NASL Fall Season Week 7 Preview

Published on September 12, 2013 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


(MIAMI, Fla. September 12, 2013) - A proud unbeaten record could fall this Saturday in the seventh week of North American Soccer League Fall Season action and revenge will be on the agenda too.

The Carolina RailHawks have proved unbeatable at home in 2013 and nobody has beaten the defending 2012 NASL champion and top of the table Tampa Bay Rowdies during the current campaign. The two teams meet at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7pm ET on Saturday and unless the game ends in a draw, one of those streaks is going to end.

Last week the Rowdies benefited from a dramatic last minute own goal to defeat the RailHawks 3-2 in Tampa Bay, so Carolina will be eager to settle a score.

"We escaped last match with the three points, and we expect them to come out in Cary looking for revenge," said Rowdies coach Ricky Hill. "I've expressed to the players that picking up the three points is crucial for our aspirations to reach the Soccer Bowl."

Second placed Carolina's last home loss came in the 2012 NASL Playoffs when an 85th minute goal saw them fall 2-1 to Saturday's opponent the Rowdies on October 6. The RailHawks boast league top scorer Brian Shriver, who has 12 goals in the race to win the NASL Golden Boot, while the Rowdies can call on third-leading scorer Georgi Hristov (9 goals) and fifth-placed marksman Luke Mulholland (5 goals).

"It is unique to play the same team in back-to-back weeks," said RailHawks coach Colin Clarke. "After a disappointing result in Tampa, the team is ready to get back on the field. Fans are going to be able to see another exciting match between two sides that like to attack."

The New York Cosmos are only a point off the pace and Minnesota United are two points behind three teams tied at the top of the NASL standings and they meet at Hofstra University, also at 7pm ET on Saturday. Enjoying a second straight home game, the Cosmos have won twice - both with dramatic injury time goals - and drawn once, while Minnesota has twice been victorious on the road.

United FC boss Manny Lagos, whose side welcomes back the league's fourth-leading scorer Pablo Campos (8 goals) from suspension, said: "The table is really tight. It's been a frantic start to this season for a lot of teams. We have had some good moments; we have had some heartbreaking moments. I think we are learning a lot about ourselves and its important that we improve on the things we did well over the weekend and get ready for this challenge because we know its going to be a big one."

Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese said: "Minnesota is going to be another interesting test for us. They have a different mix of players that will present challenges to us, but we're going to work hard this week and be prepared for a big match on Saturday."

At 7.30pm on Saturday, the Atlanta Silverbacks host the San Antonio Scorpions knowing that a home win pushes Atlanta back into contention to win a unique spring and fall title double and that San Antonio needs to capture its first three points of the season to stay in touch with the leading pack.

The Scorpions have fallen agonizingly to late goals twice this season and when they last visited Silverbacks Park, a Danny Barrera goal four minutes from time condemned them to a 1-0 defeat. Interim coach Alen Marcina picked up his first point in charge with a credible 0-0 draw away to the in-form Fort Lauderdale Strikers last week.

"First, we need to take them for what they are; they're a good soccer team," said Silverbacks coach Brian Haynes. "I watched their game against Fort Lauderdale, and they played a great game and had a great game plan. Their players are willing to play to for their new interim head coach, and they didn't seem to give up anything. Even though they were playing a man down, they still had chances to score and win it."

Scorpions coach Marcina, whose free-scoring strike pair of Hans Denissen (10 goals) and Tomasz Zahorski (5 goals) failed to find the net for the first time between them last week, added: "Atlanta is a very good team. They proved that by getting to the Soccer Bowl. But at the same time, we had a great result in Fort Lauderdale. The team came together and played what was maybe our best defensive game all year."

On Sunday at 4pm ET, FC Edmonton welcomes the resurgent Fort Lauderdale Strikers to Clarke Stadium. Only three points but four places in the table separate the sides with the Strikers joint top on points and in third spot by virtue of goal difference.

The seventh-placed Eddies, who are only a win out of first place, have won once and drawn twice at home this fall and a six-game unbeaten home run stretches back to May when the Strikers were the last time to beat them north of the border.

"This next game against Fort Lauderdale is crucial," said FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller. "This is the most competitive league in North America - possibly in professional soccer. I don't know of any other league that has three points separating first and seventh place. Our goal is to get three points against the Strikers and remain in the hunt for the 2013 Soccer Bowl."

The Strikers drew 0-0 last week and remain unbeaten in four games having put together a three-game winning streak that fired them up the standings in the quest to qualify for NASL Soccer Bowl 2013 as the Fall Season champion.

"Every game now is important, everyone is pretty close to the top of the table," said Strikers head coach G-nter Kronsteiner. "We had a chance to be in first place after the last game, but we could only come out with a point against San Antonio. Now Edmonton is going to be very tough at home. We need to stay focused on defense and find our chances to score, and come out of there with points."

Tickets for NASL Soccer Bowl 2013 are now on general sale and can be purchased by calling 404-969-4900 or booking online at www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com.

Week 7 Schedule - (All kickoff times US EST)

Saturday, September 14

Carolina RailHawks vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C. 7:00 pm

New York Cosmos vs. Minnesota United FC

Hofstra University; Hempstead, N.Y. 7:00 pm

Atlanta Silverbacks vs. San Antonio Scorpions

Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga. 7:30 pm

Sunday, September 15

FC Edmonton vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Clarke Stadium; Edmonton, AB. 4:00 pm

NASL Standings P W D L F A P

Tampa Bay Rowdies 6 2 4 0 13 9 10

Carolina RailHawks 6 3 1 2 8 5 10

Fort Lauderdale Strikers 6 3 1 2 6 6 10

New York Cosmos 6 2 3 1 6 7 9

Minnesota United FC 6 2 2 2 8 7 8

Atlanta Silverbacks 6 1 4 1 5 5 7

FC Edmonton 6 1 4 1 5 5 7

San Antonio Scorpions 6 0 1 5 8 15 1

Tiebreakers: 1.) Goal difference 2.) Goals scored 3.) Head-to-head 4.) Away goal difference 5.) Away goals scored

This Week In The NASL

NASL (Shared) Player of Week 6

Goalkeepers Joe Nasco of the Atlanta Silverbacks and the Tampa Bay Rowdies' Diego Restrepo both turned in spectacular performances NASL Week 6 action, which earned them a share of the North American Soccer League Player of the Week honors.

"I'm both humbled and honored to be selected as NASL Player of the Week. I'm glad I was able to come up with some crucial saves in New York this weekend, but at the end of the day, that's what I'm called upon to do week in and week out. I owe a big thanks to our team and our coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to be in this position." - Joe Nasco, Silverbacks Goalkeeper

"I am happy for receiving this award and especially after picking up the win. We owed the win to the fans and we were all excited that we were able to get the three points. It's great to work alongside Andrew Fontein and (Goalkeeper Coach) Slobodan Janjus, who both push me to become a better goalkeeper day in and day out." - Diego Restrepo, Rowdies Goalkeeper

NASL Team of Week 6

Goalkeeper

Joe Nasco, ATL

Made several key saves to keep the Cosmos at bay

Defenders

Cristiano Dias, MNU

Brazilian native scored his team's goal and was solid at the back

Luka Vucko, SAS

Croatian put in a captain's performance in a three-man defense

Rafael Alves, FTL

Brazilian was steady at the back and cleared a goal bound shot off the line

Midfielders

Marcos Senna, NYC

Spaniard ran the midfield and slotted home a cool penalty kick

Ty Shipalane, CAR

South African always an attacking force and scored his team's goal

Evans Frimpong, TBR

Ghana native pulled his team level with a goal

Miguel Ibarra, MNU

Impressed again in midfield a claimed another assist

Forwards

Georgi Hristov, TBR

Bulgarian scored and was a constant attacking threat

Etienne Barbara, TBR

Malta native had two assists in his team's win

Corey Hertzog, FCE

Scored a quick equalizer to claim a point

Full story

Rowdies International Contingent Shine Under 'NASL Spotlight'

Bulgarian Georgi Hristov, Ghana's Evans Frimpong, Etienne Barbara of Malta, Venezuelan Diego Restrepo and Zimbabwe native Lucky Mkosana all played a key role for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a 3-2 victory on Saturday evening over the Carolina RailHawks that earned top spot in the NASL Fall Season standings.

Every Monday throughout the 2013 Fall Season, the North American Soccer League (NASL) will put its international stars - both coaches & players - under the 'NASL International Spotlight' focusing on the league's overseas connections.

OKC NASL 2015 Releases Temporary Team Crest And Website

OKC Pro Soccer, LLC has released a temporary crest for the North American Soccer League expansion team, set to play at the newly renovated Taft Stadium in 2015.

The crest is featured on a new team web page - www.okcnasl2015.com.

"Bringing this level of professional soccer to Oklahoma City will be another defining moment for our city and state. We greatly appreciate the early support shown by fans, community leaders and business partners. We are committed to giving everyone the best professional soccer experience possible and are excited to share this working logo with our fans as we continue building our operation." - Tim McLaughlin, majority owner of OKC Pro Soccer, LLC.

NASL Soccer Bowl 2013 Tickets Available To Visiting Fans

Soccer fans planning to visit Atlanta to experience NASL Soccer Bowl 2013 on November 9 can now buy tickets for a designated traveling fans section, benefit from a discounted hotel rate and be part of a special fan event.

Visiting fans will have access to a designated area at Atlanta Silverbacks Park where they can congregate to enjoy the game and show their support. The NASL will hold additional seats for fans of the Fall Season champion whose team will line up against the Spring Season title winners the Atlanta Silverbacks.

"We expect soccer fans from across the NASL to meet up at Atlanta Silverbacks Park to celebrate the climax of the season and in the case of two groups of fans, to support their team in NASL Soccer Bowl 2013. The atmosphere will be electric with the visiting fans able to cheer for their team from a designated section of the ground." - Andy Smith, Silverbacks General Manager

Tickets for NASL Soccer Bowl 2013 are now on general sale and can be purchased by calling 404-969-4900 or booking online at www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com.

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 12, 2013


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