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USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks set to host Montreal in Final Match of Regular Season

September 17, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


The Carolina RailHawks will play their final game of the regular season this Friday, September 18 at 7 p.m. when they host the Montreal Impact at WakeMed Soccer Park. Carolina will look to keep a hold on 2nd place going into the playoffs.

The match is presented by Moe's Southwest Grill and by Summit Hospitality. Tickets ($10, $15 and $20 with a $2 surcharge on game day) are available at the LGFCU Box Office, by calling 919-859-KICK (5425) or by visiting www.carolinarailhawks.com

"It's an important game for us, just like last week's was, in terms of getting our performances as strong as we can," said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. "We need to continue to build confidence to set us up for whomever we face in the playoffs. Depending on tonight's match in Portland we have a chance to be at the top of the league equal in points. Ultimately we would like to finish the regular season with 11 home wins, which is one of the best records in the league and be ready for the playoffs."

This will be the third and last time the two teams meet in the regular season. On August 30, the RailHawks tied Montreal 1-1 at Saputo Stadium and on September 2, the Impact defeated Carolina 1-0 in a hotly contested match that saw eight yellow cards and two ejections.

Playoffs are set to begin the week of September 21st and the RailHawks have elected to play their first round home game on Sunday, September 27 at 5 p.m. While Carolina's opponent in the playoffs is yet to be determined, the RailHawks know that they will match up against Montreal, Rochester or Vancouver in the first round.

Scouting Montreal

Montreal is ranked fifth in the USL First Division standings, with 43 points, one point ahead of Rochester. They are led by Panamanian International Roberto Brown who has seven goals and three assists for a total of 17 points.

The Impact's record is 12-10-7 but they are only 4-6-4 on the road. Their 29 goals rank them 6th in the league and they have been averaging just 1.10 goals per game.

After a slow start, Montreal has picked up some momentum and is 6-2-2 in the last 10 games, including a win and a tie against the RailHawks at Saputo Stadium.

Series History

Carolina has a record of 1-5-2 against Montreal and has not won against them since a 52nd minute Kupono Low penalty put them on top at WakeMed Soccer Park on August 26, 2007.

Last time Out

The RailHawks defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders for the first time in franchise history 2-1 last Saturday night. Gregory Richardson and Andriy Budnyy tallied a goal apiece for Carolina. Joseph Kabwe played a phenomenal game that earned him a place on the USL-1 Team of the Week.

Player Notes

*Forward Matthew Delicâte made his debut for the RailHawks against Puerto Rico in the 73rd minute only to come out 11 minutes later with a bloody eyebrow following a collision with a teammate. *Goalkeeper Eric Reed had five saves Saturday against Puerto Rico, bringing his season total to 38.

Stat Leaders*

Goals: Sallieu Bundu (7)

Assists: Daniel Paladini (5)

Minutes: Mark Schulte (2,891)

Shots: Daniel Paladini (61)

Fouls: Amir Lowery (42)

*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: 322 (4th)

Shots allowed: 299 (5th)

Goals scored: 39 (Tied for 2nd)

Goals allowed: 19 (tied for 9th)

Saves: 99 (9th)

Shutouts: 16 (1st)

Times shut out: 7 (T-7th)

*based only on USL-1 matches

2008 Vs 2009 Season Comparison

Through 29 games in 2008:

8-11-10, 34 points, 32 GF, 41 GA, 5 SO

Through 29 games in 2009:

15-7-7, 52 points, 41 GF, 19 GA, 16 SO

USL-1 Honors

Team of the Week

Week 2: Jack Stewart, Josh Gardner

Week 3: John Gilkerson, Brian Plotkin

Week 4: John Gilkerson

Week 6: Devon McKenney, Luke Kreamalmeyer

Week 7: Daniel Paladini, Kupono Low, Andriy Budnyy

Week 8: Kupono Low, Daniel Paladini

Week 11: Matt Watson

Week 14: Caleb Norkus, Sallieu Bundu

Week 15: Gregory Richardson

Week 16: Gregory Richardson

Week 17: Joseph Kabwe, Kupono Low, Gregory Richardson

Week 18: Caleb Patterson

Week 19: Caleb Patterson, Jeremy Tolleson

Week 20: Jeremy Tolleson

Week 21: John Cunliffe, Joseph Kabwe

Week 23: Joseph Kabwe

Player of the Week

Week 1: Mark Schulte

Week 16: Gregory Richardson

Week 21: Joseph Kabwe

USL-1 Schedule - Week 24

Thursday, Sept. 17

Cleveland at Portland, 10 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18

Montreal at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Charleston at Rochester, 8 p.m.

Cleveland at Vancouver, 11 p.m.

Saturday, Sept 19

Puerto Rico at Miami, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept 20

Charleston at Minnesota, 6:05 p.m.

USL-1 STANDINGS

Portland 15-4-10, 55 points

Carolina 15-7-7, 52 points

Puerto Rico 14-7-8, 50 points

Charleston 13-5-10, 49 points

Montreal 12-10-7, 43 points

Rochester 11-9-9, 42 points

Vancouver 10-10-9, 39 points

Minnesota 7-12-10, 31 points

Miami 8-16-5, 29 points

Austin (-2) 5-17-8, 21 points

Cleveland 4-17-7, 19 points

NEXT UP

The RailHawks gear up for the playoffs slated to begin the week of September 23. It is still unclear who the RailHawks will face in the playoffs but we do know that it will be one of three teams between Rochester, Vancouver and Montreal. The RailHawks will play their first round home playoff game on Sunday, September 27 at 5 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics



USL First Division Stories from September 17, 2009


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