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North Carolina FC

RailHawks Meet Minnesota Saturday

October 8, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. (Friday, Oct. 8, 2010) - The RailHawks return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday at 7 p.m. for the return leg of their USSF D-2 Pro League quarterfinal series with NSC Minnesota.

Neither team was able to solve the other's defense in Wednesday's 0-0 first leg tie at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.

Though Carolina would've preferred to take a lead into Saturday's match, the draw was a suitable result.

"In the end we came away from a playoff game away from home with a tie and we have to take confidence from that," said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie.

The RailHawks are still in search of their first playoff goal in club history and their first playoff win (0-3-2). Saturday seems as good a night as any to correct that. Though the RailHawks sputtered at WakeMed Soccer Park early in 2010, they've come on strong with a 3-0-1 showing in the last four home matches, and they were shut out only once in their last eight home matches.

However, the Stars have proven a difficult nut to crack. Including league, U.S. Open Cup and exhibition opponents, the RailHawks played 16 different teams in 2010 and scored 52 goals. Minnesota is the only one they have not registered a goal against.

"We've yet to score against Minnesota this season and we've yet to win against them," Rennie said. "It's all to be done in the next game isn't it? We're glad to be home for it, but it's still all to be played for, that's for sure."

If the teams remained tied after 90 minutes on Saturday, they will proceed to play two 15-minute extra time periods (no Golden Goal). If they remain tied after the 30 additional minutes, they'll proceed to a penalty kick shootout.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA

The Stars finished the regular season 11-12-7 and in fourth place in the USL Conference. Their 32 goals scored rated ninth in the league, while their 36 goals allowed were the seventh most.

Since ending an eight-match winless streak (0-3-5) on Sept. 11, they come to Cary unbeaten during the last five (4-0-1). Their four-match winning streak to close the season allowed them to move from the playoff bubble to the No. 7 seed.

Forward Simone Bracalello and midfielder Brian Cvilikas shared the team lead in goals (five) and points (12), while Dainel Wasson leads the team with four assists.

Midfielder Kyle Altman played the second most minutes of any outfield player in the league this season (2,605), and goalkeeper Joe Warren was one of seven goalkeepers with a goals against average under 1.00 this season (0.990).

SEASON SERIES

Saturday's match is the fourth meeting between Carolina and Minnesota in 2010.

Minnesota won both regular-season matches 1-0, and the team's tied the first leg of their quarterfinal series 0-0 on Wednesday.

Minnesota has outshot the RailHawks in all three matches (28-22), and goalkeeper Joe Warren has made 11 saves in his three clean sheets against Carolina.

In both regular-season matches, the RailHawks were done in by goals in the 37th minute. On April 16 at WakeMed Soccer Park, Daniel Wasson knocked in a loose ball for the game's only goal. On Sept. 15, Devin Del Do did the same at the National Sports Center.

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks and Stars played to a 0-0 tie in Blaine, Minn., in the first leg of their quarterfinal match-up on Wednesday. The Stars outshot Carolina 9-4.

Gregory Richardson nearly put the RailHawks on top with a breakaway in the 39th minute. After slipping the ball under Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren and regaining possession, Richardson played the ball across to Josh Gardner, but Gardner was unable to connect.

Carolina goalkeeper Eric Reed kept the game level in the second half after a diving save in the 63rd minute on Simone Bracalello's 30-yard free kick.

RailHawks midfielder Matt Watson was inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 75th minute, but his shot soared just over the crossbar. With the game in stoppage time, RailHawks defender Brad Rusin nearly stole the win after he got behind the defense, but he redirected the ball inches wide.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK

Not only was Etienne Barbara's 84th-minute goal against Austin on Oct. 1 the game winner, but it was also a record breaker. The goal was Barbara's eighth of the USSF D-2 season, giving him the club record for most league goals in a season. The previous record was seven, set by Connally Edozien in 2007 and tied by Hamed Diallo in 2008.

Barbara also established a new club record for points in a season. His eight goals and two assists gave him 18 for the season, surpassing the previous mark of 16 held by Gregory Richardson (2009) and Kupono Low (2007).

Daniel Paladini broke his own club record for shots in a season, firing 58 in 2010 (he had 52 in 2009).

Eric Reed tied the record for goalkeeper wins in a season, with nine. He also had nine in 2009, as did Chris McClellan in 2008.

On the team side, the RailHawks set new club records for goals scored (44), away wins (seven), away points (18) and away goals scored (22).

DID YOU KNOW?

The RailHawks have been shut out in back-to-back matches only once all season (vs. Portland 9/11, at Minnesota 9/15).

NEXT UP

If the RailHawks win the series with Minnesota, they will move on to face the winner of the Austin-Montreal series in the semifinals. That game is scheduled for a 8:30 p.m. EST kickoff Saturday at House Park in Austin, where the Aztex face a 2-0 deficit after the first leg in Montreal earlier this week.

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