USSF D-2 North Carolina FC

RailHawks Return Home Saturday to Face Puerto Rico

Published on September 24, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. (Sept. 24, 2010) - Though the RailHawks' place in the USSF D-2 postseason is secure, there's still a lot on the line when they return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday to face the Puerto Rico Islanders at 7 p.m.

The RailHawks (11-9-8) enter the weekend with 41 points, three behind NASL Conference-leading Vancouver. Carolina can catch the Whitecaps as long as they take at least four points from its two remaining matches and Vancouver takes no more than three. The Whitecaps close their season at Swangard Stadium with matches against Montreal tonight and Portland on Oct. 2.

"This is the exciting part of the season," said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. "We're thrilled to be in the playoffs and now we're looking to see how high in the table we can finish. We want to get a win this weekend so we can go into our final game with a chance to win a conference title."

Like last season, the RailHawks play their final two regular-season matches at home this year. Also like last season, the first of those two opponents is the Puerto Rico Islanders. Carolina won last season's meeting 2-0, kicking off a three-match winning streak against the Islanders that stretched into 2010. That streak was snapped the last time Puerto Rico visited the Triangle. On Aug. 28, the Islanders defeated Carolina 3-2. In the season series, Carolina holds a 2-1-0 edge.

The RailHawks enter Saturday's match coming off a 4-2 win at Baltimore last Saturday. The RailHawks scored three goals between the ninth and 14th minutes from Gregory Richardson, Marques Davidson and Kupono Low. Baltimore took two goals back early in the second half before Tom Heinamann put the game away with a goal in the 65th minute. The win finished off the RailHawks' best away season in club history. They went 7-4-4 on the road and established new club records for away wins (seven) and away points (25).

Now they're looking to finishing strong at WakeMed Soccer Park, which has not been as hospitable a host as in years past. The RailHawks are 4-5-4 at home this season. Two more victories, and perhaps a division title, would wash away any disappointment about their home form.

But the RailHawks can't win two without winning the first one on Saturday.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from September 24, 2010


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