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NASL North Carolina FC

RailHawks Blank Strikers in Dominant 3-0 Win

October 9, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


RailHawks Blank Strikers in Dominant 3-0 Win
RailHawks Blank Strikers in Dominant 3-0 Win
(North Carolina FC, Credit: Rob Kinnan)

Cary, N.C. - Hungry for three points towards their playoffs push, the Carolina RailHawks (10W-7D-11L; 37 pts; 6th place) defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (8W-8L-11L; 34 pts; 9th place) 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at WakeMed Soccer Park. Goals from Austin da Luz, Brian Shriver and Matt Watson, with assists from Matt Fondy and Nazmi Albadawi gave the home team the advantage. Albadawi's helper broke the Modern Era NASL record for assists in a single season.

The RailHawks came out strong, finding good opportunities early, as they opened with a Fondy shot in the sixth minute that just bounced off the left post after Steven Miller played him a through ball.

In the 22nd minute, Shriver rocketed down the field, breaking away and appearing as though he was going to have a one-on-one chance with Strikers goalkeeper Bruno Cardoso. However, the generous forward looked to pass to a teammate and waited just a second too long, as the Strikers caught up and blocked the effort.

Just three minutes later, the RailHawks didn't pass up their next opportunity, as da Luz scored from inside the box to give Carolina the lead. Fondy set his teammate up perfectly, allowing da Luz to head in the cross past Cardoso.

With the momentum, the RailHawks were looking to add another tally as an Albadawi shot in the 30th minute sailed a bit high over the crossbar. Looking dangerous, Fondy beat a defender to send a cross to his captain, but Albadawi wasn't able to get his shot on location.

Shriver, who is Carolina's all-time leading goal scorer, redeemed himself in the 42nd minute with a goal to the top left corner of the net after Albadawi's record-breaking assist on a set piece play.

"That was spur of the moment," said Shriver about his goal. "Obviously when Naz [Albadawi] and Tiyi [Shipalane] are on the ball, or it might've been da Luz, three creative guys, [I] kind of looked back, saw Naz, he called my name, and flipped it over the wall and took the first touch and was trying to put it on goal."

Goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre supplemented his team's offensive efforts with a spectacular first half, denying the Strikers continuously by making five saves.

Picking up right where they left off, in the 52nd minute Tiyi Shipalane darted down the field, ahead of Strikers players, giving the RailHawks a chance to add another goal, but da Luz's following shot was blocked.

After an exchange of opportunities, Carolina's next close chance came 20 minutes later as the dominant Shriver connected with a pass from Shipalane, but his shot hit the left side of the box.

Keeping up pressure, Fondy looked to give his team a larger lead in the 80th minute, forcing Cardoso to make a diving save as he pushed the ball away with his fingertips. Despite Cardoso's efforts, the RailHawks added yet another goal just two minutes later as Matt Watson found the back of the net from a shot outside the box.

One more close chance came for the RailHawks in the 84th minute as the team came near to closing out their dominant display. A shot from Kareem Moses rocketed off the cross bar to nearly give the defender his first goal of the season.

By preserving the clean sheet throughout the game, Sylvestre picked up his fifth shutout of the season, as the RailHawks picked up three points in the standings.

Hawk Hits: * Austin da Luz scored his fifth goal of the season, which marks a single-season RailHawks career-high for the midfielder. * Brian Sylvestre made seven saves and posted his fifth shutout of the season. * With his assist on da Luz's goal, Matt Fondy picked up his second assist with the RailHawks. * Brian Shriver's goal was his sixth of the season and 34th as a member of the RailHawks. The goal was assisted by Albadawi, who broke a Modern Era NASL record for most assists in a season, with 10. * Matt Watson has scored in Carolina's last two games; today's goal was his fourth of the season. * The RailHawks will stay in Cary for a Wednesday, Oct. 12 match against Rayo OKC at 7:30 p.m.

Boxscore: CAR 3 FTL 0

Lineups: CAR: Brian Sylvestre; Steven Miller, Mickey Daly, Simon Mensing, Kareem Moses; Tiyi Shipalane (James Marcelin, 75'), Nazmi Albadawi © (Marvin Ceballos, 89'), Matt Watson (Drew Beckie, 89'), Austin da Luz; Brian Shriver, Matt Fondy

Subs not used: Akira Fitzgerald, Mitch Garcia, Connor Tobin, Billy Schuler

FTL: Bruno Cardoso; Geison Moura, Gale Agbossoumonde ©, Dalton, Jorge Luis Corrales; Manny Gonzalez (Luis Felipe Fernandes, 75'), Bryan Arguez; Paulo Junior, Junior Sandoval, Jose Angulo (Pascal Millien, 46'); Maicon Santos (Adrianinho, 64')

Subs not used: Chad Pasmore, Julius James

Goals: CAR: da Luz (Fondy, 25'), Shriver (Albadawi, 42'), Watson (82') FTL: -- Cautions: CAR: -- FTL: Moura, 9', Santos 42'

Ejections: CAR -- FTL - Attendance: 4,566 #### http://www.CarolinaRailHawks.com

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RailHawks Blank Strikers in Dominant 3-0 Win
RailHawks Blank Strikers in Dominant 3-0 Win
(Rob Kinnan)		   



North American Soccer League Stories from October 9, 2016


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