The Ocean City Nor’easters (5-0-1) returned to Carey Stadium Sunday night versus Northern Virginia FC (4-2-1), looking for the season sweep. These two teams have met since 2004. Ocean City are 15-0-2 and 8-0-1 at home all-time against Northern Virginia FC.
Six minutes into the game Austin DaSilva attempted to make a play on the ball. While sliding, he tried to gain control of the ball, but the ball went past him and out of bounds. One minute later, Northern Virginia FC was awarded a penalty kick after a player was tripped inside the box. Ocean City goalkeeper Yannik Oettl stopped the shot that kept the game scoreless.
In the eleventh minute, Simon Becher scored with an assist from Will Portman. Becher sent the ball to the upper right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead. This was Becher’s seventh goal of the season. He is tied for second place in total goals with Cyrus Harmon of Kalamazoo FC.
The Nor’easters had three chances to add to their lead but could not locate the net. Then, in the 44th minute, Simon Becher was taken down, resulting in a penalty kick. Theo Quartey took the kick and scored for a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Northern Virginia FC started to make a comeback in the second half. KJ Nadeau of Northern Virginia FC scored off the corner kick, which cut Ocean City’s lead to 2-1. Two minutes later, Northern Virginia FC tied the game when Martin Ngoh directed the ball to the lower-left corner of the net with an assist from Abdul-Rahman Ismail.
In the 67th minute, Simon Becher had a breakaway, took the shot but was saved by goalkeeper Lorenzo Gordon.
On the next possession for Northern Virginia FC, they attacked the Nor’easters defense but could not find the net. As time was winding down, both team’s attackers were aggressive, trying to break the tie. Neither could find the net, and the game ended in a draw 2-2. Both teams were awarded one point in the standings. Ocean City goalkeeper Yannik Oettl made four saves giving up two goals.
The Nor’easters remain in second place in the Mid-Atlantic Division with a 5-0-2 record, their best start since 2007. The draw also extends the club’s unbeaten streak to fourteen games, the second-longest in franchise history.
The Nor’easters next game will be at Kildare’s Turf Field versus West Chester United SC on Wednesday, June 16th, at 7:30 pm.
