Former NASL Golden Boot Winner Brian Shriver Rejoins Carolina

The Carolina RailHawks have signed 28-year-old forward Brian Shriver for the 2016 NASL season. Shriver, a Florida native and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumnus, will look to bolster the RailHawks’ attack with his dangerous offensive skillset.

Shriver is no stranger to the RailHawks. In the 2013 NASL season, Shriver led the club and the entire league with 15 goals. Shriver’s prolific scoring abilities earned him a spot in the 2013 NASL Best XI and won him the NASL Golden Boot, which is awarded to the league’s top scorer during the combined Spring and Fall Seasons. The forward’s capacity to threaten opposing defenders and finish in front of goal will allow him to rejoin the club as a major offensive contributor.

Shriver’s soccer career took off at Clearwater High School in Clearwater Fla., where he served as team captain for three years and helped win the 2004 Florida state championship title. Shriver was named an NSCAA/Adidas Youth All-American in 2004 and participated in the 2004 Adidas Elite Soccer Program.

Following high school, Shriver went on to play for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2005 until 2008, scoring eight goals and six assists for the Tar Heels. In 2008, Shriver made 13 appearances with the RailHawks’ U-23 squad, scoring six goals. The following year Shriver was drafted by FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, but he turned down the contract to finish his degree.

Later that year Shriver joined Miami FC, which later became the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The forward scored 15 goals during his two seasons with the Strikers and led the club to the 2011 NASL Final. After playing for the RailHawks during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Shriver returned to Florida and joined the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2014. Shriver scored five goals and logged 2,609 playing minutes during his two seasons in Tampa Bay.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be coming back to the RailHawks, where I spent the best two years of my career,” Shriver said. “I am extremely excited about getting back up there to work with a great coaching staff.”