Story by Matt Young. Photo by Kelsey.

Cary, NC – With a first half 5-goal onslaught by the Railhawks, the WakeMed Park crowd saw the Cary-based team finding the back of the net a total of 6 times in Tuesday nights’ US Open Match. Next up: David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy.

Scoring Drought Broken by Deluge

For the first 45 minutes, the ‘Hawks were seemingly banging them home at will on Tuesday night.

It was a nice release for the team and the home crowd – finally seeing some welcomed scoring.

They went on to beat the PSA Elite (Irvine,California) team, who went scoreless in this match.

The PSA Elite is an amateur Association Club with a mixture of prospects and experienced players. Notably both Mikey Lopez and Jordan Gafa, who were members of the 2011 National Champion UNC Men’s Soccer team, play for PSA Elite.

First Half – Hats Off to Shriver

The first 45 minutes had Shriver finding the goal 3 times for a hat trick. The RailHawks had outshot their opponent 14-5 in the period.

Brian Shriver had a great near miss shot after a pass from Zimmerman in the 4th minute. After that he was magic.

In the 7th minute, Shriver scored on an unselfish assist from Cary native Zack Schilawski on a breakaway. Midfielder Austin Da Luz set the play up.

In the 9th, Lowery scored off of a corner kick.

In the 23nd, it was Da Luz to Shriver, who opted not to pass to Breiner Ortiz staring at an open net on the left.

The 40th saw the Shriver- Schilawski combo again with Shriver netting number 3.

At 40:12, Schilawski scored on an assist from Ortiz. Fullback Cory Elenio set the play up.

There were several missed opportunities by the Railhawks, believe it or not.

Ball Control

The second half saw the RailHawks control the ball with short passes in triangle formations.

Shriver scored his fourth of the night after a shot was temporarily stopped by PSA Elite Goalkeeper Trevor Widdon.

Next Up: LA Galaxy and David Beckham

The ‘Hawks will face the the L.A. Galaxy from the Western Conference in the next round at WakeMed Soccer Park on Tuesday, May 29. Tickets are still available.

The Galaxy has a line-up of big names: Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and David Beckham.

L.A. won the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup in 2011. This year, they’re in 9th place in the West with a 3-6-2 record.

RailHawks great deal – for $33 you will be guaranteed a Premium seat to see the L.A. Galaxy and two more RailHawks games including the July 3 Fireworks Extravaganza and the Regular Season Finale. You can order tickets by calling the Cruizers Box Office at (919) 459-8144.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Garden Supply Company on Old Apex Road in Cary.

Story by Matt Young. Photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – A Carolina Railhawks (0-5-4) full house hosted the first place Puerto Rico Islanders (5-2-1) Saturday night. It was not easy to tell who the NASL’s number one team was.

In the end, the RailHawks left WakeMed Soccer Park with yet another tie. The crowd was vocal with rival fans representing both teams making lots of noise.

I even saw two kids with defenseman Gale Agbossoumonde mohawk hair-dos.

Islanders Rematch

The RailHawks were beaten in Bayamón, Puerto Rico at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium by a score of 3-1 on April 21.

This time the RailHawks dominated. The line-up got a shake-up in this game with midfielder Austin Da Luz from Wake Forest starting for the first time. Midfielder Breiner Ortiz from Columbia started for the first time this season as well.

First Half

The RailHawks had four corner kicks in the first 10 minutes – in the 9th minute, the Railhawks’ Cary native Zack Schilawski almost scored off a corner kick.

While most of the play early in the first half was in the Islander’s end, in the 13th minute, RailHawks GK Ray Burse was forced to make a spectacular save on a push-ahead pass to the small, but speedy Islanders’ forward line.

A pesky Jonathan Faña was to have several near misses like this throughout the game.

David Foley in the 34th minute was given a free kick near the left corner flag. Needham headed it to Jonathan Faña who chested it in giving the Islanders a 1-0 lead.

RailHawks Come Back

The RailHawks played well in an exciting second half to the delight of the crowd.

Nick Zimmerman made a spectacular over the head kick to assist on a Shriver volley kick for a goal in the 49th minute.

Zimmerman, Schilawski and Da Luz made several standout plays in the second half.

In the 77th minute Ackley just missed what would have been the go-ahead goal with a header that went wide right.

A Visit from the Galaxy?

The RailHawks have a special match on Tuesday, May 22nd to face PSA Elite at 7:00 PM ET for the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup.

With a victory on Tuesday, the RailHawks will host reigning MLS Champions, L.A. Galaxy on May 29th at 7:00 PM in the Third Round of the competition.

Tickets for the Tuesday match can be purchased online at www.CarolinaRailHawks.com or by calling the Box Office at 919-459-8144.

Cary, NC – Did you grow up swimming at the Cary Swim Club? Generations of town residents have enjoyed that quintessential summertime pleasure, dating back to 1963. This Saturday, Cary Swim Club is holding their 50th Anniversary Celebration and you’re invited.

Cary Swim Club Celebrates 50 Years

From Cary Swim Club:

Join us at Cary Swim Club on May 19th from 1-3 PM and help us celebrate 50 years of swimming, family recreation and fun in the Cary community!

There will be lots of fun games and activities for the kids, music from the Cary High band, a ceremony to honor the founding club and swim team members, as well as a visit from Cary’s Mayor.

All guest fees will be waived for the day and members are encouraged to bring their neighbors, families and friends, so please help us spread the word!

Calling All Volunteers

Lots of volunteers will be needed to help run the games and set up the facilities. Please send an email to 50thanniversary@Caryswimclub.org to volunteer or for more information on how you can help.

Event Details

Cary Swim Club – 5oth Anniversary
Saturday, May 19, 2012
1-3 PM

536 Walnut Street
Cary, NC 27511
Cost: Free

Story by Lindsey Chester.

Cary, NC – Cary has a strong soccer tradition – in the high schools, at the club-level and even a professional team. This summer, aspiring players can learn, improve and practice with the pros at the Carolina RailHawks Summer Soccer Camps. Call it the Cary Soccer Advantage.

Soccer Camp with the RailHawks

For the sixth year in a row, the RailHawks will run soccer camps at WakeMed Soccer park in Cary beginning in May and running through August. Most of the 18 camps are held in the evening, but teams can also have team camps at satellite facilities.

I spoke with Pete Sciandra, Senior Vice President of the RailHawks about what makes RailHawks Soccer Camps such a unique experience.

Three Fundamental Things

1. Play with the Pros

Unlike any soccer camp in the area, these are taught by current RailHawks players who have played not only in the US, but at the highest levels in the English Premier League and others around the world. This offers kids a unique opportunity to actually interact with these athletes.

2. World Class Field and Facility

All camps are held at Wake Med Soccer Park which has arguably some of the best soccer fields in the world on which to play. Kids will play right where the pros play and practice.

3. Positive and Encouraging

The team’s belief is that the best way to learn is where athletes are free to make mistakes while enjoying the game. Building the technical and tactical skills, helps to build the passion for the game. The more passion, the more they enjoy playing, to the point where the kids will want to play on their own.

Pete acknowledges that there a lot of good programs out there, but the fact remains that they are not always an environment where you can make mistakes. That pressure can sometime sap the fun out of playing.

All Skill Levels Welcome

The camps will run for ages 8-15 for both boys and girls. Kids are separated by age and ability with a ratio of 12:1 coach. There are specialty camps that focus on specific skills (goalkeeping or defending for instance) and development camps geared to school try-outs. A new concept was launched this year called “Ginga Camp” based on a Brazilian concept of “creative style” and the way the Brazilian players play with joy and movement. This camp will feature non-traditional games and drills to put more fun back into the learning.

The camps are directed by Head RailHawks coach Colin Clarke and Assistant CoachPlayer Greg Shields. The two develop the curriculum and then meet with the players who will be coaching to instruct them on the execution of the camps. Most camps meet in the evenings, running 6-8:30 rather than full day.

RailHawks Summer Camps are not to be confused with an introductory course in soccer or a day camp. These camps are geared for the slightly more serious athlete, looking to improve. There’s no movie or snack time during these action- packed 2-1/2 hour camp evenings.

RailHawks Summer Soccer Camps

For more information including schedules, visit CarolinaRailHawks/SummerCamps.

Now get out there and bend it like Beckham.

Story by Community Contributor Connie Freeman.

Cary,NC - The Cary YMCA SuperSkippers continue to dominate the competitions wherever they appear. Most recently their talents earned 11 teammates places on Team USA to compete in Florida and beyond.

32 First Place Finishes

The Cary YMCA SuperSkippers competed in the USA Jump Rope Regional tournament April 28 in Raleigh, N.C., earning 32 first-place finishes out of 34 speed events and 26 first-place finishes out of 28 freestyle events. All of the team members who competed qualified for the national competition in Long Beach, CA, in June.

USA Jump Rope sanctions a series of tournaments across the United States which culminate in the national tournament held annually in Long Beach, California.  Competition starts at the state or regional level, with top finishers advancing through to the next competition level.  Events are held in a variety of age divisions, speed, freestyle, and team competitions.  Both individual jump ropes and double dutch ropes are used.

Representing the USA at the Worlds

The SuperSkippers team is preparing for a busy summer that includes travel to Long Beach, CA for the U.S. National Jump Rope Championship in June, a trip to Washington, D.C., for the World Jump Rope competition in July, and finally, the FISAC-IRSF World Championships in Tampa, FL, in August.

A select group of team members qualified for the FISAC-IRSF World Championships to be held in Florida (see list below) this summer by competing in February at the FISAC U.S. Trials Competition Team USA Qualifier in Brighton, MI.  The competition will take place July 31st through August 9th this year on the campus of the University of South Florida. This international event will have teams represented from 21 countries this year.

Cary YMCA SuperSkippers – Team USA

The following kids from the Cary Y Super Skippers have made Team USA for the 2012 FISAC-IRSF World Championships in Tampa, Florida.

Morgan Adams
Graham Booth
Hannah Butler
Alex Davis-Isaac
Ellen Emmerson
Nicole Enright
Nick Higgins
Becca Purser
Matthew Russell
Catherine Shaw

Tri Force -Team USA

Another area team, TriForce Jump Rope in Morrisville, will also be sending athletes to the Team USA competition:

Sarah Brescia
Austin Casselbury
Anna Maria Galardi
Justin McCormac
Kara Sauerwalt

Jump Rope Growing as a Sport

Jump rope continues to grow as a sport, with many pushing for Olympic sanctioning. The sport combines agility, stamina, speed and in many cases tumbling. Athletes compete as teams of 2- 4, and individually.

In our area 4 gyms have competitive teams: The Cary Y, Tri Force and the Bouncing Bulldogs & Skipsations  both of Chapel Hill.

The beauty of the sport, unlike many traditional team sports, is that a person only needs a jump rope and a good set of sneakers and can practice anywhere, be that a gym, a driveway or a garage.

Story by Matt Young. Photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Last week, the Carolina RailHawks faced the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at Wake Med Soccer Park. The CaryCitizen team was there, in the SkyBox, as guests of the RailHawks organization.

It was a great night – beautiful evening weather and an up-tempo, high-scoring game. I even got to sit next to the League Commissioner during the second half!

Taste of the Triangle

The evening kicked off with the RailHawks’ 4th Annual Taste of the Triangle. Restaurants and craft beer vendors from around the Triangle were on hand serving food and drinks and passing out samples of their wares.

RailHawks Barely Miss First Win

The RailHawks carried the play most of the game, but got a little leg weary as the game went on and the Strikers came back on the scoreboard.

The RailHawks are now 0-3-3.

Cary Native Gets Start

Cary’s own Zack Schilawski got his first start with the RailHawks Wednesday night after spending two seasons in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution.

The first half found the RailHawks getting the lead 1-0, with Forward Brian Shriver scoring for the Hawks after a great set up by Schilawski. Shriver leads the team in scoring. The RailHawks had 5 shots to the Strikers’ 4 in the first half.

Second Half Scoring Action

I sat next to NASL Commissioner David Downs in the second half. He was happy to share what he was Tweeting during the game. We also had a laugh at some of the more rabid soccer fans’ Tweets. Great stuff.

The RailHawks really carried the play and Zimmerman scored early in the half with a Shriver assist.  Zimmerman ran to the corner and did a perfect salsa dance to his team mates’ – and the crowd’s – delight.

The Strikers scored in minute 61 on a free kick by Laing. Carolina’s Zimmerman countered with a goal in the 65th minute (another salsa dance).

With the score 3-1, Restrepo quickly scored for the Strikers. They then tied it with an unstoppable shot by Mark Anderson.

Try It

Incidentally, we brought a “non-soccer-fan” with us. He was hooked. RailHawks soccer is hard to beat as a family night out – lots of fun and at an affordable price.

RailHawks Update

The RailHawks headed north to face Edmonton on Sunday May 6 in an away match, falling by a score of 3-0.

They return to WakeMed Soccer Park on May 19 to face the Puerto Rico Islanders. Get tickets.

Story by Hal Goodtree. Photo of 2006 College Cup in Cary by Jarret Campbell.

Cary, NC – The NCAA has announced that the Division 1 Women’s College Cup will return to Cary in 2013. The College Cup is the championship tournament of NCAA soccer.

NCAA Selects Cary

In a statement from the NCAA:

The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer Committees have selected Philadelphia, Pa., and Cary, N.C., to serve as the hosts for the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships, respectively.

Record Sixth Selection

The 2013 Men’s championship will be hosted by Villanova and played in Philadelphia, a first for the City of Brotherly Love.

Cary will host the tournament on December 6 and 8, 2013 at Wake Med Soccer Park, hosted by Campbell University.

The women’s soccer championship is in Cary for the sixth time, a record for this event. according to the NCAA. Cary previously served as the hosts in 2003, ’04, ’06, ’08 and ’10.

Stadium Expansion Pays Dividends

I was at a RailHawks game last night and the construction of the new seating is well under way. The remodeled stadium will hold about 10,000 fans.

The expansion no doubt helped return the College Cup to Cary. Raising attendance for college soccer is a key goal of the NCAA, and that means bigger venues.

Regions Park in Hoover, AL, the site of last year’s men’s finals, has a capacity of 13,000. UC Santa Barbara drew over 15,000 fans for a match against UCLA.

Economic Impact

The NCAA College Cup brings millions in spending to Cary. Thumbnail estimate: 10,000 fans x $400 a piece = $4,000,000.

Add in events at USA Baseball, Cary Tennis Park and the SAS Championship and we’re talking a lot of money.

Here’s how I understand economic impact: visitors spend the money in hotels and restaurants. Those places hire more people, or work their staff more hours. The workers have more money, some of which goes to meals in Cary, shopping in Cary, a show at Booth Amphitheatre or a new car at AutoParkMall.

Cary – “A Landmark Location”

The NCAA had this to say about Cary:

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our men’s soccer student-athletes and championship to a new city, as well as return our women’s soccer student-athletes and their championship to a landmark location to compete for a national championship,” said Joni Comstock, NCAA senior vice president of championships and alliances.

Well-earned congratulations to Town of Cary staff, Wake Med Soccer Park, Campbell University, the Cary Sports Alliance and all those who worked to bring the College Cup back to Cary. Score one for the home team.

Story by staff reports. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – This week, Panther Creek and Green Hope high schools won an appeal to stay in their current Tri-9 4A Athletic conference in Wake County Public Schools.

Tri-9 Realignment Nixed

A planned realignment for 2013-17 by the N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) would have moved Panther Creek and Green Hope to a the Pac-6, a conference based mostly in Durham County, and would have had teams traveling outside Wake County for almost all away games.

NCHSAA Listens

Dozens of supporters from both schools visited a hearing of the NCHSAA Board of Directors in support of the appeal. School and district leaders wanted to continue the history, traditions and friendly rivalries of the Tri-9 4A Conference, which comprises eight WCPSS high schools and one school from Lee County.

“I was proud to see, this morning, the entire Tri-9 represented in support of their conference partners, Green Hope and Panther Creek,” said Superintendent Tony Tata. “We appreciate the NCHSAA listening to our concerns, and are very satisfied with the outcome that ultimately benefits our student-athletes.”

The NCHSAA realignment process began in November 2011, and would have shuffled Panther Creek and Green Hope to the PAC Six Conference to fill a slot vacated by East Chapel Hill High School. WCPSS principals, athletic directors and other leaders did extensive research and appealed to the NCHSAA board several times.

East Chapel Hill Stays 4A

Although both schools had generated petitions and huge student and parent support in their protest to remain in their Tri 9 conference, ultimately it was the numbers that determined where these schools were placed.

When East Chapel Hill High recently reported that their enrollment had inched above 1441, they were re-classified as 4A, instead of sizing down to 3A.

In the current Tri-9 conference Lee County High has also been re-classified to 3A and will leave the Tri-9 where it has competed for many years.

Leaders at Panther Creek and Green Hope were pleased by public support of their efforts, and by the outcome of the appeal.

“The sense of community we had alluded to all along was evident today, as every school in the Tri-9 showed up and stood up on our behalf,” said Green Hope Principal James Hedrick. “I think the big thing is that we feel that sense of community and the sense of rivalry will stay intact.”

Cary, NC – It’s become a tradition in Cary. On Wednesday May 2, Taste of the Triangle returns to Wake Med Soccer Park. It’s the best tailgate of the year for fans of our hometown Carolina RailHawks.

Taste of the Triangle

Over 40 restaurants, breweries, and sponsors have signed up for this year’s edition of the event. Last year, over 1,000 people attended Taste of the Triangle. This year, tasting bracelets are just $10.

Goes Down Good with a Game

Taste of the Triangle starts at 5:15 PM.

At 7 PM, the RailHawks take the field against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. Fans can purchase combo tickets for the match and a tasting bracelet starting at $20.

“Taste of the Triangle is a great opportunity for fans to discover some of the great food offerings and craft beers from around the Triangle followed by a RailHawks match,” said Curt Johnson, RailHawks President. “It is a great opportunity to come with friends, family, or coworkers to unwind after work and sample a wide assortment of food and drinks.”

The RailHawks are in the hunt for their first win of the season. This publication predicts the Strikers are going down.

Event Details

Taste of the Triangle
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 starting at 5:15 PM
Wake Med Soccer Park
Cary, NC

For more information  visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com/taste.

Story by Hal Goodtree. Special thanks to Mary DeMilia. Photo by Lost-In-Maylene.

Cary, NC – For 25 years, Swim Across America (SAA) has been raising money for fight cancer. Now, with the support of Triangle Aquatic Center, this iconic event is coming to Cary on May 20, 2012. Show your support by signing up or sponsoring a swimmer.

The One-Legged Man Who Ran Across America

From SAA:

Swim Across America is the inspired sequel to a triumphant Run Across America completed by the two founders of SAA in 1985. This eight-month journey, which spanned the country from Boston to Los Angeles, raised over $1 million for cancer research.

What makes this trek all the more remarkable is that one of the determined runners, a 22-year-old from Fairfield, CT, had lost his right leg to cancer a decade before. Following college graduation, these two childhood buddies embarked on their mission, making history in the process. Together, they instilled hope in all who fight this disease and heightened consciousness about overcoming this frightening diagnosis.

It was in 1987 that Jeff Keith and Matt Vossler decided to bring their cause back home and transitioned from running to swimming for a cure. With a focus on raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment, Swim Across America was chartered as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

25 Years and $41 Million Later

Twenty five years later, SAA has raised over $41 million dollars. SAA funds almost two dozen prestigious organizations across the country including Sloan-Kettering in New York, San Francisco Children’s Hospital,  Johns Hopkins, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Swim Across America in Cary

SAA has dozens of events across the country, each with its own flavor. In San Francisco, they swim under the Golden Gate Bridge.

In Cary, Triangle Aquatic Center has donated the 50m competition pool for the event on Sunday, May 20, 2012.

SAA/Cary is more than just swimming:

• Silent auction (includes signed basketballs, birthday packages, and Disney Tickets)
• Fun relays (including kids relays, parent-child, and grandparent-child)
• Swim clinic by 3 former Olympians

Sign-Up, Donate or Volunteer

You can sign up as an individual or as a team. If you don’t want to swim, you can make a donation to SAA or sponsor a swimmer.

Lots of volunteers are needed as well – lifeguards, timers and organizational help.

Visit SAA/Cary for more info.

Event Details

Swim Across America
Sunday, May 20, 2012
1 – 6 PM

Triangle Aquatic Center
275 Convention Drive
Cary, NC 27511

More info