The Ocean City Nor’easters (1-0) started the 2023 USL League Two season on Saturday night under new head coach Matt Perrella and the 26th season in club history, of which 20 are in the USL League Two. They visited Ben Cohen Field on the campus of Rider University against Real Central New Jersey for the third year in a row.
After a scoreless first half, the Nor’easters jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute when Nick Pariano made a cross pass to Sander Roed for a shot to the lower left corner past a diving Eric Wnorowski and into the net.
Ocean City goalkeeper Felix Schafer broke the club record for the longest shutout streak in the 52nd minute which was set in 2007 by Adam Edwards (460). Schafer extended his streak to 499 minutes. The last time any team scored on Schafer was on June 29, 2022, against West Chester United.
Schafer made two saves, earning a clean sheet for the sixth time in his Ocean City career, tying John McCarthy for third-most in club history. On the other side, RCNJ goalkeeper Eric Wnorowski made six saves.
The Nor’easter defeated Real Central New Jersey by the final score of 1-0. They extended their unbeaten road streak to 15 games, and a 16-game overall streak. In addition, Ocean City are also unbeaten in seven season opener games. The last time they lost a season opener was in 2015.
The Nor’easters play the Lehigh Valley United next Wednesday at 7 pm on Eleven Sports.
