Seven key players from last year's Ocean City Nor'easters team that finished with an historic undefeated regular season will be back for the 2023 USL League Two campaign. .

When the Nor’easters take the field for the club’s 26th season (20th in USL League Two), they have a handful of familiar faces. First-year head coach Matt Perrella, who was an assistant on last year’s team that finished 11-0-3, brings back six players who accounted for over half the team’s offense in 2022, including four award winners.

Alessandro Arlotti (Harvard / San Remo, Italy)

In his first season in Ocean City, Arlotti made quite a first impression on Nor'easters fans in 2022. He became the first player in club history to score a goal in each of the first three games of the season. He would finish as the team leader in goals (8), assists (6), and minutes played (1,244). Arlotti was involved in 14 of the club's 28 goals either as the goalscorer or the assist man. The most impressive stat was the seven game-winning plays, which ranked among the league leaders. He scored four game-winning goals and dished out three game-winning assists on the season. Arlotti also won the league's Goal of the Week award for the final week of the season for his incredible volley against the Philadelphia Lone Star in the season finale. Arlotti was voted the team's MVP and the Offensive Player of the Year.

Last fall, in Arlotti’s sophomore season at Harvard, he finished as the school’s second leading scorer with 5 goals and 7 assists (17 points). The Crimson finished with a 9-4-4 record.

Daniel Diaz-Bonilla (Syracuse / Vienna, VA)

Diaz-Bonilla was one of five players who played in all 14 regular season games for the Nor’easters. He finished third on the team in scoring with three goals and three assists. He scored the lone goal in the Storm’s road win over Reading United AC on June 17.

After playing three great seasons with Princeton, including being the third-leading scorer for the Tigers in 2022, Diaz-Bonilla will be transferring to Syracuse next fall. He was an All-Ivy League honorable mention selection with four goals and three assists on the season.

Galen Flynn (St. Louis Univ. / West Hartford, CT)

Flynn was a big part of the Nor'easters' record-breaking defense in 2022. Statistics don't always tell the full story in the game of soccer, as Flynn played a big role in creating goalscoring opportunities and played exceptional defense all season long. As a result, the Fordham University product was named Ocean City's Creative Player of the Year. Flynn was one of five players on the roster to play every game for the Nor'easters, and finished third on the team in minutes played (1,198). He scored a goal and added two assists, with two of those three scoring plays leading to game-winners. Flynn scored the game-winning goal on June 11 in a 3-1 road win over Lehigh Valley United. He also added a game-winning assist on May 27 in a 2-1 home win over the Philadelphia Lone Star FC.

Flynn played three seasons at Fordham University, including winning an Atlantic-10 championship. This past season, his season was cut short by injury. Next season, he is transferring to St. Louis University.

Kyle Galloway (Marist College / Rutgers / Manahawkin, NJ)

Galloway returns to the Beach House for his second season. The Manahawkin native scored three goals in nine games for the Nor’easters in 2021, helping the Storm reach the conference playoffs. While he didn’t return for the 2022 campaign, he was on the team roster for Ocean City’s 2022 US Open Cup First Round match. He came off the bench in the first half and played the remainder of the game against Lansdowne Yonkers FC. Galloway would score his attempt in the penalty kick shootout, which the Nor’easters lost 4-3. He returned for the Nor’easters 2023 US Open Cup run, starting the club’s Second Round game on the road against the Maryland Bobcats (NISA)). He assisted on Kaleb Jackson’s opening goal, but Ocean City would fall 3-2 in extra time on a Maryland goal on the final kick of extra time.

Galloway spent four seasons at Rutgers before spending a graduate season at Marist College. In his last college season in 2021, Galloway started 19 of the 21 games he played in, scoring seven goals (2nd best on the team) and dished out a team-leading six assists, to finish as the team’s second-leading scorer. He was also second on the team with three game-winning goals. He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference MVP.

Galloway helped lead the Red Foxes to the program’s first-ever MAAC regular season championship, and then followed that up with the fourth MAAC tournament title in school history. Galloway would score a goal in the championship game and also convert a penalty kick as Marist edged Rider 5-3 in the shootout after a 2-2 draw. Marist finished with 12 wins, which is tied for the most in program history, but the Red Foxes’ season came to an end in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, falling to Providence, 2-0. It was just the third time that Marist had reached the NCAA tournament, and the first time since 2005.

Nick Pariano (Duke / Philadelphia, PA)

Pariano was one of the most consistent players for the Nor'easters in 2022. The midfielder was one of five players who played in every game, and he played nearly every minute of the season. Pariano scored two goals and added three assists. While he was a strong candidate for the team MVP award, his commitment to the club and the city are what set him apart for the team’s Nor’easter Award. His hard work during games is matched by his hard work in training. Not to mention bringing energy while working with kids in the Nor'easters Summer Vacation Camps. His passion and commitment for the game earned him the nickname "Mr. Ocean City" from the technical staff.

Pariano added another successful season at Duke to his resume. The former Philadelphia Union academy player started all 19 games for the Blue Devils who finished with an undefeated regular season for the first time since 1999. He led the team in assists (7) and was named to the All-ACC Second Team.

Felix Schafer (Santa Clara / Berlin, Germany)

One of the most consistent traditions over the last 25 seasons with the Ocean City Nor'easters is the talented goalkeepers who have played at the Beach House. With all the future pros who have started in goal for Ocean City, Felix Schafer did something none of them have ever done. He was named the USL League Two Golden Glove winner as the top goalkeeper in the league. The award is based on statistics like goals allowed and save percentage. It was a historic year for Schafer who broke the club record for goals against average with a 0.55. He just barely edged out Pat Hannigan’s 2004 mark of 0.56. Schafer was a big reason why the Nor’easters finished with the club’s first undefeated regular season since 2004. He finished the regular season with a 10-0-2 record and five clean sheets, which is one shy of the club record set in 2007 (Adam Edwards). He helped Ocean City close out the unbeaten regular season strong with four straight clean sheets (3-0-1), finishing the season with a 409-minute personal scoreless streak, which is approaching the club's regular season record. The clear cut choice for the Nor’easters’ Defensive Player of the Year award, Schafer was also a finalist for the USL-2 Player of the Year award. He won the fan vote, but would fall short in the overall voting.

In his first season with Santa Clara, Schafer earned the starting job and finished with a 1.36 goals against average and earned four clean sheets in 12 games.

Marco Torino (St. Peter’s Univ. / Westchester, NY)

This will be the fourth season at the Beach House for Torino. The Westchester, NY native played for the Nor’easters in 2018 and 2019, helping the Storm achieve back-to-back winning seasons. Torino also played a big role in the club’s exhibition games. He scored two goals in a 7-1 win over D.C. United Under-23s (July 13, 2018) and played in the team’s friendly against European power SL Benfica in 2019. He returned to Ocean City last season where he was one of five players on the roster to play in every game of the team’s undefeated regular season.

Torino spent most of his college career at Saint Peter’s University after transferring there from Hartwick College. He scored four goals and dished out two assists over 30 games (23 starts), which included an injury-shortened junior season. He was on the conference’s All-Academic Team three years while at Saint Peter’s.