USSF D-2 North Carolina FC

Carolina ties Timbers, 0-0

Published on September 11, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. - The Carolina RailHawks played the Portland Timbers to a 0-0 tie on Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.

"It's probably a fair result," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "We played some good stuff in the first half and I thought they did better in the second. I thought it would be a game like that where it would be close and you'd have to take that one or two chances and we just didn't take them tonight."

The shutout is the RailHawks' second straight at home, the first time all season they've done that. Goalkeeper Nic Platter made four saves to post his second clean sheet of the year.

"With Portland, they're going to dump it in and throw their big men forward and you have to deal with the waves," Platter said. "Tonight, it was a team effort from all 11 players, and it was great."

The RailHawks had the run of play for most of the first half. In the second minute, Tom Heinemann sprang free Josh Gardner, whose left-footed brace was turned away by Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin (five saves).

In the 17th minute, Carolina midfielder Floyd Franks collected the ball at the top of the area, took a touch to his right then ripped a shot just over the crossbar.

In the second half, Portland came out from intermission as the aggressor. In the 51st minute, Platter turned away Keith Savage's header, with a little help from the crossbar. One minute later, Platter denied Stephen Keel's header from close range.

The remainder of the match generated little in the way of scoring opportunities until stoppage time. Carolina midfielder Daniel Paladini saw a ball through an opening in the Timbers' backline and Matt Watson raced into the area with his eye toward the far post. His shot went past Cronin then scooted past the goal.

"Two clean sheets in a row, that's a good thing," Rennie said. "I'm just a bit disappointed we couldn't capitalize on our two or three chances we did have."

The RailHawks play their next match on Wednesday, Sept. 15, when they will square off against the NSC Minnesota Stars at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. They return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, Sept. 25, when they will face the Puerto Rico Islanders.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from September 11, 2010


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