Photo by Jack Verdeur

The Ocean City Nor’easters were seconds away from the club’s fourth straight win to start the season, but long-time rival Reading United AC had other ideas. Alessandro Arlotti’s first half goal gave the Nor’easters a 1-0 lead at Alvernia University in Reading, Pa. on Saturday night. But in second half stoppage time, Reading’s Shuma Saski scored an impressive goal to tie the game at 1-1.

Despite a disappointing 1-1 draw for Ocean City, the team still managed to make history. The Nor’easters are now unbeaten in 19 regular season games (15-0-4) dating back to the 2021 season. That ties the club record set back in 2005. The Storm also extend their club record road unbeaten streak to 17 games, and are undefeated against Reading in their last seven meetings (4-0-3).

The draw also keeps the Nor’easters tied for first place in the Mid-Atlantic Division. They are tied with West Chester United. Both teams are 3-0-1. The next game for Ocean City is on Tuesday when the Storm will travel play West Chester United with the winner taking sole possession of first place. 

Saturday’s game was the 56th meeting between Ocean City and Reading in a rivalry that dates back to 1997 when both teams were professional teams in the USL’s lower divisions. They have met at least once in every season since 1997 (they did not play in 2008 and 2009) and Ocean City leads the all-time series 24-22-10.

"We're disappointed about not getting three points, you always have to want all the points," said Nor'easters head coach Matt Perrella. "But overall, I'm still really encouraged by the group morale and focused on what's ahead. This is football, winning matches is very difficult against top opponents. We are still getting some guys healthy, a few guys away for visits with pro clubs. Its a challenge for sure to implement different starting lineups. Overall everyone cares together and earned a valuable result [on the road] and we just have to keep moving forward. We feel really good about our group and will continue to make adjustments for the betterment of the team."

The Nor’easters opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Nick Pariano set up a corner kick. He delivered a well-struck ball toward the near post where Arlotti was making a run. Arlotti headed the ball past the goalkeeper Patrick Millard to make it 1-0.

For Arlotti, the Nor'easters' 2022 team MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, it was his first goal of the campaign. It was his ninth career goal in a Nor'easters uniform. For Pariano, last year's Nor'easter Award winner, it was his second assist of the season. 

In the 41st minute, Ocean City found themselves with an identical corner kick situation, but they weren’t able to capitalize. Pariano drove the ball into the box and Millard wasn’t able to get a fist. The ball deflected off a defender and fell to Arlotti who tried to volley it in but it was too high and it went over the bar.

The equalizer came in second half stoppage time when Reading sprang loose on a counter attack. Saski receved the ball and dribbled down the left side of the field and just before reaching the penalty area, and before anyone could close in on him, he launched a shot into the upper corner on the near side.



It was just the second goal of the season allowed by Nor'easters goalkeeper Stefano Camerlengo, who remains undefeated with a 2-0-1 record.