Article by George Diamond
Photo by Lukas Guerrier

Following a franchise best start to the 2024 USL-2 season, the Ocean City Nor’easters (9-3-0) clinched a playoff spot earlier than any other team in the Mid-Atlantic Division. They soon followed that accomplishment by securing a team best 3rd straight division title. Now, Ocean City is gearing up for their fourth consecutive playoff run, in which they would have home field advantage in s potential Round of 16 matchup.

Tickets can be purchased here: 2024 Playoff Tickets

Official Bracket can be viewed HERE

Carey Stadium - the ‘Beach House’ - has been selected as a regional site for the opening rounds of the 2024 USL League Two Playoffs.

The Round of 32 matches will take place as a double-header on July 19th. The first match will start off the weekend’s action at 4:30pm. The Nor’easters will begin their 4th consecutive playoff appearance immediately following at 7:30pm. 

The winners of each game will advance to the Round of 16 which will be played on Sunday, July 21st at 7pm. 

The Round of 32 matchup will mark the 14th overall postseason appearance for the Storm. The Nor’easters will contest the winner of one of the Eastern Conference play-in games being held today. It will be the first time Ocean City has hosted a playoff game in the USL-2 era.

It’s been more than 10 years since the last playoff game was held at Carey. The Nor’easters hosted the 2016 PDL Semi Final, but the venue used was the nearby Tennessee Avenue Soccer Complex.

You have to go all the way back to 2013 for the last playoff game in the confines of the Beach House. In that game, the PDL Eastern Conference Championship, Ocean City defeated the Ottawa Fury with a score of 3-1. 

This also marks the fourth straight season Ocean City has qualified for the postseason, which makes for the best stretch in franchise history. The previous streak was set between 1998-2000, when the old South Jersey Barons qualified three times in a row, including a trip to the USL D-3 Pro League Final. The Barons ultimately finished as runners up against Western Mass Pioneers.

Overall, the July 19th game will be the 14th playoff appearance in franchise history and the 26th game the Storm have contested in the postseason. 

Current players with playoff experience for OC include Josh Jones (Louisville/Hatfield,PA), Colin Veltri (Elon/Mays Landing,NJ), Maruki Kawahara (Nebraska-Omaha/Tochigi, Japan), Andrew Kitch (UNC/Medford,NJ) as well as recent additions Dylan Evande (Kean/Hackensack,NJ) and Shaun Russel (St. Francis/Chesepeake,VA) all logged appearance's in last years playoff games. Veltri and Jones each found the back of the net once, with Veltri adding an assist. 

Jones, who recently won the USL-2 Player of the Month, has since reported to Louisville and will be unavailable for selection.

Across franchise history, there are three players tied for most playoff goals. Ruben Mingo (2004), also named PDL MVP, Nathan Regis (2016), and Nick Pariano (2023) all have 3 total playoff goals for the Nor’easters.

Regis and Pariano have the most goals in a single game. Regis scored twice at Reading in the 2016 East Final and Pariano buried two PKs in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinal, his second coming in second half stoppage time to win the game for the Storm.

There are four OCN players tied for most playoff assists with 2 each. JT Noone (2009), Chevaughn Walsh (2016), who was named the PDL MVP, Martim Galvao (2016), and Mutaya Mwape (2016). Noone and Mwape each completed a 2-assist haul.

Fans unable to attend in person will be able to watch the action as the Nor’easters continue to partner with BFA Sports Media who will provide a live broadcast of all 3 games via YouTube.

That livestream link can be found here: BFA Media YouTube

There will be an alternative link which is hosted on Sports Engine here: SportsEnginePlay

Make sure to follow Nor’easter's social media accounts on Twitter/X and Instagram for live in-game updates for all Ocean City games.

Twitter/X: @OCNoreasters

Instagram: ocnoreasters