USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks begin 2nd half of season Friday versus Vancouver

Published on July 16, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


The Carolina RailHawks return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday night, when they will face the 2008 USL First Division champion Vancouver Whitecaps in a match that will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel. Kickoff is at 8 p.m.

The RailHawks will also play Estudiantes Tecos of the Mexican First Division in the third edition of Futbol Tecate on Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7 p.m.

At 8-4-3, the RailHawks begin the second half of their season in fourth place, four points back of Puerto Rico and three behind Portland and Charleston. The second half of the season will be significantly more packed than the first. The RailHawks played their first 15 USL-1 matches over the course of 91 days. They will play their final 15 matches over the course of 64.

The RailHawks are looking to continue their recent run of good results. Including their friendlies against the Panama National Team and Wilmington, the RailHawks have won three straight matches and outscored their opponents 5-0.

"I'm excited about it because [Vancouver] are the champions," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "We want to see how well we can play against them. We've been on good form recently and want to really focus on the performance and perform well. If we do that, we'll have a good chance. But we know if we don't do that, they'll be a hard team to beat."

The RailHawks will face another tough team on Saturday. Tecos is in the midst of its preperations for the 2009 Apertura season in Mexico, which begins on July 24. The match with Tecos will be the RailHawks' fifth friendly of the season. The RailHawks are 3-1 in exhibitions this year, having defeated MLS' New England Revolution, the USL-2's Wilmington Hammerheads and the Panama National Team. The lone defeat was to CD Olimpia of Honduras.

"The game will be probably be different personnel playing because it's hard on the guys to play two games in a row," Rennie said. "We know that's going to be a tough game, but it's a slightly different type of game."

Friday's match is presented by Time Warner Cable and the first 2,500 fans will receive a pair thundersticks, courtesy of Time Warner Cable and Fox Soccer Channel. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and there will be Monkey Joe's Inflatables for kids on the councourse.

Saturday's match is presented by Tecate and sponsored by Summit Hospitality Group, Cricket Wireless, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, CARQUEST, Golden Corral and Food Lion. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

SCOUTING VANCOUVER

The Whitecaps (5-6-3) enter the weekend tied with Montreal for seventh place in the USL-1 table. They are 1-2-1 over their last four matches, and they are 1-4-2 on the road this season.

The Whitecaps feature one of the most prolific attacks in the USL-1. Their 20 goals scored are third most in the league, and they've only been shut out twice in 14 matches, fewer than any other team in the league. Their 12.1 shots per game are second only to Portland (14.3).

Seven players have accounted for their 20 goals. Forwards Charles Gbeke, Marcus Haber and Marlon James have scored four goals apiece, while midfielder Martin Nash has three goals and three assists.

While their 19 goals allowed - 13 of which have been conceded away from Swanguard Stadium - are fourth-most in the league, the Whitecaps allow only 8.4 shots per game, second fewest in the league.

SERIES HISTORY

Friday's match will represent the sixth time that Carolina and Vancouver have met, and it is the first of the teams' three meetings this season. They will also play on Aug. 15 in Vancouver and on Aug. 18 at WakeMed Soccer Park. The RailHawks are 1-2-2 in the previous five matches with Vancouver, and the Whitecaps have outscored Carolina 5-4 in the all-time series. In matches against the Whitecaps at WakeMed Soccer Park, Carolina is 0-1-1.

LAST TIME OUT

With a 1-0 win on Saturday, the RailHawks became the first USL-1 team to defeat the Charleston Battery at BlackBaud Stadium this season. The Battery were previously 4-0-3 at home.

Sallieu Bundu scored his second goal of the season in the 26th minute Saturday, redirecting a pass from Josh Gardner for the game's only goal. Eric Reed made three saves to lead Carolina to its ninth shutout of the season and first since June 11.

It was also the RailHawks' third straight win in Charleston, and the result allowed Carolina to retain possession of the Southern Derby Cup for half the year. Because the teams split the designated Southern Derby matches and goal differential was even, the competition's rules dictate the teams share the Cup.

BUNDU, NORKUS NAMED TO TEAM OF THE WEEK

Forward Sallieu Bundu and defender Caleb Norkus were named to the USL-1 Team of the Week for Week 14. Bundu and Norkus were vital in leading the RailHawks to a 1-0 win on Saturday in Charleston, as Carolina became the first USL-1 team to defeat the Battery on their home field this season.

It marks the first time this season either player has been selected to a Team of the Week, and they represent the 11th and 12th different RailHawks to earn such an honor in 2009. It is also the sixth time this year that multiple RailHawks have been named to the same Team of the Week.

SHIELDS SIGNS WITH CAROLINA

The Carolina RailHawks have acquired the Scottish defender Greg Shields.

Shields will provide veteran experience and depth to an already stout defense that has conceded just 10 goals in 15 USL First Division games and has nine shutouts to its credit. The RailHawks rank third in the USL-1 in shutouts, goals allowed and goals allowed per game (0.67).

Shields, 32, spent the last five years playing for Dunfermline Athletic. Dunfermline competed in the Scottish Premier League from 2000-07 and has played in the Scottish First Division the last two years. Shields appeared in 129 matches for the Pars and scored four goals. Shields also spent two years with Dunfermline in 1997-99, where he appeared in 75 matches.

Shields began his career with the Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers. He made his professional debut with Rangers in a 1996 UEFA Champions League tie against Ajax. He appeared in seven matches during his four years with Rangers (1993-97) before joining Dunfermline in 1997.

In 1999, he moved to Charlton Athletic of the English Premier League, where he made 25 appearances and scored two goals in 1999-2002. In 2002, he was also loaned to England's Walsall and Scotland's Kilmarnock. The latter loan turned into a permanent move, and Shields appeared in 53 matches and scored two goals for Kilmarnock before his return to Dunfermline in 2004.

CAROLINA ON FSC

Friday's match will represent the RailHawks' 10th appearance on Fox Soccer Channel over the last three seasons. Carolina is 6-3 in its nine matches to be broadcast by FSC. Dating back to last season, the RailHawks have won four straight FSC games. This season, the RailHawks beat Cleveland 3-0 in Cleveland on May 22, then took down the City Stars 1-0 a week later on Daniel Paladini's 90th-minute goal at WakeMed Soccer Park.

DID YOU KNOW?

Last week's win over Charleston was the RailHawks' first win over a USL-1 opponent in the month of July. Previously, the RailHawks were 0-7-6 in league play during the month of July.

PLAYER NOTES

*Forward Sallieu Bundu scored his second goal of the season last weekend in Charleston, his first since April 18.

*Midfielder Josh Gardner recorded his third assist of the season last weekend in Charleston, tying him for the team lead.

*Forward Aaron King made his official debut for the RailHawks in Charleston. He had previously appeared only in preseason or exhibition matches.

*With three saves at Charleston, goalkeeper Eric Reed earned his fourth shutout of the season and lowered his goals against average to 0.78.

*Midfielder Brian Plotkin made his first start last weekend in Charleston since June 11 against Portland.

STAT LEADERS

Goals: Daniel Paladini, Josh Gardner (3) Assists: Daniel Paladini, Josh Gardner (3) Points: Daniel Paladini (9) Shots: Daniel Paladini (33) Fouls: Amir Lowery, Daniel Paladini (25) Minutes: Mark Schulte (1,470)

USL-1 STANDINGS

Puerto Rico, 8-4-7, 31 points Portland, 8-1-6, 30 points Charleston 8-3-6, 30 points Carolina, 8-4-3, 27 points Rochester, 7-5-4, 25 points Miami, 6-6-2, 20 points Vancouver, 5-6-3, 18 points Montreal, 5-7-3, 18 points Austin, 3-8-6, 15 points Cleveland, 2-10-5, 11 points Minnesota, 2-8-5, 11 points

USL-1 SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 15 Montreal 0, Rochester 0

Friday, July 17 Charleston at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Vancouver at Carolina, 8 p.m. Portland at Miami, 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 18 Charleston at Rochester, 7:35 p.m. Austin at Minnesota, 8:05 p.m.

Sunday, July 19 Puerto Rico at Montreal, 3:45 p.m. Portland at Miami, 6 p.m.

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



USL First Division Stories from July 16, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central