Ocean City Nor'easters Announce Formation of Professional Women's Soccer Team

Ocean City, NJ -- Professional women’s soccer is coming to Ocean City.

The Ocean City Nor’easters announced the formation of women’s team that will begin play in the Eastern Development Program (EDP) u23 Women’s Premier League this summer. Bill O’Neill will serve as the team’s first head coach.

“As a franchise, the Nor’easters have been one of the top men’s amateur teams in North America and have provided the opportunity for male players to reach the highest levels of the game,” Ocean City General Manager Kevin Nuss said. “Now, with the success of the US Women’s National Team, the growth of the National Women’s Soccer League and the abundance of talented female players in the state of New Jersey, it only made sense that we offer the community the highest level of women’s amateur soccer and help elevate female players to the professional game.”

Nuss added that his organization is “committed to being a contributing force in the community. The addition of a women’s team helps establish positive role models for young girls, both on and off the field.”

The team will train and play their home games in Ocean City, beginning May 13. Tryouts will take place in March, with more details to be announced in the coming weeks.

O’Neill has more than 30 years of soccer experience, most recently as the head coach at Bryn Athyn College near Philadelphia.

He started all four years as a player at Rowan University and was the team captain during his junior and senior seasons. He captained Rowan to the NCAA Division III national championship in 1990 and went on to play professionally for the USL’s Philadelphia Freedom.

He is a member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame.

“I am hoping to provide guidance to all the women in the program with the skills to be successful on and off the field,” O’Neill said. “Understanding that desire, dedication and determination will be necessary characteristics to achieve your goals in soccer and after soccer.”

The format for the 2016 season of the EDP u23 Women’s Premier League is being finalized and will be announced in the coming months. The 2015 season featured the area’s top teams like the FC Copa, TSF Academy Manhattan Pride, Jersey United and the league champion New Jersey Wildcats.

For more on the league, visit www.EDPsoccer.com.