After falling behind early, the Ocean City Nor’easters stormed back with three unanswered goals to beat West Chester United, 3-1 in the opening game of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Nor'easters received goals from Andres LaTorre, Dylan Evande and a penalty kick from Andre Sabino.

With the win, Ocean City advances to the Second Round where they will face the Maryland Bobcats, a professional team in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). The game will take place on April 5 at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Md.

This is Ocean City’s fourth straight win against West Chester. Three times last year against the USL League Two team and now against their Open Division Local Qualifying team (United Soccer League of Pennsylvania).

Matt Perrella, who was victorious in his Nor'easters head coaching debut, noted this was different. The other team didn’t know him, and he didn’t know what to expect against this WCU roster.

“We know from the division, you know, to understand what formation was used - but they had no idea how we were gonna play,” Perrella explained. “Obviously, they knew what (former head coach Kevin Nuss) liked to do and my initial thought was to stick in that 4-3-3 and kind of just battle it out. But we gave them a totally different look and they couldn't quite solve the equation and it made it difficult and stubborn for them to break down.”

This was the Nor'easters' 12th win as an amateur team, the third-most of any amateur team in the Modern Era (1995-present) behind the Flint City Bucks (15) and the Des Moines Menace (13). The team also kept its perfect road record against amateur teams intact in the tournament (4-0-0).

West Chester arrived into the game with the flashier roster. Included in the group of young players was former FC Cincinnati and Philadelphia Union star James McLaughlin. He, however, struggled for most of the night against the Ocean City midfield.

West Chester’s group got on the board first in the 12th minute. A long pass from Luca Mellor reached forward Finn Reese. The former Nor'easters player got behind the defense and around goalkeeper Brady Hochman. His shot was on a near open net to make it 1-0.

Coach Perrella wasn’t ready to hit the panic button though. Coming into the game he never believed a West Chester United match-up was going to be a one goal affair. Plus his group had trailed in both preseason matches ahead of this one.

“I wasn't concerned going down when nothing is going to be a hundred percent,” he explained. “Just totally honest about how I felt the game flow was.”

It didn’t take long for the Nor’easters to respond with the goal of the game, and likely a candidate for Goal of the Round. A corner kick sent the ball into United’s box where it tipped around from head to head. A battle between teams left it coming out of the box where Andres Latorre slammed it to the top of the netting to make it 1-1.

Following the break, the back-and-forth continued before Dylan Evande struck home. Another Ocean City corner kick came off the foot of Kevin Curran on the near side. The ball lifted towards the far post where Evade headed it home to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute.

The game was sealed not long after when West Chester was called for a handball in their box. André Luis Delgado Sabino “Dedé” scored a penalty kick in the 67th minute, low and down the middle, to make it 3-1.

Throughout the match West Chester continued to pressure the Ocean City backline and keeper Brady Hochman. Multiple saves, including an incredible one in the 72nd, never allowed West Chester to get back into the match.

“Brady Hochman was fantastic," said Perrella, a former goalkeeper himself. “You know, people doubted his ability beforehand and him and I had a session yesterday and he was amazing in that session and just wanted to continue to build his confidence and give him the encouragement that he deserves.”

Hochman finished with six saves.

When Ocean City takes on the Maryland Bobcats in Round 2 they will play on the road at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Md. The last time the Nor'easters played on that field was in 2009 when they went toe-to-toe with D.C. United of Major League Soccer in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.