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USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks eye record with Miami coming to town

August 25, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


The RailHawks have been rewriting the club record books all season, and Wednesday's match against Miami at WakeMed Soccer Park will afford them the opportunity for another franchise best.

If Carolina earns a win or tie against the Blues - kickoff at 7 p.m. - they will extend their unbeaten streak to eight games, surpassing the seven-match win streak established at the start of the 2008 season and matched over the last seven games (4-0-3).

The RailHawks (13-5-6) begin Week 21 tied with Charleston for second place in the USL First Division on 45 points, six back of frontrunner Portland. Miami (7-12-4) is currently in eighth place, six points behind Vancouver for the seventh and final playoff spot.

The RailHawks have shut out six of the last seven opponents and outscored them 11-1.

The seven-match unbeaten streak began back on July 26, when the RailHawks roared to a 4-0 win over the Blues at WakeMed Soccer Park. After a mostly even first half, Carolina opened the game up thanks to goals by Gregory Richardson and Luke Kreamalmeyer in the 39th and 43rd minutes. In the second half, Richardson scored two more goals and the RailHawks outshot Miami 10-2.

"I think last time the game was quite even until we managed to get the second goal, and then the game opened up," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "So we want to defend properly, but we want to try and really get at them and see if we can get an early goal."

An early goal is something the RailHawks have been craving for several games. They've scored once in their last three games - an 87th-minute equalizer by Andriy Budnyy against Vancouver on July 18 - and they haven't scored a goal in the first 30 minutes of a game since July 11 at Charleston.

SCOUTING MIAMI

The last time Miami came to WakeMed Soccer Park, they were in sixth place, with 24 points. Exactly one month, later, they are sitting in eighth place with 25 points.

It seems the Blues never recovered from that match. Including that 4-0 loss, Miami is 0-5-1 since and has been outscored 15-2.

What was shaping up to be a promising season for Miami could very well come down to this match. If the Blues can take three points from the RailHawks, they'll be three back of Vancouver for the seventh and final playoff spot (and even on games). Lose and they're six back with five games to play.

In order to reverse their recent struggles, Miami must get its attack going and shore up its defense.

The Blues have been shut out 11 times this season, second most in the league, and their 18 goals scored are tied with Cleveland for the fewest in the USL-1.

Midfielder Leonardo Nunes has four goals and one assist, and forward Alen Marcina has scored four goals. Forward Paulo Araujo, Jr. has three goals and three assists.

Their 36 goals allowed are third most in the league, and their minus-18 goal differential is third worst.

Making Miami's task more complicated is that they've struggled most on the road, where they are 3-7-1 and have been outscored 20-8. In their last four road games (at Carolina, at Puerto Rico, at Portland, at Vancouver), the Blues are 0-4 and have been outscored 13-1.

SERIES HISTORY

Wednesday's match at WakeMed Soccer Park will be the eighth meeting between Carolina and Miami all time. The RailHawks are 4-3-0, and they have outscored the Blues 12-10 in those seven matches. Sunday's visit from Miami will mark the Blues' fourth trip to WakeMed Soccer Park. Miami won its first match in Cary 4-1 in 2007, while Carolina won the 2008 meeting 3-2. Carolina won this season's first meeting on May 16 in Miami 2-0, thanks to a pair of goals by Luke Kreamalmeyer. The RailHawks won the second meeting 4-0 on July 26, thanks to a hat trick by Gregory Richardson and an additional goal by Kreamalmeyer.

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks played Rochester to a scoreless draw at Marina Auto Stadium on Saturday, their third straight tie. Goalkeeper Caleb Patterson saved three shots to earn his fourth straight shutout and eighth of the season. It was also the RailHawks' league-leading 15th clean sheet of the year. The RailHawks took a season-low four shots against the Rhinos, and it was the second time in three games that the RailHawks had been kept off the scoreboard.

DID YOU KNOW?

The RailHawks have the second best goal differential in the USL First Division (plus-15). Portland leads the league (plus-27) and Cleveland is last (minus-25).

PLAYER NOTES

*Goalkeeper Caleb Patterson had three saves Saturday to earn his eighth shutout of the season and fourth consecutive clean sheet. He lowered his USL-1 goals against average to 0.417 in the process. Patterson last conceded a goal in the 90th minute of the RailHawks' 2-1 win over Vancouver on July 17.

*Defender Jeremy Tolleson was named to the USL-1 Team of the Week for Week 21, the second consecutive week he's been honored. He's the sixth RailHawk to make multiple teams of the week this season.

*Defender Greg Shields made his fourth start of the season Saturday in Rochester. With Shields at right back, the RailHawks have posted four shutouts.

*Defender John Gilkerson started at left back in Rochester, and he too has been a part of four consecutive shutouts when he's in the lineup. The RailHawks have not conceded a goal with Gilkerson on the field since June 19.

*Defender and captain Mark Schulte returned to the starting 11 in Rochester after taking off the RailHawks' scoreless tie against Vancouver on Aug. 18.

STAT LEADERS*

Goals: Sallieu Bundu, Daniel Paladini (5)

Assists: Daniel Paladini (5)

Minutes: Mark Schulte (2,441)

Shots: Daniel Paladini (50)

Fouls: Amir Lowery (40)

*includes USL-1 matches, U.S. Open Cup matches and five friendlies in 2009

CAROLINA VS USL-1*

The following are the RailHawks' team statistics for the year and in parentheses is where they rank in each category compared to the rest of the USL First Division.

Shots: 268 (4th)

Shots allowed: 255 (2nd)

Goals scored: 29 (4th)

Goals allowed: 14 (10th)

Saves: 80 (9th)

Shutouts: 15 (1st)

Times shut out: 6 (9th)

*based only on USL-1 matches

2008 VS 2009 SEASON COMPARISON

Through 24 games in 2008: 6-9-9, 27 points, 23 GF, 31 GA, 5 SO

Through 24 games in 2009: 13-5-6, 44 points, 29 GF, 14 GA, 15 SO

USL-1 HONORS

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics



USL First Division Stories from August 25, 2009


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