News

Two teams separated by just a point in the standings, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers welcome the red-hot Carolina RailHawks to Lockahart Stadium on Saturday June 30^th, in what promises to be a showcase of free-flowing attacking soccer.

The Strikers are 4-2-1 at Lockhart Stadium in 2012, the only loss at home this season to Minnesota Stars FC. The Strikers are coming into this match on the back of a loss, a 2-1 defeat to the Stars in Blaine, Minnesota, leaving the South Florida side still winless on the road this year. Mark Anderson continued his spectacular scoring run for the Strikers, driving in a free kick from well outside the box for his fifth league goal in his first year as a professional.

After a dismal start to the season, the RailHawks have turned their campaign upside-down this month, winning the last four matches. Carolina hasn’t tasted defeat since a 2-1 loss to the Stars back on May 12. The team continued their impressive run with a 2-0 win against FC Edmonton at home, a result that kept the team climbing up the table, swapping spots with Fort Lauderdale.

Previous matches between these teams have had their fair share of memorable goals. Last season, Walter Restrepo scored from 30 yards out before Martin Nuñez scored a last-gasp winner with the final kick of the ball. The goals were voted by Strikers fans as the #1 Play of the Year.

In the last encounter, a 3-3 draw at WakeMed, two NASL Play of the Week candidates were scored by Fort Lauderdale players; Lance Laing with the first free kick goal of the season, and Mark Anderson scoring his first professional goal with a peach of a goal from outside the box.

Three points would move the Strikers ahead of Carolina, and potentially as high as fourth. The team will be eager to climb out of sixth, the last playoff spot and the lowest Fort Lauderdale has been in the standings all season. The RailHawks will want to escape Lockhart with maximum points and end the month having collected fifteen points from a possible 15.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Carolina RailHawks

Saturday, June 30, 2012— 7:30 P.M. EDT

Lockhart Stadium

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Webcast: NASL on ustream

2012 Series:  Tied, 0-1-0, 1pt

2011 Series:  Tied, 2-0-2, 6pts  

                                               Fort Lauderdale              Carolina              

Head Coach                        Daryl Shore                      Colin Clarke

2012 Records                    6^th: 4-4-5, 16pts              5^th: 4-5-4, 17pts

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

Goals Leader                     Mark Anderson (5)           Nick Zimmerman (6)

Assists Leader                  Walter Restrepo (5)        Austin Da Luz (3),

                                                                                           Ty Shipalane (3)

QUICK FACTS

Fort Lauderdale

• The Strikers won both their encounters with the RailHawks at Lockhart Stadium last season.
• Mark Anderson has scored a goal in five of his last six NASL matches, and seven goals in the last eight, including two goals in two Open Cup games.
• Fort Lauderdale has won just two of their last nine NASL matches.

Carolina

• The RailHawks haven’t conceded a goal in 225 minutes.
• Nick Zimmerman is tied for the league-lead for goals scored, with six goals.
• Carolina has scored more than any other team this season with 22 from thirteen games.