MATTHEWS, N.C. — In what could have been the biggest upset of the second round, the Ocean City Nor’easters surprised the Charlotte Independence behind a 3-1 triumph at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex Wednesday night.

Ocean City scored early and often as the visitors raced to a 2-0 advantage behind a pair of Kyle Gurrieri goals.

Gurrieri knocked home a rebound of a Williams N’Dah shot from atop the box before he connected on a Deri Corfe feed at the back post only three minutes later for the Premier Soccer League side

Corfe continued his playmaking in the 44th minute, finding Fredlin (Fredinho) Mompremier at the top of the penalty before he finished at the near post.

Jorge Herrera a goal back for the United Soccer League club in the 58th minute.

Ocean City will travel to North Carolina FC for a third-round match at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Tuesday, May 22.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.