RailHawks go for third straight win Sunday against Minnesota
April 24, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release
In their first two matches of the USL First Division season, the Carolina RailHawks have accomplished something never before done in franchise history.
The 2-1 win over Minnesota on April 11 marked the first time the RailHawks have ever won their season opener.
The 1-0 win over Rochester marked the first time the RailHawks have won back-to-back matches at home, and it was also the team's first ever win over the Rhinos.
When the RailHawks take to WakeMed Soccer Park this weekend, they'll once again be in search of a franchise first - its first three-match winning streak. Carolina closes out its season-opening three-match homestand on Sunday at 2 p.m. against the Minnesota Thunder.
"I am looking forward to the match," said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. "It is great to have gotten two wins. Obviously we are focusing on getting a third one. Then we go on the road so we want to enjoy this time at home and make the most of it. I am looking forward to playing Minnesota. They are just getting into their season. They had a good result against Austin and have a couple of players coming back so it will be a tough match."
In club history, the RailHawks have won back-to-back games five times. In their three attempts to go for a third straight win, Carolina is 0-2-1 (the other time they won back-to-back games was the final two matches of the 2008 season).
At 2-0-0, the RailHawks enter the third weekend of the season atop the USL-1 table, three points ahead of Miami and Puerto Rico with a game in hand.
Gates open Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Tickets ($10, $15, $20) are available at the LGFCU Box Office or by calling 919-859-5425 or by visiting www.carolinarailhawks.com.
The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a commemorative interactive schedule poster.
Sunday is American Heart Association day at WakeMed Soccer Park. Fans who mention the promo code "AHA" will ensure that 50 percent of their ticket price will go to the American Heart Association.
It is also Faith Day at WakeMed Soccer Park. If fans bring a copy of their church bulletin with them to the match, they will receive $5 off the price of admission.
Stick it to Cancer, a youth lacrosse program, will play a game at halftime to benefit the St. Baldrick's Foundation.
Monkey Joe's Inflatables for children will be on the East Concourse, and those who want to participate in the Kids Tunnel should meet at the North End corner of the stadium 30 minutes before kickoff.
Spirits Pub & Grub, located 701 E. Chatham St. in Cary, will host a postgame party immediately following the final whistle.
INJURY REPORT
No players are injured this week.
Only defender Devon McKenney will be unavailable for selection. He will be serving a one-match suspension after drawing two yellow cards in the RailHawks' 1-0 win over Rochester on April 18.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
The Thunder return to WakeMed Soccer Park for the second time in two weeks, and they are searching for their first win of the season. After losing to the RailHawks on April 11, Minnesota went to Austin on April 18 and tied the Aztex 1-1. At 0-1-1, Minnesota sits in eighth place in the USL-1 table with one point.
It will be a busy weekend for the Thunder. They will face the Charleston Battery on Friday night in South Carolina before Sunday afternoon 's match with the RailHawks in Cary.
The Thunder have shown they are going to play a physical style this season. They've out-fouled their first two opponents 27-18 and have drawn seven cards (six yellow, one red) in their first two games.
Carolina peppered Minnesota with 17 shots two weeks ago, but Minnesota goalkeeper Nic Platter single-handedly kept the match close and finished the night with four saves.
The RailHawks will also have to keep on an eye on forward Melvin Tarley, who hooked up with Rod Dyachenko for their team's only goal two weeks ago. Forward Leonel Saint-Preux scored Minnesota's only goal against the Aztex.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match marks the second meeting of the 2009 season between Minnesota and Carolina, and it is the seventh all-time meeting between the two. The RailHawks hold a slight edge in the series with a 2-1-3 record. They will wrap up the three-game season series on June 13 in Minnesota.
April 11, 2009: W, 2-1
The Carolina RailHawks opened the 2009 season with a 2-1 win over the Thunder at WakeMed Soccer Park. Defender Mark Schulte scored on a screaming 20-yard blast in the 12th minute. After Minnesota's Brian Kallman was sent off in the 22nd minute, Thunder forward Melvin Tarley equalized in the 27th. But Gavin Glinton headed in the eventual game winner in the 56th minute, four minutes after he entered the match.
April 21, 2007: T, 1-1
In the RailHawks' first ever match, Kupono Low scored eight minutes in to give Carolina an early 1-0 advantage, but Ansu Toure drew a penalty kick in the 70th minute and converted from the spot, and the match ended a 1-1 draw.
Sept. 6, 2007: L, 5-0
In the second to last match of the season, the RailHawks could have clinched a playoff berth with a win. But with heavy legs after losing 2-1 in overtime in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals the day before, the RailHawks suffered their worst defeat in franchise history. Leo Gibson scored four goals and Brian Farber added one more. But the loss did not scuttle the RailHawks' playoff chances. Two days later, in the season finale at the California Victory, Carolina got into the postseason with a 2-0 win.
May 18, 2008: T, 0-0
The RailHawks outshot Minnesota 13-9, but the goalkeepers stole the show. Carolina's Chris McClellan had six saves, while Minnesota counterpart Nicolas Platter made eight. The match also featured 39 fouls, though zero cards.
July 11, 2008: T, 2-2
This match featured three goals in the first 31 minutes, but like their first meeting, the Thunder found a way to equalize late. Minnesota's Dale Weller found the back of the net in the seventh minute, but Martin Nunez converted a 26th minute penalty, and Santiago Fusilier scored five minutes later to give Carolina a 2-1 lead. But Minnesota's Melvin Tarley equalized in the 80th minute.
Aug. 22, 2008: W, 2-1
The RailHawks earned their first ever win over the Thunder at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., in the team's fifth meeting all-time. Caleb Norkus scored in the 10th minute and Santiago Fusilier staked the RailHawks to a 2-0 lead with a goal in the 34th.
LAST TIME OUT
The RailHawks improved to 2-0-0 with a 1-0 win over Rochester at WakeMed Soccer Park on April 18. It was the first time in franchise history that Carolina had defeated the Rhinos, and it was also the first time the RailHawks have won back-to-back home matches.
Forward Sallieu Bundu scored the game's only goal in the 53rd minute. Following a Luke Kreamalmeyer corner kick, the RailHawks kept possession in Rochester's end. Josh Gardner collected the ball outside the box and carried it to the endline. He flung a low cross through the box, and Bundu redirected it at the near post for his first goal of the season.
"It's good we left with three points," Kreamalmeyer said after the game. "We could have scored a couple more - maybe 3-0 and I would have been happy - but just keep getting three points. That's all that really matters."
STEWART, GARDNER HONORED
Carolina midfielder Josh Gardner and defender Jack Stewart were named to the USL First Division Team of the Week for Week 2, the USL announced earlier this week.
Gardner assisted on Sallieu Bundu's game-winning goal in the 53rd minute of Saturday's 1-0 win over Rochester at WakeMed Soccer Park, while Stewart anchored the defense to its first shutout of the season.
"Both Gardner and Stewart had a great game on Saturday," said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. "The whole team played extremely well and everyone contributed to our second win in a row. Hopefully we will bring the same mindset on Sunday and make it three in a row."
DID YOU KNOW
Through two matches this season, the RailHawks have outshot their first two opponents 29-18 and have earned 18 corner kicks while allowing only three.
THIS WEEKEND IN USL-1
Friday, April 24
Minnesota at Charleston, 7:30 p.m.
Montreal at Miami, 8 p.m.
Rochester at Puerto Rico, 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 25
Cleveland City at Austin
Portland at Vancouver
Sunday, April 26
Minnesota at Carolina, 2 p.m.
Rochester at Miami, 6 p.m.
USL First Division Stories from April 24, 2009
- Thunder Give Away Another Draw to Battery with a 1-1 Deadlock - Minnesota Thunder
- Impact Drops First of the Year - Montreal Impact
- Miami FC wins Dade home opener 2-1 - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Battery held by Thunder - Charleston Battery
- Portland kicks off ninth USL First Division season on the road - Portland Timbers
- RailHawks go for third straight win Sunday against Minnesota - North Carolina FC
- Match Preview: Austin Aztex FC (0-0-2) vs. Cleveland City Stars (0-1-0) - Austin Aztex
- Northwest rival visits Swangard this Saturday - Vancouver Whitecaps
- City Stars Travel To Austin To Take On Expansion Austin Aztex - Cleveland City Stars
- City Stars Launch New Video Website - Cleveland City Stars
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