Real Central NJ Soccer’s (RCNJ) men’s schedule will kick off May 12 in the Mid-Atlantic division against in-state rivals the Ocean City Nor’Easters.
The team then heads into Pennsylvania to play West Chester United Soccer Club on May 15.
RCNJ will host last year’s national runners-up Reading United on June 16.
The club’s matches will be played at the Mercer County Community College soccer complex in West Windsor, with kickoff times set for 7 pm.
“We’re thrilled to be preparing for our first season as a club,” men’s General Manager Ira Jersey said in a prepared statement. “It’s exciting to think that our club might be the first event many families attend post-COVID. But we’ll follow all the state and local protocols to keep the environment safe as well as fun.”
The club’s men’s team will play in USL League Two in the fourth tier of US Soccer. USL League Two is a national league and the leader in pre-professional soccer in North America. Most Major League Soccer college draft picks and many players in the two USL professional leagues were scouted during their time in the league, according to the statement.
Other teams in the division include Philadelphia Lone Star FC, Lehigh Valley United and Northern Virginia’s Evergreen FC.
“We’re in one of the league’s more competitive divisions,” Coach Patrick Snyder said in the statement. “We’ll face strong clubs with rich histories in the sport. But we’ve put together an exciting squad made up of some great local talent; including some guys I’ve watched for years.”
The top two teams in the division will face off against others in the Eastern Conference for League playoffs in late July. The single-elimination knockout tournament then culminates in the national championship match on July 31.
The club has already announced 10 players including many local standouts. Three players are vying for Haitian or New Zealand youth international team spots. The club’s men’s team roster has been fully committed and additional announcements will be made through the opening matchday, according to the statement.
The club’s women’s program will play in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and will announce its schedule shortly.
Fans can see the complete schedule and buy tickets at www.realcentralnj.soccer
Join the club’s mailing list at https://subscribe.realcentralnj.soccer/signup
