Sports
Ocean City Nor'easters Open Home Season Tonight
The team showcases some of the best amateur soccer players in the nation as they try to rise to the professional ranks.
The Ocean City Nor'easters play their in the Premier Development League (PDL), the top amateur soccer league in North America, at 6 p.m tonight (Sunday, May 22) at Ocean City High School's Carey Stadium.
The PDL includes some of the top amateur players in the nation trying to improve their skills, get noticed and rise to the ranks of professional soccer in the U.S.
Neil Holloway, the club's head coach and general manager, enters his fifth season in charge of the team and has 15 players who either return to the team from last year or have played for Ocean City in the past. He has also added a number of young, talented players from the region.
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Special events include a shooting competition with prizes, a free raffle and halftime entertainment. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children, and available at the game.
The Nor'easters have a 72-31-29 record in the PDL since they joined the league in 2003, including a home-field record of 41-12-14.
Find out what's happening in Ocean Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The team includes a pair of young, talented midfielders from Ocean City: Giancarlo Granese and Junior Chapman.
Granese, the son of Ocean City FC president John Granese, had a solid first season last year at the PDL level. Granese started seven of his 13 games played, and was second on the team with three assists. After red-shirting his first season at Hofstra last year, he transferred to La Salle University. He played in four games for the Explorers in his debut season.
Chapman scored three goals for La Salle this year and brings a lot to Ocean City with his ability to play any position on the field. He can play as a forward, midfielder, and fans could even see him at outside back in 2011.
When the upcoming season comes to a close, Byron Carmichael (Marshall University) will finish his eighth season in the Premier Development League, and will walk away as Ocean City FC's all-time leader in every statistical category that is kept. He is the club's longest tenured player.
For information on group ticket deals and family packages: oceancityfc.com
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