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Match Preview: RailHawks Travel to Fort Lauderdale in Search of Three Vital Points

October 16, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, NC (October 16, 2015) - The Carolina RailHawks will be looking to add to their win streak Saturday night at 7:30 pm ET against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium. The match will be broadcast live locally in North Carolina on WRAL2 and on nationally on ESPN3.

The RailHawks are aiming to earn three more points in the standings for their playoff push. With 32 points in the combined standings, the RailHawks are only three points out of a Championship spot, with two games remaining after Saturday's game in Fort Lauderdale.

This is the third time the teams have met this calendar year. The RailHawks hosted the Strikers on July 8th, which resulted in a 1-1 draw. Additionally, the two teams met once in the Spring Season where the RailHawks defeated the Strikers 1-0 at Lockhart Stadium, after Tiyi Shipalane scored one of his six goals in 2015.

The RailHawks are coming off two hard-earned victories at home. On October 10th, the RailHawks dominated Jacksonville Armada 3-0, and three days later defeated FC Edmonton 2-1, both Championship contenders.

Last Wednesday, the RailHawks turned the heat on from the beginning of the match and created offensive pressure, which materialized in the 10th minute when former N.C. State standout Nazmi Albadawi scored his sixth goal of the season.

The Eddies equalized in the 45th minute off a penalty kick, but Akira Fitzgerald let nothing past him for the remainder of the game. Ultimately, Nacho Novo put the RailHawks on top in the 82nd minute with a superb goal from inside the box; his tenth goal of the season.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers have lost three of their last four games and are coming off a 2-1 away loss against Minnesota United FC. Minnesota struck early, scoring a goal in the 6th minute and again in the 27th. The Strikers finally put themselves on the board in the 78th minute, but the two early Minnesota goals proved to be insurmountable.

After Saturday's match the RailHawks will next play at Al Lang Stadium at 7:30 pm ET on Saturday, October 17th against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The last game of the season is also a home game in which the RailHawks will host the Indy Eleven at WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday, October 30th at 7:30 pm ET.

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