USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks to Play Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls

March 27, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, NC (Thursday, March 27, 2008) - North Carolina soccer fans will get a rare opportunity to see one of Major League Soccer's best teams - the New York Red Bulls - take on the United Soccer Leagues' Carolina RailHawks in a preseason exhibition match tomorrow night (Friday, March 28th at 7:30 PM) at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The Red Bulls feature Claudio Reyna, one of the greatest players to ever wear the US National Team uniform, as well as USA up-and-comer Jozy Altidore.

Coach Scotty Schweitzer's Carolina RailHawks enter the match with a preseason record of 2-0-0 having defeated UNC-Greensboro 5-0 and Campbell University 3-1 in previous contests. RailHawks Forwards Jacob Coggins and Joel Bailey have led the RailHawks in preseason with two goals each. Coggins and Bailey are expected to start alongside Carolina RailHawks MVP Kupono Low, who joined training camp on Tuesday.

"It's a great opportunity for us to play against a quality side like the New York Red Bulls," said RailHawks Head Coach Scott Schweitzer. "We are fortunate enough to be able to play a high pressure game this early in our preseason. Our new players will understand what it means to play at this level and it will give us a chance to better evaluate players at training camp."

The New York Red Bulls are at the end of their preseason preparation that took them to Los Angeles, Salzburg, Austria and Charleston. They arrive to Cary with a 2-3-2 preseason record after having lost 3-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes in the final game of the Carolina Challenge Cup at Blackbaud stadium in Charleston. Though this is the first time the Red Bulls and the RailHawks meet, head coach Juan Carlos Osorio faced the RailHawks in 2007 with the Chicago Fire, losing 1-0 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

"We are excited to be playing the Carolina RailHawks as we make our final preparations for the MLS season." said Red Bulls Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "I know from experience that Carolina is a difficult opponent and that they will provide a good test for us with our first game coming up."

The match is sponsored by Carolina RailHawks partner NAI Carolantic Realty and the first 400 fans will receive a gift courtesy of the Raleigh/Research Triangle area's leading commercial real estate firm. In addition NAI Carolantic Realty will receive a team autographed ball during a halftime presentation in appreciation of their support for the Carolina RailHawks.

Children are encouraged to be a part of the human tunnel that greets the starting lineups and should meet at the north-east corner of the stadium approximately twenty minutes before kickoff.

For information on tickets for the March 28 game against the New York Red Bulls and the RailHawks men's and women's 2008 schedules, please visit www.carolinarailhawks.com or call the LGFCU Box Office at 919-859-5425

The Carolina RailHawks men's team home opener at WakeMed Soccer Park is on April 26th at 7:30 PM against the Charleston Battery. The newly-formed Carolina RailHawks women's professional team will have its home debut on May 16th at 7:30 pm against the Atlanta Silverbacks.

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USL First Division Stories from March 27, 2008


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