Photo courtesy of Owen DeCorte

Real Central New Jersey officially kicked off their 2026 summer campaign this past month, playing games in both USL League Two and The League for Clubs. RCNJ are currently playing their home matches at Mercer County Community College in Hamilton, New Jersey.

After an opening loss in their TLFC debut, RCNJ bounced back in USL2 play with back-to-back home wins by an aggregate score of 5-1. Some head coaching changes took place between the two USL matches, as the club looked to finalize its leadership. Jake Newrinski, who formerly played for both Vancouver Whitecaps and St.Louis City, was named the head coach of the USL2 squad. Christopher Coridon, current assistant at Tiffin University, took over the TLFC side, and Bonniwell Graham is now leading the U23 team.

RCNJ’s USL2 matches continued after their second win in a row, a 1-0 home win over Reading United AC. On the road to Lehigh Valley United Rush on the 30th, a second-half goal from Sebastian Tis put the visitors ahead 1-0, a lead they held on to. A day later, in TLFC play, Real Central New Jersey lost their second match in their first two games, 2-1 to First State FC. The visitors were a man down a majority of that match, but still came out with the win. RCNJ heads on the road for their next game in each competition before returning for a total of seven home games (out of 16 total) throughout June.

Now, let’s take a look at some match reports from this past month.

5/20 – ULS2 Opener – At Home vs PA Classics

Real Central NJ took a 3-1 lead into halftime in their 2026 USL League 2 opener, a home match against PA Classics Pre-Professional. Three different RCNJ players scored in the first half, and a fourth scored early in the second half on the way to a 4-2 win.

Elias Betancourt got the scoring started in the 8th minute, but the game was quickly levelled by Eljo Agolli, who knotted the fixture up at 1-1 just a minute later. Malachi Neal was dealt a yellow card ten minutes later, but his mood was certainly lifted after teammate Daniil Kaban gave his side the lead in the 22nd minute. Christopher Hines had to be removed in the 28th minute, likely due to injury, and was replaced by Nathan Linden. A penalty won by RCNJ in stoppage time was converted by Andrew Kitch, giving the home side a two-goal advantage at the break.

The second frame started with a bang for RCNJ as Ayoub Fask made the advantage three. Both sides made changes (Seven across three stoppages in USL2 play) as the clock ticked closer to 90, but in the 81st minute PA started to climb back into the game. Jeter Cardona, the visitor’s starting striker, beat goalie Josh Snyder to make it a 4-2 game. That would be the last goal of the game, though, as RCNJ held on and earned their first three points of the year.

Real Central NJ Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Josh Snyder, Max Schrader, Malachi Neal (Santiago Lopez – 70’) Charlie Kitch, Kaelan Debbage, Christopher Hines (Nathan Linden – 28’), Elias Betancourt (C), Ayoub Fask, Andrew Kitch (Roan Harrington – 70’), Edward Peralta (Javon Daniels – 61’), Daniil Kaban (Bora Turker – 61’)

PA Classics Lineup (4-2-3-1)– Ethan Beck, Bennett Wehibe, Caden Bredeman (Andy McClintock – 81’), Max Titterington, Corron Hovington (Noah Rose-Smith – 57’), Griffith Brubaker (Levi Christie – 70’), Tristan Warner (Christian Cardenas – 46’), Nate Hovan, Jack Brown (C), Eljo Agolli (Camden Marquette – 70’), Jeter Cardona

Scoring Summary:

RCNJ: Elias Betancourt – 8’

PA: Eljo Agolli – 9’

RCNJ: Daniil Kaban – 22’

RCNJ: Andrew Kitch – 45+’

RCNJ: Ayoub Fask – 48’

PA: Jeter Cardona – 81’

Disciplinary Summary:

PA: Tristan Warner – 16’ (YC)

RCNJ: Malachi Neal – 18’ (YC)

PA: Griffith Brubaker – 25’ (YC)

PA: Jeter Cardona – 88’ (YC)

5/27 – ULS2 – At Home vs Reading United AC

After a 4-2 win in their USL2 season opener, Real Central NJ (2-0-0) took down Reading United AC 1-0 at home on Wednesday night, behind a penalty from captain Luke Pompliano. Reading lost their opening fixture 3-1 on the road to LVU Rush, and now sit at 0-2-0 through two matches.

Neither side started particularly strongly in this one, with just four shots being recorded in the first half. Michiharu Takanashi nearly created a goal early on as he played Zeke Zambrano in on goal, but Zambrano’s pass across the face of the net was claimed diligently by Tyler Sloan. A 14th-minute challenge on Lorenz Guintini forced Reading into a substitution; Guintini was helped off the field by teammates with an apparent knee injury. The breakthrough came a few minutes later as Andrew Kitch drew a foul in the box to earn RCNJ a penalty, which his teammate Luke Pampliano converted. A few minor chances came and went before the halftime whistle blew with the hosts up 1-0.

Action started early in the second half as Edward Peralta earned a yellow card within 60 seconds of the restart. Santiago Apolaro, who would go on to get himself a yellow card as well, just missed a shot from the top of the box a few minutes later. Subs came on and off as the game progressed, with the best chance of the chunk of the half coming from Adrian Kang Hagman, who came on in the first half for the injured Guintini. His travella shot was headed goalbound if not for a tip-save. RCNJ allowed Reading to take the ball and try to do something with it, which they nearly did in stoppage time. Substitute Louis Guffroy rifled a shot at Sloan, who’s attempt at a catch failed as it slipped through his fingers and onto the crossbar. Fortunately for the hosts, no RUAC player was there to follow up, and the scoreline held.

Real Central NJ Lineup (4-2-2-2) – Tyler Sloan, Anthony Durling (Mathew Lynch – 67’), Max Schrader, Charlie Kitch, Kaylin Debidge, Chris Hines (Roan Harrington – 79’), Edward Peralta, Ayoub Fask (Daniil Kaban – 67’), Javon Daniels (Nathan Brown – 55’), Andrew Kitch, Luke Pampliano (C)

Reading United AC Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Mathias Christiensen, Emil Nymann Anderson, Edgar Ojeda (Christ Aaron Kadja – 85’), Jake Thomas, Thomas Cole, Daire McCarthy (C) (Jack Kennedy – 75’), Santiago Apolaro (Quinn Olcott – 79’), Charlie Williams (Louis Guffroy – 79’), Lorenz Guintini (Adrian Kang Hagman – 18’), Zeke Zambrano (Brennen Lamont – 85’), Michiharu Takanashi (Nicolas Papadopoulos – 77’)

Scoring Summary:

RCNJ: Luke Pampliano -8’ (Penalty)

Disciplinary Summary:

RCNJ – Edward Peralta – 46’ (YC)

RUAC – Santiago Apolaro – 72’ (YC)

League Positions

USL2: Mid-Atlantic Division

1. LVU Rush – 5 games played, 5-0-0, 15pts
2. Ocean City Nor’easters – 2 games played, 2-0-0, 6pts
3. Real Central NJ – 3 games played, 2-1-0, 6pts
4. Philadelphia Lone Star FC – 5 games played, 3-2-0, 9pts
5. West Chester United SC – 4 games played, 1-2-1, 4pts
6. Delaware FC – 4 game played, 1-2-1, 4pts
7. Reading United AC – 3 games played, 1-2-0, 3pts
8. PA Classics – 4 games played, 0-3-1, 1pt
9. Eagle FC – 4 games played, 0-3-1, 1pt