News

In what is sure to be an entertaining matchup, the Carolina RailHawks, last season’s Regular Season Champions, host the 2011 NASL Champions, Minnesota Stars FC, at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, June 9^th. After an uncharacteristic start to 2011 that saw the RailHawks winless in nine matches, Carolina won their first league match of the season Saturday, a 2-1 victory against the league-leading Puerto Rico Islanders. The upset was the third win in a row for Carolina in all competitions, after defeating PSA Elite and defending MLS Cup Champions the L.A. Galaxy in Open Cup action. Playing on the road in San Antonio, the Minnesota Stars extended their unbeaten streak the league this season to nine games with a 0-0 draw against the Scorpions.

Both the RailHawks and the Stars lost to MLS sides Tuesday in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. The RailHawks went down 2-1 to Chivas USA, former Aston Villa and New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time to eliminate the RailHawks from the cup in the cruelest of circumstances. In California, the Stars were defeated 1-0 by the San Jose Earthquakes. Steven Lenhart scored the game’s only goal in the 85^th minute to send the Stars packing.

During regular season play in 2011, Carolina failed to beat the Stars in all four contests. The Stars unbeaten streak against the RailHawks continues into 2012 season with a win and a draw against Carolina already this season.

Carolina RailHawks vs. Minnesota Stars FC

Saturday, June 9, 2012— 7:00 P.M. EDT

WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary, NC

Webcast: NASL on ustream

2012 Series:  Stars, 1-1-0, 4pts

2011 Series:  Stars, 2-2-0, 8pts  

                                                Carolina                             Minnesota

Head Coach                       Colin Clarke                      Manny Lagos

2012 Records                   1-5-4, 8pts                         4-5-0, 17pts

Last Five Games               D L L D W                          W W W D D

Goals Leader                     Brian Shriver (4)              Amani Walker (3)

                                              Nick Zimmerman (4)

Assists Leader                  Six players with (1)          Amani Walker (3)

QUICK FACTS

Carolina

• The RailHawks won their first macth of the season last weekend 2-1 against the Puerto Rico Islanders.
• Brian Shriver and Nick Zimmerman are tied for third in the league for goals scored, with four each.
• The RailHawks have lost only once at home all season during NASL matches.

Minnesota

• The Stars are the only remaining undefeated NASL side in 2012.
• Forward Amani Walker leads the Stars in goals and assists, with three of each.
• The Stars have conceded the second-fewest goals in the league, and have shut out the opposition in five of their nine matches this season.