RailHawks Home Opener Saturday April 26th Against Charleston Battery
April 24, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release
Cary, NC (Thursday, April 24th, 2008) - The Carolina RailHawks (0-0-1) will host the Charleston Battery (0-0-2) on Saturday, April 26th at 7:30 PM in their home opener at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match is presented by WakeMed and the first 2,500 fans will receive a mini soccer ball courtesy of the famed health care institution. Pregame live band and BBQ as well as postgame fireworks will make this an event soccer fans of all ages will not want to miss. Doors open at 6:00 PM and tickets ($10, $15 and $20) are still available by calling the LGFCU Box Office at 919-859-5425.
The RailHawks enter the contest after opening their season in Atlanta to a 1-1 Draw. Midfielder Steven Curfman scored the lone Carolina goal that earned him a nomination to the first USL-1 Team of the Week of the season. Defender David Stokes is expected to return to the lineup, after serving a red card suspension, joining Chilean newcomer Mauricio Segovia and captain Frankie Sanfilippo in the back giving the RailHawks defense a towering look. Uruguayan Martin Nuñez will add speed to the midfield and 2007 USL-1 scoring champion forward Dan Antoniuk is looking to make his first start for the RailHawks.
"We really look forward to our home opener," said RailHawks Head Coach Scott Schweitzer. "Charleston is a good team that made some good improvements in the off season but we will find their weaknesses and exploit them with our depth. It will be a well fought battle between two coaches who have similar intensity."
The Charleston Battery comes to WakeMed Soccer Park with two games already under their belt. They opened their season in Miami to a 2-2 draw and tied their home opener 1-1 against the USL-1 Champion Seattle Sounders. The Battery made some key acquisitions in the offseason including rookie midfielder Dominic Cianciarulo who tallied two goals in his first match with the South Carolina side but fans can expect to see some familiar faces return like former NC State forward Aaron King.
"We're looking forward to the game," said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. "We've played well in our first two matches and hopefully we can continue the same form against the RailHawks."
For information on the Carolina RailHawks home opener and the RailHawks men's and women's 2008 schedules, please visit www.carolinarailhawks.com or call the LGFCU Box Office at 919-859-5425.
Notes:
Schedule of Events
Doors open at 6:00 PM
Pregame BBQ and live entertainment by Limelight on the West Concourse
Inflatables and Rock Climbing wall for the kids on the East Concourse
Kids human tunnel to greet the starting lineup (meet at 7:00 PM at the Northwest corner of the field)
Kickoff at 7:30 PM
Fireworks display immediately following the game
Head to Head
In 2007 the Battery and the RailHawks met three times with all matches ending in favor of the Carolina RailHawks. The RailHawks tallied a total of six goals culminating in a Connally Edozien hat-trick at Blackbaud stadium on August 14th.
Southern Derby
The Carolina RailHawks are the current holders of the Southern Derby Cup. A tournament organized by southern state fans to help promote the soccer in the south. The tournament takes into account the scores of the last home and away matches between the teams who participate in it, Atlanta, Charleston and the RailHawks.
New Jersey Sponsor
The Carolina RailHawks will be wearing their usual home color orange but with the addition of their new sponsor, Saturn of Cary and Saturn of Raleigh. The Saturn logo made its debut on March 28th as the RailHawks hosted the New York Red Bulls in a MLS-USL preseason showdown.
Same Great Venue, Great New Name:
In January of 2008 WakeMed health and Hospitals took over the naming rights to this prime facility from SAS for the next three years. The partnership between the Town of Cary, the RailHawks and WakeMed continues to thrive as WakeMed hosts the first home match of the 2008 USL-1 Season
US Women's National Team
Members of the USWNT will be on hand to sign autographs and promote their match the next day against Australia at 7:00 PM at WakeMed Soccer Park
USL First Division Stories from April 24, 2008
- Thunder Drops Season Opener to Timbers 1-2 - Minnesota Thunder
- Portland's Brown nets second goal of the season - Portland Timbers
- Sounders to face Timbers in Portland - Seattle Sounders
- Sounders to Face Timbers in Portland - Seattle Sounders
- Timbers Announce First Guest Mascot - Portland Timbers
- Sounders sign Tomlinson and Kante - Seattle Sounders
- Miami FC travels to Puerto Rico hit by series of injuries in its roster - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Impact to Face Silverbacks in Atlanta Friday - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks Home Opener Saturday April 26th Against Charleston Battery - North Carolina FC
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