williams and Steven Wacker all scored in one of the second round’s biggest upsets.
In the Third Round, the Barons were on the short end of a historical Open Cup match in Richmond, VA. Again, weather played a role, postponing the original game date, and a week later, the match was delayed by two hours. When the match was finally completed, the Barons had lost to the Richmond Kickers of the USL First Division, 8-4. The Kickers answered Byron Carmichael’s opening goal, with four straight tallies in the first half. Just before halftime, Carmichael cut the lead to two, and just after the break Tony Donatelli’s goal made it 4-3 in the 54th minute.
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The Ocean City Barons celebrate after upsetting Real Maryland in the Second Round of the 2009 US Open Cup |
However, the home side was too strong, and with the Barons pushing for an equalizer, the Kickers opened the floodgates. 12 goals were a total goals scored in an Open Cup match since professional teams began entering the tournament in 1995. The four goals conceded by the Richmond Kickers was the most they had allowed in their Open Cup history.
After missing out on the tournament in 2006, the Barons returned to the Cup in 2007 and began at home with a 1-0 upset over Crystal Palace Baltimore of the USL Second Division. They hosted the Second Round as well and lost 2-1 to the Harrisburg City Islanders in one of the most exciting matches of the 2007 Open Cup. The Barons had three balls cleared off the line in the second half, but they weren’t able to equalize, and the City Islanders would move on to make a dramatic run to the quarterfinals.
The Nor'easters celebrate after upsetting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Second Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. |
2009 was a landmark season for the Barons in the Open Cup as they qualified for the tournament for the fourth time in the last six years. But the biggest highlight was the fact that Ocean City faced off with a club from Major League Soccer for the first time in franchise history. The Barons’ run in the tournament began with a shocking 3-0 home upset of Crystal Palace Baltimore of the USL Second Division. Byron Carmichael was named TheCup.us Player of the Round after scoring a pair of first-half goals and JT Noone would put the nail in the coffin with a second half goal.
The upsets at The Beach House continued in Round 2 when the Barons’ Tunde Ogunbiyi shutout Real Maryland of the Second Division and Noone converted a penalty kick in the second period of overtime to put the Barons into the Third Round. With the win, Ocean City became only the sixth amateur team in the Modern Era of the US Open Cup to register back-to-back wins over professional teams. Ogunbiyi became the first PDL goalkeeper (and just the third amateur GK) in the Modern Era to shutout back-to-back professional teams. The Barons would put a scare into DC United of Major League Soccer, but they would fall 2-0 to the defending Open Cup champs on a wet night at, the Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown, Md.
The Nor'easters celebrate after Emmanuel "Gogo" Kollie's goal vs. the Philadelphia Union in the 2013 US Open Cup |
The Nor'easters were back at it again in 2013 with another extended US Open Cup run. They first opponents in Round 1 were the New York Red Bulls U23s at Carey Stadium. The Nor'easters came out strong and blew their opponents away 2-0 with goals from Duke Lacroix and Nick Perea.
The Second Round saw a professional team from USL Pro, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, come to Ocean City to challenge the Nor'easters on the Shore. This was a tighter affair, but the Riverhounds were beaten 1-0 by the home team with the goal coming from Ken Tribbett who smashed the ball home after it bounced around in the penalty area.
The Third Round saw the Nor'easters drawn at home to MLS side Philadelphia Union, but the Cup organizers switched the game to PPL Park. In what was a close and exhilarating game the college kids pushed the pros all the way to the end before losing 2-1. The score was 0-0 at half time, but Jack McInerney scored just after the break, many thought the floodgates had opened, but the Nor'easters equalized through Emanuel Kollie. It was an injury time winner from Union midfielder Brian Carroll in the 93rd minute that sealed the Nor'easters fate.
Qualifying for the second consecutive season in 2014, the Nor'easters failed to match their success of the previous season, falling to US National Cup Champions, New York American Greek Atlas, 2-0.
Kevin Curran of the Ocean City Barons battles for the ball with Boyzzz Khumalo of D.C. United (MLS) in the Third Round of the 2009 US Open Cup |
In 2017, the Nor'easters returned to the US Open Cup and kicked off their cup run with a 3-1 home win over Junior Lone Star FC, an amateur team from the Philadelphia Premier Soccer League. This set up another meeting between Ocean City and the Harrisburg City Islanders at The Beach House. In a rematch of the 2007 US Open Cup, the Nor'easters held the City Islanders to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes. For the first time in Nor'easters club history, they had to decide a match from the penalty spot. It took seven rounds of penalty kicks, but unfortunately, the professional side prevailed, 6-5.
The Nor'easters' have had a lot of success in the US Open Cup playing games in front of their home fans. They would be tested in 2018 when all three games were played on the road. In Round 1, they traveled to Ypsilanti, Mich. where they blanked NPSL power AFC Ann Arbor, 3-0. The following week, the Storm traveled to North Carolina to take on the Charlotte Independence, a professional team in the United Soccer League. The Nor'easters would add another pro team upset to their resume as Kyle Gurrieri scored two goals in the opening seven minutes to lead them to a 3-1 win. Ocean City would return to North Carolina a week later, but the USL's North Carolina FC (featuring Ocean City alum Steven Miller) were too much, ending the Storm's Cup run, 4-1.
As a PDL team in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Ocean City has 12 wins with six of them being upsets of professional clubs. Only two amateur clubs (Michigan Bucks with nine, Des Moines Menace with seven) have eliminated more pro teams. However, five of those six wins were shutouts and no amateur team in the country has more shutouts of professional teams (6) than Ocean City.