On the left, JT Noone in a Harrisburg City Islanders uniform (Photo: PennLive.com), while on the right, he battles for the ball for Ocean City FC in last year’s U.S. Open Cup third round match at D.C. United (Photo: Bill Pellegrino)

Another former Ocean City FC player has worked his way up to the pinnacle of club soccer in the United States. J.T. Noone, who played for the Nor’easters (then known as the Barons) during the 2009 season, has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

Noone was a major factor in Ocean City’s greatest season ever as he lead the team to the quarterfinals of the PDL playoffs and helped them reach the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup where they suffered a narrow loss to D.C. United of MLS. He was third on the team in scoring with three goals and three assists.

The Harrisburg native came up big in a number of important games that year, including a goal during the team’s 3-0 upset of Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) in the opening round of the U.S. Open Cup, and the game-winning penalty kick in the 108th minute of overtime in Round 2’s 1-0 upset of the Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2). Noone also assisted on both goals in the team’s 2-0 opening round playoff win over the Long Island Rough Riders and scored the game-tying goal in Ocean City’s 2-1 overtime win over the previously undefeated Ottawa Fury.

"We are very pleased that JT will finally get his chance to shine in Major League Soccer," said Ocean City FC head coach Neil Holloway. "He has been very patient and worked extremely hard adn deserves this opportunity. We are proud that we were able to play a major part in his development from college soccer to the pros. [Nor’easters president] John Granese is a season ticket holder with the Union so he will be watching JT’s continued development in MLS."

JT Noone signs autographs after a game with the Harrisburg City Islanders. Photo: PennLive.com

After a tremendous high school career at Central Dauphin in Harrisburg, he moved on to Temple University where he broke (former Ocean City FC player) Tony Donatelli’s career assists record and was an All-American in his junior year. Noone went undrafted in the MLS Super Draft, but earned a tryout with the Union.

After going back and forth training with the Union and the City Islanders, he eventually signed a contract with Harrisburg. Noone played 14 games for the City Islanders and picked up two assists as his hometown team fought for a playoff spot. Just as he did with Ocean City the year before, he also played a big role in the club’s run through the U.S. Open Cup.

He had a goal and an assist in the team’s 4-2 overtime win over the Brooklyn Italians (USASA) in Round 1 and followed that up with a game-winning assist in the club’s 1-0 win over the Long Island Rough Riders (PDL). In the third round, he helped the team upset the New York Red Bulls (MLS), and they nearly pulled off two MLS upsets in a row, but just like Ocean City did the year before, they lost on the road to DC United, 2-0.

On July 14, Noone was given the opportunity to play against a world power. He suited up for the Union as a guest player and played in the second half in a friendly against Scottish powerhouse Celtic FC.
 
On July 27, he was in the starting lineup for the City Islanders in an exhibition game against Philadelphia on City Island in Harrisburg. He played the first half for the home team, and at halftime, he put on a Union jersey and played the second half with what would be his new club three days later. The match finished in a 1-1 draw.

Noone becomes the first Temple player to sign an MLS contract and is the first Ocean City FC player to sign with MLS since Adam Williamson played for the New England Revolution in 2006.