Ocean City, NJ - The Ocean City Nor’easters have seen over 120 former players go on to reach the professional level. As the leading path to pro in South Jersey, Ocean City prides itself on the success of their alumni.

2024 saw many former Storm players achieve individual and team-wide successes. 6 Nor'easter alumni signed their first pro contracts. Storm alumni won a trophy in every level of the US Soccer pyramid, from MLS to USL-League One. There are Nor’easters playing for professional teams across the world from North America to Europe, and even as far away as Indonesia. Ocean City alumni represented their national teams in the Nations League, World Cup Qualifying, and at the Copa América. 

This is Part 1 of the 2024 Alumni Recap. 

Simon Becher (Saint Louis Univ./Topeka,KS) covered a lot of ground in 2024. Just after New Year’s, he signed for Danish 1st Division side AC Horsens, leaving Vancouver for Europe. There, Becher helped Horsens avoid relegation, scoring 3 goals in 14 appearances for the Danish outfit. At the conclusion of the season he returned to MLS, signing a loan deal with Saint Louis City. He joined City amid their Leagues Cup run, starting hot by assisting and winning a penalty in his debut match versus FC Dallas. He followed this up with goals in back to back games as Saint Louis reached the Round of 16. His good form continued in MLS. Becher appeared in the 9 remaining games for City, scoring 4 goals and grabbing an assist. 

Alec Smir (UNC/Greensboro,NC) broke into Minnesota United’s first team squad in 2024. The goalkeeper had spent the last two seasons developing with the Colorado Switchbacks of USL-C and United’s Next Pro side. Smir initially began the season with Minnesota 2, logging 8 appearances and helping the club to 4 wins. On June 15th he was permanently signed to the Loon’s senior squad roster. He went on to make 3 appearances in MLS recording 10 saves. Smir kept a clean sheet for United in the First Round of the US Open Cup, as Minnesota beat Chicago House AC 3-0. 

Nick Pariano (Duke/Philadelphia, PA) was one of 6 Ocean City Nor’easters to turn pro over the last year. After signing with the Philadelphia Union as a home grown player, he spent his first season in Philly playing for their MLS Next Pro side. With Union II, Pariano battled through injury and selection challenges to eventually secure a starting role down the home stretch of the season. He helped a talented squad finish 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, scoring two goals from the penalty spot and adding an assist. He started all of Union II’s playoff games, and assisted Cavan Sullivan’s goal in a 4-0 victory over Columbus Crew II in the Eastern Conference final. He ended his first season with 24 appearances, earning 17 starts for a total of 1,802 mins.

MD Myers (Rutgers/Delran,NJ) followed up his golden boot winning 2023 MLS Next Pro campaign by signing for USL-Championship side Charleston Battery. The New Jersey native posted a strong debut season for the Battery in 2024. He scored 14 of Charleston’s 68 league goals including a hat trick versus rivals North Carolina. He added 3 assists in the league and recorded another hat trick in the US Open Cup 4th Round against South Georgia Tormenta FC. Myers and the Battery finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference, reaching the Conference Final before falling to Rhode Island FC.

Mitchell Taintor (Rutgers/Windham,CT) continues to be a leader for San Antonio FC. The club’s captain, Taintor is a key piece of San Antonio’s team on and off the field. He made 27 appearances for SAFC in 2024, starting all but one game. He registered one assist, but it was an important one, setting up the game winner versus Monterey Bay. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Taintor and San Antonio agreed to a multi-year contract deal. Taintor is the all time appearance leader for San Antonio, with 125 games played.

Andrew Privett (Penn State/Fallston,MD) locked down a starting place for Charlotte FC in 2024. The former Nor’easter built on his 2023 debut season and was an essential player in the Queen City club’s defensive-first approach. Despite briefly losing his spot in the lineup following the arrival of Fulham and USMNT legend Tim Ream, Privett earned it back and helped Charlotte reach the MLS Playoffs First Round for the first time in club history. Across all competitions, he finished 2024 with 35 appearances and a total of 3,133 minutes.

Part 2 will cover more professional players including MLS Cup winner John McCarthy, USL-Championship winner Duke Lacroix, and 2019 USL-2 MVP Deri Corfe. 

Future editions will contain updates on the 2024 Nor’easters squad’s collegiate seasons. 

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