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USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks to face Austin on Saturday

July 31, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


The Carolina RailHawks return to WakeMed Soccer Park this weekend looking for their second straight win and seventh in eight outings.

They will face the Austin Aztex (3-10-7, 14 points) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The RailHawks (10-5-3) enter the weekend on 33 points, five off the top of the table, where Charleston sits with 38 points, though Carolina has three games in hand over the Battery. Portland and Puerto Rico are tied in second on 35 points, though the Timbers have four games in hand over the Islanders.

The RailHawks can climb to second place with a win Saturday and a bit of help. A Carolina win and a Portland tie would place the RailHawks in a second-place tie, while a Carolina win and a Portland loss would give the RailHawks sole possession of second place.

Since June 30, when the RailHawks beat the Panama National Team 1-0, the RailHawks are 6-1-0 and have outscored their opponents 15-6. Eight different players have accounted for those 15 goals.

Austin enters the match on a bit of a downslide. The Aztex are 0-4-1 over their last five, including a 1-0 loss on Thursday night in Charleston, and they have been outscored 10-4 during that stretch.

Saturday's match will be the final in the season series between Austin and Carolina. Carolina is 1-0-1 against the Aztex this year, and Saturday's match will be the first between the two at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Saturday is Bark in the Park Night at WakeMed Soccer Park. Fans are encouraged to bring their pets to the game and enjoy an evening out at the park. There will be a host of special treats for our four-legged friends, including a special halftime presentation by the American Kennel Club. Dog passes are only $3 and those coming with their dogs will receive a special reduced rate of $7 in Spectator and $12 in Premium. Different vendors will be in attendance, including Second Chance Pet Adoption for those interested in adopting a pet.

SCOUTING AUSTIN

The first-year Aztex have experienced the growing pains of an expansion team. At the 3-10-7, the Aztex enter the weekend two points from the bottom of the league and their goal differential is minus-14. Their 33 goals allowed are the second most and their two shutouts are the second fewest.

Earlier this week, Austin was docked two points in the table after it came to light they used an ineligible player in last weekend's 2-2 draw against Montreal. The weekend before the Montreal match, midfielder Michael Callahan earned his fifth yellow card of the season, and he should have been suspended for the Montreal match. Due to an administrative error, Callahan was used in the Montreal match. As a result, the Aztex lost the points, and Callahan served the one-match suspension on Thursday in Charleston.

But the Aztex aren't to be taken lightly. Forward Eddie Johnson has four goals (one against the RailHawks) and three assists on the year, and forward Gifton Noel-Williams has three goals in eight appearances.

For this weekend's matches, the Aztex brought back on loan Jean Alexandre from Real Salt Lake. He played three games with the Aztex earlier this season on two separate loans, and Aztex U-23 defender Ryan Mirsky will make the trip east with the senior team.

CALLY COMES HOME

Saturday's match will represent a homecoming for Austin's Michael Callahan. Callahan went to Green Hope High School in Cary, where from 2002-04, his teams compiled a 56-15-5 record, went to the third round of the state playoffs twice and made a run to the state semifinals his senior year. Callahan also played for the CASL Elite, with whom he won State Cup titles in 2001-04 and Disney Showcase championships in 2002-03.

Callahan went on to play collegiately at the University of North Carolina, where he appeared in 82 matches and had 10 goals and 13 assists. Last fall, as the Tar Heels' captain, he led UNC to the NCAA College Cup final, though UNC lost to Maryland 1-0. Callahan was named a second-team NSCAA All-American.

Callahan also played for the RailHawks PDL team the previous two summers.

In his first professional season, Callahan has played n 15 matches, logging 947 minutes and one assist (against the RailHawks on June 19).

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday's match will be the third and final meeting between Carolina and Austin in 2009. The RailHawks went 1-0-1 in the first two games, both of which were played at Austin's Nelson Field.

Carolina won the teams' first match on May 24 in 1-0. They combined for 25 shots and 19 fouls in a close match. Daniel Paladini scored the game's only goal on an 83rd-minute penalty kick.

The RailHawks returned to Austin on June 19 and earned a 1-1 draw. Matt Watson scored the game's first goal - and his first of the season - in the 17th minute. The RailHawks remained ahead through halftime, but Austin's Eddie Johnson equalized for the Aztex in the 55th minute, and the match ended a 1-1 draw.

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks followed up a disappointing visit to Charleston on July 24 with a resounding afternoon Sunday. Two days after their 2-1 loss to the Battery, the RailHawks walloped Miami 4-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park. Gregory Richardson scored three goals - the third hat trick in club history - and Luke Kreamalmeyer added the fourth.

The 4-0 scoreline represented the RailHawks' largest margin of victory in a league match, and the four goals scored were the most ever against a USL-1 opponent. The win, Carolina's 10th of the season, also set a new club record for wins in a season. The RailHawks also tied a season high for shots (17) in a game, and set a season low for fouls in a game (four).

BYE-BYE JULY

Traditionally, July was not a kind month to the RailHawks. In 2007-08, they went 1-10-7 during the month, including 0-8-4 in USL-1 play. This season, the RailHawks went 5-1-0 during the month of July.

NO GO

Daniel Paladini and Amir Lowery will both be unavailable for selection on Saturday as they are each serving a one-match suspension for yellow-card accumulation. Of the RailHawks 18 league matches, Paladini has appeared in 17 (1,310 minutes, 2 goals, 4 assists) and Lowery has appeared in 16 (1,195M, 1G).

RICHARDSON LOSES GOAL

The USL First Division informed the RailHawks earlier this week that the goal awarded to Gregory Richardson against Vancouver on July 17 was being changed to an own goal.

According to the league, "This is consistent with previous goals like it and clearly fits the definition of an own goal as the defender was attempting to play the ball as well as the fact that it was not a shot at goal but rather a cross."

An own goal is defined as, "when a player propels the ball into their own team's goal with the intent either to pass back to a teammate or clear the ball out of danger." It is not credited to an individual. If a shot bounces off the defender's body into the goal, the attacker is credited with a goal.

As a result of this change, Richardson now has three goals in three appearances with the RailHawks.

PLAYER NOTES

*Midfielder Gregory Richardson's three-goal performance against Miami led to him being named the USL-1 Player of the Week for Week 16.

*Midfielder Joseph Kabwe had two assists in Sunday's match against Miami, the second multi-assist match of the season and third in club history.

*Midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer scored in back-to-back games last weekend, pushing his season total to four.

*Goalkeeper Caleb Patterson needed to make just one save to earn the shutout Sunday, pushing his season total to six.

DID YOU KNOW

Sunday's 4-0 win over Miami was the first time this season no Carolina players were carded in a game.

The RailHawks 10 wins are tied for the most in the league (with Charleston), while their three draws are tied for the second fewest in the league (with Vancouver).

STAT LEADERS*

Goals: Sallieu Bundu, Gavin Glinton, Brian Plotkin, Daniel Paladini, Luke Kreamalmeyer (4)

Assists: Daniel Paladini (5)

Minutes: Mark Schulte (1,991)

Shots: Daniel Paladini (44)

Fouls: Amir Lowery (34)

*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: 204 (2nd)

Shots allowed: 178 (7th)

Goals: 22 (4th)

Goals allowed: 13 (9th)

Saves: 50 (T-10th)

Shutouts: 10 (2nd)

Times shut out: 4 (10th)

*based only on USL-1 matches

2008 VS 2009 SEASON COMPARISON

Through 18 games in 2008:

4-5-9, 21 points, 16 GF, 23 GA, 4 SO

Through 18 games in 2009:

10-5-3, 33 points, 22 GF, 13 GA, 10 SO

USL-1 STANDINGS

Charleston 10-3-8, 38 points

Portland 9-1-8, 35 points

Puerto Rico 9-5-8, 35 points

Carolina 10-5-3, 33 points

Rochester 8-5-5, 29 points

Miami 7-8-3, 24 points

Montreal 6-8-4, 22 points

Vancouver 6-7-3, 21 points

Austin (-2) 3-10-7, 14 points

Minnesota 3-9-5, 14 points

Cleveland 2-12-6, 12 points

USL-1 SCHEDULE - WEEK 17

Thursday, July 29

Austin 0, Charleston 1

Friday, July 30

Vancouver at Rochester, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 1

Vancouver at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Austin at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Montreal at Miami, 8 p.m.

Portland at Minnesota, 8:05 p.m.

NEXT UP

After Saturday's visit from Austin, the RailHawks will hit the road for a Wednesday match at Rochester before returning home to face the Cleveland City Stars at WakeMed Soccer Park on Aug. 8.

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics



USL First Division Stories from July 31, 2009


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