NLSA SURF AND REAL CENTRAL NJ SECURE MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Mercer County, NJ – May 7, 2025 — NLSA Surf and Real Central NJ are proud to jointly announce that Mercer County Community College (MCCC) will serve as a primary training and playing venue beginning with the 2025/26 season.

MCCC has long been a central hub for high-level soccer in the region; offering an ideal setting for both youth development, amateur, and pre-professional competition. Conveniently located in the heart of Mercer County with direct access to major highways, the campus provides a central, accessible, and high-quality environment for training sessions and gameday. 

“We are excited to start hosting our ECNL-RL game days at MCCC”, said Brian Thomsen, NLSA Surf Club Director. “As a premier facility with a family friendly environment, we will be providing our players, opponents, and families with an incredible game-day experience. Additionally, we will use MCCC as a primary training site for our ECNL-RL teams, and will host our NPL games and other high profile games here”, continued Thomsen. 

“With the growth of our club comes the need for additional training space for our WPSL & USL2 teams, and game day facilities for our full-year men’s teams” said Ira Jersey from Real Central NJ. “We are excited for this partnership with NLSA Surf to ensure area players have a high quality facility to call home”, continued Jersey.

“This move represents a major step forward for both organizations,” said Rob Marino from NLSA Surf and Ben Chrnelich from Real Central NJ. “Our shared commitment to delivering best-in-class soccer experiences for youth and adults is now backed by a facility that reflects that standard.”

NLSA Surf continues to lead the way in youth soccer development, offering a comprehensive and competitive platform for aspiring players. The club’s girls’ teams compete in the prestigious ECNL Regional League, NPL, and EDP, while the boys’ teams participate in the NPL and EDP leagues—providing high-level match experiences across all age groups. 

In addition to league play, NLSA Surf teams attend top national showcases and tournaments each year, ensuring our players are consistently challenged and exposed to college coaches, scouts, and elite competition.

Real Central NJ Soccer provides top-tier opportunities for players at the pre-professional level through its participation in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and for men in USL League Two. Real Central NJ also provides full year men’s teams playing in competitive adult leagues, runs U23 summer programming, and hosts supplemental summer youth teams. This partnership with MCCC provides a top class training and match facility for the club’s second teams, U23 teams, and youth programs.

The MCCC soccer stadium previously served as Real Central NJ’s WPSL & USL2 home field in 2021 and 2022. The stadium was the site of the 2022 WPSL Eastern Conference tournament following Real Central NJ’s conference title. 

Follow the clubs’ social media accounts for details regarding upcoming programming, match schedules, and community engagement opportunities at MCCC.

For media inquiries, contact: Ben Chrnelich