Real Central New Jersey

American soccer team

Soccer club

Real Central New Jersey

Full name| Real Central New Jersey Soccer
Founded| 2020
Stadium| Ben Cohen Field at
Rider University
Lawrence Township,
New Jersey
Owners| Ben Chrnelich, Ira Jersey, Jeremy Ryan
Head Coaches| USL2 - Brian Woods, WPSL Brian Thomsen, EPSL - Ira Jersey
League| USL League Two

Women's Premier Soccer League

Eastern Premier Soccer League
Website| Club website

Home colors

Away colors

|

Real Central New Jersey is a soccer club from Trenton, New Jersey, United States, founded in 2020. The club's men's First Team competes in the Mid-Atlantic Division of USL League Two, and began playing in the 2021 season.[1] The women's team participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League.

The club marks the first soccer team to play in Mercer County since the Penn-Jersey Spirit of the now-disbanded American Professional Soccer League last played in 1991[2] and the New Jersey Wildcats which folded in 2012. Like the Spirit, RCNJ intended to play out of The College of New Jersey's Lions Stadium.[3] Due to COVID-19 related issues, the club played its first two seasons at Mercer County Community College. The USL2 team kicked off the season against in-state rivals the Ocean City Nor'easters,[4] losing 3–0.[5]

In its inaugural campaign, Real Central NJ's WPSL team placed second in the Metropolitan Conference South. After besting MatchFit Academy in the semi-finals, the team lost to the NJ/NY Gotham FC Reserve team in the conference finals.[6]

The club's women's program is coached by Brian Thomsen, the Technical Director of Next Level Soccer Academy in Pennington, NJ.[7] The men's first team inaugural coach was Patrick Snyder, former college and PDA Soccer staff coach. Following the 2021 season, retiring William Patterson men's head coach Brian Woods was named to the clubs USL team top job.[8]

In 2022, the RCNJ WPSL team topped the Mid-Atlantic Conference with a record of 6-1-1.[9] The team secured the title on the last matchday of the season with a 3-2 home victory against Lehigh Valley Tempest, earning the club the duty of hosting the Eastern Region Playoffs.[10] The team lost to VT Fusion in the regional semi-final in kicks from the penalty mark after 120 minutes of scoreless play.

In 2023, the club's USL2 side placed 3rd in the Mid-Atlantic Conference with a 6-6-2 record. Among the season highlights was attacker Stas Korzeniowski's 18 minute hat-trick against Philadelphia Lone Star in the opening match of the season. The club believes this to be the fastest hat-trick in league history.[11][user-generated source?]

The RCNJ men's program also participates in the Delaware River Conference of the Eastern Premier Soccer League and fields a team in the Garden State Soccer League.[12]

## Professional Expansion

[edit]

In November 2022 RCNJ and the United Soccer League announced the club would exploring professional expansion efforts. According to a joint press release, "The USL League Two side is aiming to bring men's and women's professional soccer to Central Jersey."[13] No additional details have been publicly released. In April 2024, League One Updater stated "while the project is active and progressing, it is still in the early stages, indicating a jump in 2026 at the very earliest."[14]

## Year-by-year

[edit]

Year  | Level | League  | Reg. Season  | Playoffs  | U.S. Open Cup

|
|
|
|
|

2021  | 3  | Women's Premier Soccer League | 2nd, Metro Conf. South  | Conf. Finalist  |
2021 | 4  | USL League Two | 7th, Mid Atlantic Div.  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2021-2022  | 5  | Eastern Premier Soccer League | 3rd, Delaware River Conf  | qualified |
2022  | 3  | Women's Premier Soccer League | 1st, Mid-Atlantic Conference  | Lost in first round PKs  |
2022 | 4  | USL League Two | 3rd, Mid Atlantic Div.  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2022-2023  | 5  | Eastern Premier Soccer League | 5th, Delaware River Conf  |  | Lost to Jackson Lions in first qualifying round
2023 | 4  | USL League Two | 3rd, Mid Atlantic Div.  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2023  | 3  | Women's Premier Soccer League | 3rd, Keystone Div.  | did not qualify |
2023-2024  | 5  | Eastern Premier Soccer League | 6th, Delaware River Conf  |  | Lost to United German Hungarians in first qualifying round
2024 | 4  | USL League Two | 4th, Mid Atlantic Div.  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2024 | 3  | Women's Premier Soccer League | 3rd, Central Div.  | did not qualify |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Expansion:2021 USL League Two". Soccer America. October 28, 2020.
2. ^ "Real Central Jersey Soccer club plans to return pre-professional teams to the Mercer County area". Central Jersey. June 13, 2020.
3. ^ "Real Central New Jersey Soccer Announced As Latest Addition to USL League Two". USL League Two. July 9, 2020.
4. ^ "USL 2 pro soccer club Real Central NJ sets schedule for inaugural campaign". NJ.com. March 12, 2021.
5. ^ https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/game/show/30583604?subseason=731558&referrer=6185708 [bare URL]
6. ^ "NJ/NY GOTHAM RESERVES CLAIM METROPOLITAN SOUTH DIVISION TITLE IN INAUGURAL WPSL SEASON". www.wpslsoccer.com. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
7. ^ Ryan, Jeremy (August 18, 2020). "BRIAN THOMSEN NAMED HEAD COACH OF NEW WOMEN'S PRE-PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM". Real Central NJ. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
8. ^ Ryan, Jeremy (September 21, 2021). "BRIAN WOODS NAMED USL2 HEAD COACH". Real Central NJ. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
9. ^ "WPSL Standings | Women's Premier Soccer League".
10. ^ "Real Central Nj Soccer Hosts WPSL Eastern Conference Championships". July 13, 2022.
11. ^ "Real Central NJ Soccer on Instagram: "Remember Stas Koreniowski's #hattrick last week vs Philly Lone Star? Well, another team suggested that, at 18 mins, it might be the fastest hatty in #USL2 history. No one, including the league, has data to refute it. So, we're calling it 📣 #FastestHattrickInLeagueHistory !!"".
12. ^ "Real Central NJ Soccer Becomes Founding Member of Delaware River Conference of Eastern Premier Soccer League". Eastern Premier Soccer League. August 30, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
13. ^ Staff, USLLeagueOne com (November 7, 2022). "USL and Real Central New Jersey exploring professional soccer expansion". USL League Two. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
14. ^ "USL League One Expansion Teams: Progress Update - League One Updater". April 23, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

USL League Two

Eastern Conference|

| Northeast|

* AC Connecticut
* Albany Rush
* Black Rock FC
* Boston Bolts
* Boston City FC
* Pathfinder FC
* Seacoast United Phantoms
* Vermont Green FC
* Western Mass Pioneers

|

Mid Atlantic|

* Lehigh Valley United
* Ocean City Nor'easters
* Philadelphia Lone Star FC
* Reading United AC
* Real Central New Jersey
* West Chester United SC

Metropolitan|

* Cedar Stars Rush
* Hudson Valley Hammers
* Ironbound SC
* Long Island Rough Riders
* Manhattan SC
* Morris Elite SC
* FC Motown STA
* New Jersey Copa FC
* Staten Island Sporting Athletic Club
* Westchester Flames

Chesapeake|

* Charlotesville Blues
* Christos FC
* Lionsbridge FC
* Northern Virginia FC
* Patuxent Football Athletics
* Virginia Beach United FC
* Virginia Marauders FC

South Atlantic|

* Charlotte Eagles
* Charlotte Independence 2
* North Carolina FC U23
* North Carolina Fusion U23
* Salem City FC
* South Carolina United
* Tobacco Road FC
* Wake FC
* West Virginia United

Central Conference|

| Great Lakes|

* AFC Ann Arbor
* Flint City Bucks
* Kalamazoo FC
* Lansing City Football
* Michiana Lions
* Midwest United FC
* Oakland County FC
* Union FC Macomb

|

Valley|

* Cleveland Force FC
* Dayton Dutch Lions
* FC Buffalo
* Fort Wayne FC
* Kings Hammer FC
* Toledo Villa FC

Heartland|

* Chicago City SC
* Chicago Dutch Lions
* Des Moines Menace
* Peoria City
* River City FC
* St. Charles FC
* Sueno FC
* FC Wichita

Deep North|

* Bavarian United SC
* Minneapolis City SC
* RKC Third Coast
* Rochester FC
* St. Croix Legends
* Thunder Bay Chill

Southern Conference|

| South Central|

* Asheville City SC
* Athens United
* Birmingham Legion 2
* Dothan United
* East Atlanta Dutch Lions
* Southern Soccer Academy Kings
* Tennessee SC

|

Southeast|

* Brevard SC
* Brooke House FC
* Florida Elite Soccer Academy
* Inter Gainesville KF
* NONA FC
* Brave SC

South Florida|

* Miami AC
* Sarasota Paradise
* St. Petersburg FC
* Swan City SC
* Tampa Bay United
* Weston FC

Mid South|

* Blue Goose SC
* Hattiesburg FC
* Little Rock Rangers
* LA Krewe FC
* Mississippi Brilla FC

Lone Star|

* AC Houston Sur
* AHFC Royals
* Corpus Christi FC
* Hill Country Lobos
* Houston FC
* Twin City Toucans

Western Conference|

| Mountain|

* Albion SC Colorado
* CISA
* Flatirons Rush SC
* New Mexico United U-23
* Salt City SC
* Utah United
* Utah Avalanche

|

Northwest|

* Ballard FC
* Capital FC Atletico
* Lane United FC
* Midlakes United
* FC Olympia
* Tacoma Stars
* United PDX
* West Seattle Junction FC

Nor Cal|

* Academica SC
* Almaden FC
* Davis Legacy SC
* Marin FC Legends
* Monterey Bay FC 2
* Project 51O
* San Francisco City SC
* San Francisco Glens

Southwest|

* AMSG FC
* Arizona Arsenal SC
* Capo FC
* Coachella FC
* FC Tucson
* Redlands FC
* Southern California Eagles
* Ventura County Fusion

Seasons|

| as USISL Premier League|

* 1995
* 1996

|

as PDSL|

* 1997
* 1998

as PDL|

* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018

as USL League Two|

* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Miscellaneous|

* Previous clubs
* United Soccer League
* USL Championship
* USL League One

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in New Jersey

Baseball|

Somerset Patriots
SAL
Jersey Shore BlueClaws

New Jersey Jackals
Sussex County Miners
MLBDL
Trenton Thunder

Basketball|

ABA
Garden State Warriors

Football|

NFL
New York Giants
New York Jets

Hockey|

NHL
New Jersey Devils
NAHL
New Jersey Titans
Philadelphia Rebels

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Garden State Rollergirls
Jersey Shore Roller Girls

Soccer|

MLS
New York Red Bulls
MLSNP
New York Red Bulls II
USL2
Cedar Stars Rush
Morris Elite SC
FC Motown
New Jersey Copa FC
New York Red Bulls U-23
Ocean City Nor'easters
Real Central New Jersey
NPSL
Atlantic City FC
FC Monmouth
NWSL
NJ/NY Gotham FC

College athletics
(NCAA Division I)|

* Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
* Monmouth Hawks
* NJIT Highlanders
* Princeton Tigers
* Rider Broncs
* Rutgers Scarlet Knights
* Saint Peter's Peacocks
* Seton Hall Pirates

College athletics
(NCAA Division II)|

* Bloomfield Bears
* Caldwell Cougars
* Felician Golden Falcons
* Georgian Court Lions

College athletics
(NCAA Division III)|

* Centenary Cyclones
* Drew Rangers
* Fairleigh Dickinson Florham Devils
* Kean Cougars
* Montclair State Red Hawks
* New Jersey Lions
* New Jersey City Gothic Knights
* Ramapo Roadrunners
* Rowan Profs
* Rutgers Camden Scarlet Raptors
* Rutgers Newark Scarlet Raiders
* Saint Elizabeth Screaming Eagles
* Stevens Ducks
* Stockton Ospreys
* William Paterson Pioneers

Former|

* Defunct sports clubs and teams in New Jersey

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