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NASL North Carolina FC

RailHawks Sign MLS Veteran Blake Wagner

March 20, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


Cary, NC (March 20, 2015) - The Carolina RailHawks announced today that they have signed Blake Wagner ahead of the 2015 season. The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career and will look to help the Carolina RailHawks challenge for the NASL Spring Season Title.

The native of Atlanta, Georgia started his soccer career through the US Olympic Development squad when he was only 13 years old. Wagner would eventually represent the United States regularly between 2003 and 2008 at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels, making 36 appearances and scoring a solitary goal for his country.

"Blake is a player we wanted to have for some time. He is very versatile, technically gifted, and has great feet," said RailHawks Head Coach Colin Clarke. "He is the kind of player who is not easy to get for any team, so we feel very fortunate to have him at the RailHawks."

Wagner was drafted by FC Dallas in the Second Round of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia, starting seven of his eight appearances in MLS Reserve Division action where he played a total of 709 minutes for the FC Dallas Reserves. He debuted in the MLS in 2007 and would eventually log nearly 3,000 minutes for the franchise.

After spending four seasons at FC Dallas, Wagner signed on with Vancouver Whitecaps of the then-USSF D-2 League in 2010. Wagner started in 14 of his 16 regular season appearances and clocked 1,217 minutes of play.

The versatile left-sided player then signed with Real Salt Lake, where he played two games before joining San Antonio Scorpions in 2012. Wagner played 3,732 minutes with San Antonio before he was signed by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2013. He clocked a total of 1,417 minutes in 21 appearances and scored three goals with the Rowdies during the 2014 season.

The RailHawks roster is now comprised of 19 players: two goalkeepers (Hunter Gilstrap and Brian Sylvestre), six defenders (Connor Tobin, Daniel Scott, Austen King, Kupono Low, Mamadou Danso and Blake Wagner), nine midfielders (Nazmi Albadawi, Tiyi Shipalane, Leo Osaki, Neil Hlavaty, Mark Anderson, Wells Thompson, Austin Da Luz, Chris Nurse and Wes Knight) and two forwards (Nacho Novo and Simone Bracalello).

Wagner and the Carolina RailHawks will open the 2015 Season at home against Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday, April 4th at 1:00pm. Carolina RailHawks Season Tickets and Flex Plans for the 2015 NASL Season are on-sale now. The full RailHawks home schedule, including the April 4th NASL Home Opener, can be viewed here.

For more information on Season Tickets, visit CarolinaRailHawks.com/STH. Flex plans are available for as low as $55. To order visit CarolinaRailHawks.com or call the Johnson Maserati Box Office at 919- 459-8144. Keep up with all RailHawks news by following them on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

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