U.S. Open Cup 2017: Ocean City Nor'easters Down Junior Lone Star FC In First Round

OCEAN CITY, NJ — For the first time since 2013, the Ocean City Nor’easters men’s soccer team will play in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Nor’easters defeated Junior Lone Star FC, 3-1, in the first round of the 104th edition of the tournament on Wednesday night at Carey Stadium. They will host the Harrisburg City Islanders in the second round on Wednesday night, May 17, at Carey Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

The first round victory for the reigning Premier Development League (PDL) Eastern Conference champion didn’t come easy against an amateur team making its first appearance in the second-oldest, continually operating soccer tournament in the world.

The match came nine days before the regular season opener at home, set for May 19, and although Ocean City had 20 of their 26 players available, preparation didn’t come easy. As a semi-professional team playing in the PDL, many of Ocean City's players are still in college. Therefore, they are unavailable to play until their current semesters conclude. At this time of year, many college classes are still in session.

“We were only able to train together three or four times,” said midfielder Tyler Collishaw, who was responsible for two of the team’s three goals. “It was really tough because we had players coming in at different times. We had one player come in yesterday, we had one player come in just before the game. It’s really tough.”

It’s particularly tough for a team that doesn’t return a single offensive player from last year’s championship squad. Compounding the problem was the absence of Max Hemmings and Rob Gillin on offense, John Schroeder on defense and goalie Todd Morton. Hemmings will join the team at the end of his current semester at Georgia State, while Gillin, Schroeder and Morton will all join the team from the University of Delaware.

Ocean City started the game strong with two goals in the first 10 minutes. Fredlin Mompremier put home the first goal of the match just over three minutes in, with an assist from Ignacio Tellechea. At 10:13, Collishaw got on the board for the first time, with an assist from Ismael Noumansana.

After that, the scoring came to a halt, as neither team could find the back of the net. Ocean City’s offense couldn’t convert any more opportunities, and the defense, behind the play of returning starters Fraser Colmer and Daniel Nimmo, kept Junior Lone Star FC quiet all throughout the first half.

Early in the second half, Junior Lone Star managed to push back against the Nor’easters defense a little more. After Kouassi N’Guessan put Junior Lone Star on the board in the 62nd minute, with an assist from Fane Yaya, a Nor’easters victory seemed a far cry from the certainty that had settled in in the first half.

It wasn’t until Collishaw’s second goal came 20 minutes later, with an assist by Akeil Barrett, that Ocean City’s second round appearance was solidified.

Goalie Will Steiner made four saves for Ocean City, compared to three for Junior Lone Star’s Prince Monyan. Ocean City outshot Junior Lone Star, 12-10.

It was the Nor’easters first game on the artificial turf at Carey Stadium, which was installed over the summer. Collishaw called the turf “really quick” and something the team has to get used to playing on.

It was John Thompson’s first victory as Nor’easters head coach. After the game, Thompson said his team looked disjointed, but will benefit from a full week of preparation before next week’s matchup with Harrisburg.

Harrisburg is a professional team that plays in the United Soccer League (USL). In 2007, Harrisburg defeated Ocean City, 2-1, in the second round of the tournament at Carey Stadium. It advanced to the fourth round of last year’s competition before falling to the Philadelphia Union, 3-2.

This is Ocean City’s first appearance in the tournament since 2014, when it lost in the first round.
In 2013, Ocean City shut out the New York Red Bulls U23s (NPSL) and the USL's Pittsburgh Riverhounds before nearly upsetting the Philadelphia Union of MLS. The Nor'easters scored a 90th minute equalizer at PPL Park, stunning the home crowd, only to see the Union score a game-winner in stoppage time.

Junior Lone Star FC played well in its first tournament, and brought a vocal contingent of fans to Ocean City Wednesday night. It is an amateur team from Philadelphia that consists mostly of West African immigrants, many from Liberia and has been a beacon for the African immigrant community in and around the city. It qualified by winning two qualifying matches last fall.

For more on the tournament, including first round results and all matchups for the second round, visit thecup.us.

Images courtesy Matt Ralph/Brotherly Game