RECAP | RailHawks 1, Strikers 1

The Carolina RailHawks tied the Fort Lauderdale Strikers by a score of 1-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday night and extended their unbeaten streak to six games.

“This was a big game for us tonight,” RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke said. “We came up a little bit short from getting the win, but we have to just keep pushing ourselves and keep putting ourselves in a winning situation.”

The RailHawks (1W-1D-0L, 4 points) came out of the gates pressing, eager to score the first goal of the match. Midfielder Tiyi Shipalane generated the first chance for the home side, using his speed to get past the defense in the 12th minute, but was unable to score from inside of the box. Shipalane and the RailHawks continued to attack but didn’t convert on any of their chances early on.

In the 20th minute, Fort Lauderdale responded (0W-1D-0L, 1 point) to the RailHawks pressure by creating an opportunity of their own, but defender and captain Connor Tobin made an incredible save to preserve the 0-0 deadlock. The RailHawks remained on the attack for the majority of the first half, with plays from Wagner and Shipalane continuing to produce chances for themselves. In the 35th minute, Blake Wagner blasted a shot towards Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Joseph Ford. The shot looked like a surefire goal for the home team but hit the crossbar.

Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald had another strong performance for the RailHawks with a handful of impressive saves to start the second half. Fitzgerald’s presence in goal inspired the RailHawks attack to get things going with a goal from Neal Hlavaty in the 53rd minute. Tiyi Shipalane started things off by dribbling up the side of the pitch and crossing the ball to forward Simone Bracalello. The Italian striker received the cross and unselfishly laid the ball off behind him to Hlavaty, who finished the job by ripping a shot home from 18 yards out.
 
In the 75th minute, the match was delayed due to inclement weather. Fort Lauderdale came out of the delay determined to even the score, and did so two minutes into the restart. Fort Lauderdale forward Stefano Pinho sent the equalizer over an on-rushing Fitzgerald from ten yards out. The RailHawks kept the pressure on and nearly responded in the 90th minute when Nazmi Albadawi fired an incredible shot that Ford barely got his hand on. In the end, the RailHawks earned a point at home in their second match of the Fall Season.