USL League Two update: West Chester United, Ocean City Northeasterners lead Mid Atlantic Division

West Chester United SC has a four point lead at the top of USL League Two’s Mid Atlantic Division, but the the Ocean City Nor’easters are perfect through their first three games with matches in hand.

The Nor’easters got the best of West Chester United last Sunday 2-1 at Carey Stadium in West Chester’s second game of the day after an afternoon Region 1 Amateur Cup semifinal at home. The win vaults them to 3-0 on the young season, well within striking distance of division-leading West Chester United.

Leon Maric got the visitors ahead in just the first minute. Right back Ronald Williams sent a long ball that beat everyone to find his attacker, and Maric finished for an early lead.

Unfortunately for West Chester United, the precarious lead disappeared quickly in the second half, as Ocean City scored twice in three minutes just after the hour mark.

Ulrik Edvardsen capitalized on some sustained pressure in the 62nd minute, poking home a close range effort for the equalizer. Moments later, with the West Chester defense pinned in, Marcel Meinzer played Theo Quartey on a diagonal ball. After a great first touch, Quartey saw the goalkeeper off his line and chipped him for a 2-1 lead that the Nor’easters would keep for the rest of the match.

The home team deserved the win after leading in most stat categories. Ocean City had significant more corner kicks (7-2) and shots (13-4). Despite having to bounce back from the early deficit, the Nor’easters made a statement in the Mid Atlantic Division.

Meanwhile, West Chester United has since bounced back. They headed to Leesburg on Tuesday, defeating Northern Virginia FC 3-2 on goals from Williams, Kyle Hellman, and Connor Bradley. With the win, West Chester sits at 13 points, four higher than Ocean City’s nine, although with three more matches complete.

It’s still early in the 14-game regular season, but the top two sides look like the favorites to fight for the division championship in July.

Other Notes:

Reading United’s slow start continued on Friday, May 21 against Northern Virginia FC. The 2019 national finalist is now 0-3, scoring just two goals through 270 minutes. Casey Moore’s group will get a chance to earn their first points tonight when they host Philadelphia Lone Star FC.

Luckily for Reading United, Philadelphia Lone Star hasn’t had the best start either. The USL League Two era has started off with a 1-3 record for Lone Star, the latest defeat coming at the hands of Real Central New Jersey on Tuesday.

Lehigh Valley United will also attempt to reverse a poor start on Saturday against Northern Virginia FC. The Bethlehem-based club is on a two-game skid, getting outscored 9-0 during that time.