Two second half goals propelled the Carolina RailHawks (4W-2T-3L, 14pts) to a 2-0 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (3W-2T-4L, 11pts) and extended their home unbeaten streak to 14 matches. Over NASL and U.S. Open Cup play the RailHawks have recorded 12 wins, 2 ties, and 0 losses. Breiner Ortiz and Brian Ackley scored goals in the 63rd and 80th minute, respectively.
“We’re excited for a lot of reasons tonight,” said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke. “We were coming off four tough results for different reasons and we had to ask ourselves if we were good enough. I think we answered some of those questions tonight.”
Ortiz opened the scoring in the 63rd minute when a cross was poorly cleared and the ball fell to the top of the box. With a one-time, left-footed shot, Ortiz zipped the ball through the crowded box and into the Fort Lauderdale net.
In the 80th minute, Ackley converted a penalty kick adding to the RailHawks lead. The referee whistled for the penalty kick when RailHawks’ Cesar Elizondo was driving into the Fort Lauderdale box and was taken down by a tackle from Fort Lauderdale’s Stefan Antonijevic.
Postgame, Clarke was proud of his squad’s performance and believes the win get the RailHawks moving in the right direction. “I think we showed tonight that the team does have the heart, the character, and the fight to have a run at the championship.”
The RailHawks will go on the road for their next three NASL matchups: October 6th to Edmonton, October 12th to New York and October 19th to Minnesota. All matches will be broadcast live on www.CarolinaRailHawks.com. The RailHawks return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, October 26th when they face the Atlanta Silverbacks. Prior to the match the RailHawks will host the Second Annual Soktoberfest Pregame Festival and Homebrew Competition. For more information call the St. Lawrence Homes Box Office at (919) 459-8144 or visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com.
LINEUPS
CAR: GK Fitzgerald, D Rutkiewicz, D James, D Hamilton, D Low, M Shipalane (Martinez, 82), M Walker, M Ortiz, M Elizondo (Callahan, 87), F Schilawski, F Addlery (Ackley, 71);
FTL: GK Sanchez, D Guerrero, D Antonijevic, D Alves, D King, M Paulo Jr (DE Mujica, 89), M Stahl (Gonzalez, 60), M Pecka, M Restrepo, F Nunez, F Baladez (Hassan, 73);
GOALS
CAR: Ortiz (unassisted), 63; Ackley (penalty kick), 80;
FTL:
CAUTIONS
CAR: Addlery, 22;
FTL: Restrepo, 16;
SHOTS
CAR: 14
FTL: 2
FOULS
CAR: 13
FTL: 14
Two second half goals propelled the Carolina RailHawks (4W-2T-3L, 14pts) to a 2-0 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (3W-2T-4L, 11pts) and extended their home unbeaten streak to 14 matches. Over NASL and U.S. Open Cup play the RailHawks have recorded 12 wins, 2 ties, and 0 losses. Breiner Ortiz and Brian Ackley scored goals in the 63rd and 80th minute, respectively.
“We’re excited for a lot of reasons tonight,” said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke. “We were coming off four tough results for different reasons and we had to ask ourselves if we were good enough. I think we answered some of those questions tonight.”
Ortiz opened the scoring in the 63rd minute when a cross was poorly cleared and the ball fell to the top of the box. With a one-time, left-footed shot, Ortiz zipped the ball through the crowded box and into the Fort Lauderdale net.
In the 80th minute, Ackley converted a penalty kick adding to the RailHawks lead. The referee whistled for the penalty kick when RailHawks’ Cesar Elizondo was driving into the Fort Lauderdale box and was taken down by a tackle from Fort Lauderdale’s Stefan Antonijevic.
Postgame, Clarke was proud of his squad’s performance and believes the win get the RailHawks moving in the right direction. “I think we showed tonight that the team does have the heart, the character, and the fight to have a run at the championship.”
The RailHawks will go on the road for their next three NASL matchups: October 6th to Edmonton, October 12th to New York and October 19th to Minnesota. All matches will be broadcast live on www.CarolinaRailHawks.com. The RailHawks return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, October 26th when they face the Atlanta Silverbacks. Prior to the match the RailHawks will host the Second Annual Soktoberfest Pregame Festival and Homebrew Competition. For more information call the St. Lawrence Homes Box Office at (919) 459-8144 or visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com.
LINEUPS
CAR: GK Fitzgerald, D Rutkiewicz, D James, D Hamilton, D Low, M Shipalane (Martinez, 82), M Walker, M Ortiz, M Elizondo (Callahan, 87), F Schilawski, F Addlery (Ackley, 71);
FTL: GK Sanchez, D Guerrero, D Antonijevic, D Alves, D King, M Paulo Jr (DE Mujica, 89), M Stahl (Gonzalez, 60), M Pecka, M Restrepo, F Nunez, F Baladez (Hassan, 73);
GOALS
CAR: Ortiz (unassisted), 63; Ackley (penalty kick), 80;
FTL:
CAUTIONS
CAR: Addlery, 22;
FTL: Restrepo, 16;
SHOTS
CAR: 14
FTL: 2
FOULS
CAR: 13
FTL: 14
