NASL Minnesota United FC

NSC Minnesota Stars Road Trip Continues With Match Against Carolina RailHawks

Published on April 16, 2010 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (April 16, 2010) - The NSC Minnesota Stars continue their season-opening road trip Friday night with the second of three consecutive away games to kick off the 2010 USSF Division 2 Pro League season. The Stars take on the Carolina RailHawks at 6 p.m. CST at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

The Stars began their season April 11 with a 2-0 road loss to 2009 USL First Division finalists the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Stars were unlucky not to take a lead into the halftime break after hitting the post and seeing a great opportunity saved, but Vancouver attacked relentlessly in the second half, scoring twice to earn the win.

The road doesn't get any easier for the Stars this week. Carolina has lost only twice at home under second-year head coach Martin Rennie. The RailHawks got their season off to a winning start last Saturday with a 2-0 win at home against expansion team AC St. Louis. Maltese international Etienne Barbara, playing in his first match for the RailHawks, scored both goals in the first half.

Barbara is just one player Stars head coach Manny Lagos said his team will have to keep an eye open for. He also singled out midfielder Cory Elenio and defender Amir Lowery for praise, as well as a familiar face to longtime soccer fans in Minnesota.

"Anyone who's just scored two goals is going to have a lot of confidence and be a handful going forward," Lagos said. "They're a very good team, very strong in the back. Former Thunder player Mark Schulte does a good job to help organize that back line."

Breaking down that back line is one of the challenges Lagos set forth for his team during practice this week. After a good showing in the first half against Vancouver last Sunday, the Stars struggled to maintain possession and create chances in the second half.

"Our job is to disrupt that cohesiveness at the back," Lagos said. "We have to keep the ball and take their attacking prowess away."

For complete pregame notes, including team rosters, please visit www.nscminnesota.org/news/match_notes/index_E.html.

Other notes

* Joe Warren will start in goal for the Stars Friday night in place of the injured Louis Crayton. Crayton left Sunday's game in Vancouver shortly before halftime with an injured left knee. Crayton had an MRI on Thursday, but the full extent of his injury is not yet known. Matt Van Oekel, who signed with the Stars on Wednesday, will be Warren's back up.

* Friday night's game, and all NSC Minnesota Stars games in 2010, will be broadcast live online. Gamecasts are free and available at www.NSCMinnesota.org.

* The Stars have also signed Japanese midfielder Kentaro Takada. Takada played in 2009 for the Rochester Thunder of the Premier Development League.

* The Polish soccer federation released Neil Hlavaty's registration to the Stars on Wednesday, making him eligible to play. His registration arrived too late for him to make the trip to Cary on Friday, but he will be available for the April 21 match against the Puerto Rico Islanders.

NSC Roster Goalkeepers (2): 1 - Joe Warren, 27 - Matt Van Oekel

Defenders (5): 3 - Andres Arango, 6 - Kevin Friedland, 8 - Daniel Wasson, 11 - Chris Clements, 14 - Brian Kallman

Midfielders (6): 7 - Andrei Gotsmanov, 10 - Johnny Menyongar, 15 - Devin Del Do, 16 - Kyle Altman, 19 - Simone Bracalello, 21 - Leilei Gao

Forwards (2): 9 - Warren Ukah, 18 - Melvin Tarley

NSC Injuries Out: Vorgen Less (Achilles' tendon), Louis Crayton (knee)

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