Nick Pariano named USL League Two Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Nick Pariano is one of 18 players named divisional players of the year for their standout performances in USL League Two this summer.

Pariano, a YSC Academy grad from Philadelphia who will be a senior at Duke this fall, was chosen by coaches and executives from teams in the Mid-Atlantic Division.

“Nick is a fantastic talent,” Nor’easters head coach Matt Perrella stated in a news release. “He connects the team not only with his poise and presence, but his ball control and passing range are both phenomenal. He’s a great teammate and leader by example. He works hard, he’s fit for 90 minutes, every team could use a Nick Pariano.”

In his second season with the Nor’easters, Pariano was once again one of the anchors of the midfield. He played in nearly every game, helping the Storm finish with an 8-1-5 record, and winning two playoff games. The only game he didn’t play in was the last regular season game of the season after the Storm had already clinched the Mid-Atlantic Division title. In Ocean City’s third straight playoff appearance, he played nearly every minute of the team’s three postseason games. Pariano was one of five players on the roster to play in 13 or more games, and one of four field players to play more than 1,000 minutes.

Pariano was the team’s third leading scorer in all competitions, scoring six goals and dishing out two assists. Three of those goals came in the playoffs. He had two game-winning goals, one of them was in the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Hudson Valley Hammers when he scored a PK in second half stoppage time. He also had a game-winning assist in the season opening road win against Real Central New Jersey.

In his two seasons in Ocean City, he has already cracked the Top 25 in the club’s all-time scoring list with five goals and five assists.

“I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with Nick this season and look forward to following him through his next phase of the game,” Perrella stated. “He’s got to be one of the all time greats for our club.”