Nor'easters host Reading United in 20th home opener Saturday night

Ocean City seeks to hold on to first place in 40th meeting with long-time rival

Prior to the PDL home opener, the Nor'easters Under-23 team will take on the Reading United Under-23s at 4:30 p.m. at Carey Stadium. Any tickets purchased will be good for both games on Saturday.

The Nor'easters home opener is here. The biggest rivals of the Mid Atlantic Division go head-to-head when Reading United AC visits the Beach House on Saturday, June 4.

The home opener for the PDL team will be the main event of the club's doubleheader to kick off the season on the boardwalk. The Nor'easters Under-23 team will take on the Reading United Under-23s at 4:30 p.m. at Carey Stadium. Any tickets purchased will be good for both games on Saturday.

Not only are bragging rights up for grabs, but also first place in the division. Ocean City sits at the top of the table heading into the weekend matchup with Reading just two points behind in third place.

Over the years, the rivalry between the Ocean City Nor’easters and Reading United AC has been a friendly but a competitive one. Reading began their inaugural season the year before the Nor'easters (then known as the South Jersey Barons) in 1997. Both teams began as third division professional teams in the USL before moving to the PDL (Ocean City in 2003, Reading in 2004). The two teams have played each other every season since 1997 except for a two-year break between 2008-09.

As the Nor'easters celebrate the club's 20th season, Saturday will mark the 40th meeting between the two clubs with the Nor’easters holding the advantage in the all-time series with a 18-14-7 record.  However, the last few years, Reading has gotten the best of Ocean City. The Nor'easters have not beaten United since 2013 and have just one win in their last 13 meetings.

Both sides have produced over 30 players who have gone on to elite levels in soccer.  Many have been drafted and play in Major League Soccer.  Former Ocean City defender, Ken Tribbett, has played a big part in the success of the Philadelphia Union this season. He has featured in eight games, scoring one goal and keeping two clean sheets in his rookie season this year. His Union teammate and former Reading forward, C.J. Sapong, has 34 career MLS goals since joining the league in 2011.  Both players are just a couple of examples of the top-notch talent that both teams have sent on to the professional level.

Miguel Jaime has been the big name for Ocean City so far this season with four goals to his name. He is currently tied for second in the PDL in goals. His penalty in the 85th minute against Lehigh Valley United Sonic on Wednesday completed the comeback in an intense 2-1 win.  Jaime has been able to use a combination of pace and finesse to tear defenses apart early on.

Chevaughn "Chevy" Walsh is another offensive threat for the Nor’easters.  Like Jaime, he has scored four times this season, including the 10th hat trick in club history against Evergreen Hammers on May 28.  He will look for more of the same in the rivalry matchup.

On the defensive side of the ball, Center Back Daniel Nimmo has been tough to get by.  He was named to the PDL Team of the Week for his strong work in the 3-0 over Baltimore to start the season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carey Stadium in Ocean City, NJ. Fans unable to make it out to The Beach House can listen to the game on WLFR 91.7 FM or online at www.WLFR.fm. You can also follow the action on the team's Twitter account @OCNoreasters.

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For individual tickets, click HERE. For group tickets, email tickets@oceancityfc.com, or call the ticket office at (609) 736-4849.

For more information on the Ocean City Nor'easters or to "Follow the Storm" on social media, go to www.oceancityfc.com/followthestorm or text "FOLLOWTHESTORM" to 22828 to join the "Storm Watch" e-newsletter.

The Ocean City Nor’easters is a professionally run amateur soccer club with the focus of developing, educating and promoting soccer, health and leadership. Located in Ocean City, New Jersey, “America’s Greatest Family Resort”, the Nor’easters provide quality entertainment to families throughout the Tri-State area and the thousands of visitors every summer.

The Nor’easters organization was established in 1996 and made Carey Stadium, in Ocean City, NJ, its permanent home in 2005. Competing in North America’s top amateur league, the Premier Development League (PDL), the Nor’easters provide the highest level of soccer in Southern New Jersey. The 65-team PDL is the 4th level of soccer in the United States, below the professional leagues; Major League Soccer (MLS), North American Soccer League (NASL) and United Soccer League (USL). As part of the PDL, the Nor’easters’ have the sixth-best overall record since joining the league in 2003 and have upset five professional teams in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, third-most of any amateur team in the country. Ocean City players have the ability to compete during the summer months in a professional environment while maintaining their collegiate eligibility and pursuing their academic goals.

 

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