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.

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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.

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.

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 from staff reports. Photos by Tom Mousseau.

Cary, NC – The Carolina RailHawks beat their own old coach and sent the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC packing on Sunday afternoon in Cary.

Game Recap

A blustery Sunday afternoon was the home pre-season opener for the 2012 RailHawks, a “friendly” against a Major League Soccer club. The Vancouver Whitecaps traveled all the way across the continent to play against their new coach’s old team. Martin Rennie might have wished he’d stayed home.

The RailHawks struck fast in the 6th minute on a header from veteran Amir Lowery. Vancouver evened it up in the 49th minute, but Brian Shiver found the back of the net for the Hawks in the 71st minute.

The Whitecaps evened the score in the 90th minute. The match finished 2-2 in regular time and the RailHawks secured the win 4-2 in PK’s.

Pictures

Tom Mousseau was there for CaryCitizen to document the RailHawks win on Sunday.

Story and photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – The big drama this weekend in Cary won’t be on a stage. It will be on the field at WakeMed Soccer Park. 

Drama at Soccer Park

The dark winter is over when the Carolina RailHawks start playing again in Cary. Sunday is their first pre-season game, and it’s a doozie.

The pre-season home opener is against an MLS team. Major League Soccer is for big cities like Los Angeles, home to David Beckham. It’s like the Durham Bulls playing the Cubs.

But the drama goes even deeper: this “friendly” match is against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The man at the helm is Martin Rennie, longtime RailHawks head coach. It’s Rennie’s first trip back to Cary. It’s his homecoming, of sorts.

Will the fans be nice? (Probably) Will the team want to kick his shorts? (Definitely) Can they win? (Maybe)

Event Details

RailHawks vs MLS Vancouver Whitecaps
Sunday March 4, 2012
Kickoff at 3 PM
Tickets

You can also drive over to Soccer Park and purchase tickets at the box office.

Story and photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Just seven weeks into the off-season, it’s been a busy time for the Carolina RailHawks, Cary’s professional NASL soccer team. They’ve hired a new coach, set the first two games of 2012 and are getting a stadium expansion.

N. Ireland Soccer Legend Colin Clarke New RailHawks Coach

Last week, the RailHawks introduced new head coach Colin Clarke to the public and the press at Page-Walker in downtown Cary.

Clarke comes over from arch-rival Puerto Rico Islanders. The Hawks and the Islanders have been dueling it out for division leadership for the past couple of years, and the selection of Clarke makes perfect sense.

Prior to coaching Puerto Rico, Clarke was head coach for the Dallas Burn and the Richmond Kickers. In Richmond, Clarke worked directly with RailHawks president Curt Johnson, GM of the Kickers at that time.

As a player, Colin Clarke played professionally in England for twelve years, including stints with first division clubs Southampton, Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers. He play for N. Ireland in the 1986 World Cup and appeared in 38 games for the Northern Ireland national team. From the RailHawks:

Appearing 38 times for the Northern Ireland National Team, Clarke recorded a World Cup goal, a hat-trick, and finished his career as the all-time leading goal scorer for Northern Ireland.

First Game is Against the Old Coach

No pressure on the new coach, but the first game is against the old coach, Martin Rennie, and his MLS Vancouver Whitecaps.

It will be the season’s first exhibition match on Sunday March 4, 2012.

“Hosting a high profile Major League Soccer exhibition against Martin Rennie and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC is the perfect way to begin our 2012 season,” said RailHawks President Curt Johnson.  “We want to test ourselves against MLS on the field and continue to showcase our fans, WakeMed Soccer Park, and the new RailHawks organization to soccer fans throughout North America.”

Home Opener April 14

The Hawks also announced that the 2012 home opener will be on Saturday, April 14, 2012 against the Atlanta Silverbacks.

The season opens a week earlier with the RailHawks away against the NASL champion Minnesota Stars.

Stadium Upgrade

In the meantime, work has begun on a ten-month expansion of Wake Med Soccer Park to 10,000 seats.

The $6.3 million project will add 1,500 seats on the north side and 1,500 seats on the east side. The eastern end of the stadium will also get a three-tiered structure including restrooms, concessions, multi-purpose space and new team locker rooms.

Town of Cary graphic from March 2011. Shows east end expansion.

$5.8 million comes from Wake County and the City of Raleigh hotel and food tax, known officially as the interlocal occupancy tax. The stadium was built in 2002 by Wake County on land provided by the state of North Carolina. According to the Town of Cary, 360,000 fans annually visit Wake Med Soccer Park bringing an economic impact of $12 million to the region.

The main impetus to expand the stadium is to stay competitive with other cities for lucrative NCAA matches. Over this last weekend, the UNC Tar Heels won the NCAA College Cup soccer championship over Charlotte by a score of 1-0 in front of 8,777 fans at Regions Park in Hoover, Alabama just south of Birmingham. In the past, Cary has played host to NCAA Div I, II and III men’s and women’s matches.

For RailHawks fans, the expansion means more amenities and more choices for seating and groups. Players, coaches and refs will enjoy the new locker rooms. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2012.

Story by Hal Goodtree. Photos by Tom Mousseau for CaryCitizen.

Cary, NC – In 2011, Cary’s own Carolina RailHawks were the darlings of the North American Soccer League. But the dream of a championship came to an end Saturday night at Wake Med Soccer Park with a loss to arch-rivals the Minnesota Stars.

The Brilliant Season

The RailHawks had it all during the regular season: a league-leading 17-8-3 record, the league’s leading scorer (Etienne Barbara), four first-team all-stars. At one point, the had a 10-game winning streak.

The Early Exit

The NASL has a two-game format for each round of the playoffs. Most total points wins.

The RailHawks received a bye in the first round thanks to their league-leading record.

Their first post-season game was a semi-final match against the Stars in Minnesota. The ‘Hawks lost 1-0 on a late goal.

The RailHawks had a chance to come back at home, but needed to win by two goals.

Saturday night’s game was a hard-fought, high-scoring contest. At the end of regulation time, the ‘Hawks led 4-3.

That left the semi-final series knotted at 4 aggregate goals a piece, sending last night’s match into extra-time.

The teams played two 15-minute extra-time periods without scoring, sending the match into penalty kicks.

Minnesota converted all 5 of its penalty kicks. But the Stars goalie managed to block one of Carolina’s attempts, ending the match, the series and the season.

The Pictures

Contributing photographer Tom Mousseau of All-Star Photo was at Saturday night’s NASL semi-final playoff match for CaryCitizen.

Story by Hal Goodtree. Photos by Karl Fisher.

Cary, NC – The RailHawks might have been shot out of a cannon this season, with a 17-3-8 record, massive crowds at Wake Med Soccer Park and a high level of excitement at the games. But the season is on the line this Saturday, with a must-win game against the Minnesota Stars.

In fact, the ‘Hawks have to win by two goals because of the points system in the playoffs.

All Fired-Up

Expect Etienne Barbara, the Maltese Maelstrom, to come out with guns blazing. He led the NASL in scoring this season with 20 goals and eight assists, a club record.

Team Captain Kupono Low is likely to be fired-up as well – he’s a guy who always gives 110%. Low was named to the NASL Best XI first-team squad this year. Midfielder Matt Watson and goalkeeper Brad Knighton also made the NASL first-team.

The Railhawks have the firepower, but it’s going to be an uphill battle on Saturday night. Coach Martin Rennie, who is moving on to MLS next year, has said that the involvement of the fans is a key to the semi-final game. “We’re looking forward to taking the series back to WakeMed, and playing in front of our fans and having a chance to move on to the final.”

Saturday promises to be a great night in the annuls of Cary sports. Be there for the ‘Hawks. Bring your vuvuzela.

Event Details

Carolina RailHawks vs Minnesota Stars
Saturday October 15, 2011 at 7 pm
WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, NC

Get tickets

Story from staff reports. Photos by Karl Fisher.

Cary, NC – The RailHawks put away Tampa Bay 2-0 on Saturday night on a pair of goals from the colorful and entertaining Pablo Campos!

I’m Dangerous

Campos was the man on Saturday, dangerous in front of the goal.

His first score came in the 19th minute. A perfect corner kick by Kupono Low put the ball on the head of Campos, who quick-flicked it into the net. At 6’3″, Campos is tough to guard off the header when he’s standing in front of the goal.

In the 38th minute, Campos scored again on a slider. The set-up pass from Brian Farber was perfect, faking at the goalie and slipping it between two defenders to Campos for the score.

Nice video recap of the game on CarolinaRailhawks.com.

In Pictures

Karl Fisher was there with the big lens for CaryCitizen.

More pictures at http://karlfisherphotography.com/.