Ocean City Nor'easters Qualify For Second Straight U.S. Open Cup

OCEAN CITY, NJ — After missing out on the U.S. Open Cup for two straight years, the Ocean City Nor’easters men’s soccer team finds itself in the highly prestigious national tournament for the second consecutive year. The Nor’easters are one of 19 Premier Development League (PDL) and 94 teams overall that qualified for the 115th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open, the club announced on Wednesday.

The country’s oldest cup competition kicks off on May 9, when the Nor’easters will face another amateur team in the opening round. The winner will likely face a professional side from the United Soccer League. First round matchups and potential second round pairings will be announced on April 4.

"We can't wait to open up the 2018 season in the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup and add to the club's achievements in this historic tournament," Nor'easters head coach John Thompson said. "This year's format allows for a lot of regional matchups and the possibility of matches against clubs we would normally not get to play against. The goal is always to make the fourth round, which is when the MLS clubs join the competition. We achieved this in 2009 and 2013 and, both occasions were the best nights in club's history."

After losing to the New York Greek American Atlas SC in the first round of the 2014 tournament, the Nor’easters were left out of the competition in 2015 and 2016. Last year, Ocean City picked up its first win in the competition since 2013, when it defeated Junior Lone Star FC, 3-1, at Carey Stadium, known to Nor’easters fans as The Beach House. In the second round, the Nor’easters fell to Harrisburg on sudden death penalty kicks.

"We are excited to be back in the US Open Cup for the second year running," Nor'easters general manager Giancarlo Granese Jr. said. "As a club we are looking forward to making another cup run and our goal is to see our players on the same field with professional players. The Open Cup is always an exciting time because our players get a chance to potentially test themselves against the pros and it gives our players some tremendous national exposure."

This will be Ocean City’s ninth appearance in the U.S. Open Cup, and the club is looking to build on its past successes. Only two amateur teams in the country (Michigan Bucks and the Des Moines Menace, both of the PDL) have more Open Cup wins (9) and professional team upsets (5) than Ocean City has as a PDL team. Of those five wins over professional opposition, all of them were shutouts in front of their home fans, outscoring the pros by a combined score of 10-0.

The first pro upset came in 2005 with a 4-0 win over the Long Island Rough Riders (USL-2). The next two upsets came in 2007 and 2009 against the same team, Crystal Palace Baltimore. In 2009, they pulled off a second straight stunner with a 1-0 extra time win over the Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2). That earned them a date with DC United of Major League Soccer. They traveled to Maryland and lost a close 2-0 decision to the defending Open Cup champions.

Despite the disappointing loss that year, Ocean City's silver lining was that the club was awarded the prize for advancing the farthest as an amateur (or USL) team, which back then fetched the club $10,000 in prize money. Should they pull off the same feat this year, they would earn $25,000. That prize money increase is new this year. It was $15,000 last year.

In 2013, the Nor'easters claimed their fifth professional victim with a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, which earned them a spot in Round 3 again where they had a chance to upset the Philadelphia Union (MLS). In that game, Emmanuel Kollie scored a 90th minute equalizer for Ocean City at PPL Park, but their upset hopes were dashed when the Union scored a controversial game-winner in second half stoppage time.

In addition to the increased prize money for going farthest as an amateur or USL team, the tournament winner will receive $300,000 (up from $250,000 last year) and the runner-up will receive $100,000 (up from $60,000). The winner will also play in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.

Modeled after England's FA Cup, the US Open Cup is the second-oldest continually-operating soccer tournament in the world and has been the national championship for the United States since it launched in 1913. The tournament is open to professional and amateur teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) to Sunday beer league teams and everything in between.

The tournament begins in May and runs throughout the summer, with this year’s championship game tentatively set for Sept. 26. Sporting Kansas City is the reigning champion.

For the full list of teams, key dates and matchup explanations, visit oceancityfc.com.

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