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 4 of an article series tracking active Nor’easter Alumni. Parts 1 - 3 can be found here:

2024 Ocean City Alumni Recap

2024 Ocean City Alumni Recap Part 2

2024 Ocean City Alumni Recap Part 3

Read on to see how the next group of pros did in 2024!

Abdi Salim (Buffalo State Univ./Syracuse/Nairobi, Kenya) represented 3 different clubs and the Somali national team in 2024. Salim appeared in the second leg of Orlando’s CONCACAF Champions Cup tie versus Calvary, helping the Lions re-take the lead and win the series. Salim also logged 4 games with Orlando City B in MLS Next Pro, including 3 starts. When trialing with Detroit City FC in the USL Championship, he scored the winner against Liga MX side UNAM Pumas in a friendly. He went on loan with Detroit and made 3 appearances, helping Le Rouge make the postseason. 

Salim played 2 games with the Somali national team, starting both an AFCON Qualifier versus Eswatini, and a World Cup Qualifier against Botswana. Salim, who played in 7 games for Ocean City in the 2022 division winning season, was selected in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City. The 2022 College Cup winner is currently a free agent after 2 seasons with The Lions. Recently, Salim has joined FC Cincinnatti for their 2025 preseason camp in Clearwater, FL but has yet to sign an official deal with The Orange and Blue.

Ben Martino (Virginia Tech/Pittsburgh,PA) completed his fourth overall professional season and second as a Home Grown Player with Nashville SC. Martino logged 15 appearances with Nashville’s MLS Next Pro Side Huntsville City. He helped earn 3 wins for Huntsville, including a 5 save performance to record a clean sheet in a 1-0 win on the final match day versus NYCFC II. Martino appeared on Nashville’s match day squad as the backup keeper 5 times, including the second leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup fixture against Inter Miami. Martino, who logged 3 appearances with Ocean City in the division winning 2022 season, will pursue other options after parting ways with Nashville following the 2024 season.

Nykolas Sessock (Pittsburgh/Indiana Univ./Philadelphia, PA) played a key role in Inter Miami II’s qualification to the post-season. Capable of playing either fullback position, Sessock appeared in all but one game for the Next Pro side, and was a team captain. He made 27 starts and totaled 2,348 minutes on the field. His offensive contributions were notable, including a two game stretch where he scored the winner versus Cincinatti 2 and bagged 2 assists versus Orlando City B. He ended the season with 6 assists and one goal. Sessock started and went 76 minutes in Miami II’s playoff match versus Columbus Crew II as Miami were knocked out. Sessock, who was a member of the 2021 Nor’easters squad, remains under contract with Inter Miami II into 2025.

Ryan Becher (Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County/UCLA/Hummelstown, PA) appeared in all 31 games for Saint Louis City 2 in the 2024 MLS Next Pro season. Becher made 13 starts, mainly at forward but was also deployed in center or right midfield. He logged 2 goals and added 4 assists across 1,420 minutes on the field. Notably, he recorded a goal contribution in 4 straight games between June 7th and July 1st. He saw action in all 3 of City2’s playoff games, helping his team reach the Semi-Finals where they lost to eventual champions North Texas SC. Becher, whose 3 goals helped Ocean City capture a second straight division title in 2023, will move on from the Saint Louis organization as a free agent.

Anthony Herbert (Farleigh Dickinson Univ./St. John’s Univ./Brooklyn, NY) helped New Mexico United win the first trophy in club history in 2024. Shortly after signing from Finnish club FC Haka, Herbert became a starting center back with New Mexico. He went on to log 2,171 minutes and made 24 starts in all competitions. Herbert’s steady presence on the back line saw New Mexico finish atop the Western Conference, the first time such a feat was achieved for United. He logged a full 90 minutes in both of United’s playoff games, helping defeat Phoenix Rising 2-1 before falling to the Las Vegas Lights. Additionally, Herbert contributed to The Black and Yellow’s US Open Cup run. He started all 4 of their games, and scored the third goal in a Round of 16 win over NYCFC II. New Mexico reached the Quarter-Finals but lost to eventual champions LAFC. Herbert made 9 appearances for the Nor’easters in 2021, helping the squad reach the USL-2 Conference Semi-Final. He remains under contract with New Mexico United for 2025.

Harry Swartz (Northeastern University/Needham, MA) demonstrated great versatility, and his trademark toughness, in what would be his final season as a professional. Swartz has always been capable of playing multiple positions, but he took it to the next level in 2024. Swartz recorded starts in 7 different positions, contributing at defense, midfield, and forward. After missing a month due to injury, he returned to the squad on August 11th against Indy Eleven, scoring the equalizier that sparked United’s comeback. Just three days later on the 14th, Swartz was subbed on versus FC Tulsa and bagged a brace to tie the game at 3-3, securing a point for New Mexico. 

United would finish as the #1 seed in the Western Conference, marking the club’s, and Swartz’s, first career trophy. After the season, Swartz announced his retirement as a player. He ends his career with 124 appearances, totaling 22 goals and 11 assists across 8,603 minutes. He spent his first two seasons with Hartford Athletic, and was named their first ever Team MVP in 2019. Swartz featured for the Northeastern Huskies in the NCAA DI, grabbing two All-Conference 2nd team nods and an All-Region 3rd Team placement. As a member of the 2015 Ocean City squad, Swartz logged 12 appearances, scoring once and assisting twice.

Check back next week for Part 5!

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