Allright, for all the soccer nuts, and people that just want to have fun and yell at the other team's goalkeeper, your game is here and here's the best preview that can be created in 15 minutes.

First game is this coming Saturday, April 21st at 7:30 against the Minnesota Thunder. All home games will be at SAS Soccer Park in Cary. For those that don't know, the easiest way to get to SAS from NC State University is to go down Hillsborough Street like you're going to the RBC Center or Carter-Finley. Instead of turning at the Fairgrounds though, you just continue going straight. Five miles or so later SAS will be on your left.

The league is USL-1, which is kind of like Triple-A soccer in this country, directly underneath MLS. There are some players in USL-1 that are good enough to play in MLS but choose not to because they can make more money in USL-1, so it's not a minor league per se (i.e. the Railhawks own all their player contracts, not an MLS team).

It's a national league, so we'll be playing teams from all over the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Teams: http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/6187380/LIST.html

Schedule: http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2007/6188067.html . There will be 14 home games as part of the league (13 will be on the weekend), plus playoff games if they're good enough, maybe an exhibition against a English Championship or MLS team, and maybe midweek US Open Cup games (the American version of the English FA Cup).

Ticket Info: http://carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=34

Radio/TV: All games will be broadcasted on 88.9 WSHA-FM. http://www.wshafm.org . Three Friday night games will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel.

The roster has a variety of veterans and collegians and the usual mix of foreign players. Most recognizable players may be David Stokes, who played for D.C. United until this past year. Chris Carrieri was an all-star player at UNC, was made the #1 pick in the MLS Draft in 2001, played MLS for a couple years, and then he fizzled out into USL-1. We have a good number of players that have collegiate connections to the area. Our coach is Scott Schweitzer, longtime player in his first coaching gig, but also a NC State grad. http://www.carynews.com/125/story/4597.html

Roster:

6 Abolaji, Sola M/D (USA) - last team: University of Buffalo
11 Carrieri, Chris M/F (USA) - last team: Rochester Rhinos (USL-1), played college soccer at UNC
9 Cephas, McColm F (Liberia) - last team: Virginia Beach Mariners (USL1), Liberian international
23 Dombrowski, Chad D (USA) - last team: Minnesota Thunder (USL1)
4 Donald, Demetrius D (USA) - last team: Queens University (Charlotte)
8 Edozien, Connally F/M (Nigeria) - last team: Rochester Rhinos (USL1)
16 Friend, Cooper D (USA) - last team: University of Maine
21 Fusiller, Santiago M (Argentina) - last team: NC State University
10 Jeffrey, Kevin F (Trinidad & Tobago) - last team: Toronto Lynx (USL1)
3 Low, Kupono M (USA) - last team: Virginia Beach Mariners (USL1)
12 Maher, Anthony F/M (USA) - last team: Wilmington Hammerheads (USL2)
0 McClellan, Chris GK (USA) - last team: Charlotte Eagles (USL2)
14 Norkus, Caleb D (USA) - last team: Puerto Rico Islanders (USL1), played college soccer at UNC
1 O'Hara, John GK (Ireland) - last team: Sligo Rovers (Ireland), Irish youth international
15 Sanfilippo, Frankie D - last team: Rochester Rhinos (USL1)
22 Steele, Jonny M (Northern Ireland) - last team: Rochester Rhinos (USL1)
2 Stokes, David D - last team: D.C. United (MLS), played college soccer at UNC

This is not a final roster. Probably a couple others will be added.

Here's a few articles from the Cary News about the team they've done in our preseason as the Railhawks have tried to fill out the roster.

http://www.carynews.com/125/story/5817.html
http://www.carynews.com/116/story/5932.html
http://www.carynews.com/125/story/5958.html

Here's a fansite of sorts that's been setup: http://www.TriSoccerFan.com

[Edited on April 16, 2007 at 11:43 AM. Reason : .]

4/16/2007 11:38:02 AM

what the hell is a railhawk? Is this for real?

4/16/2007 12:14:41 PM

i'm trying to get into soccer, so if they introduce a student price, i'll go to some. i'm not paying $12 per ticket, though.

4/16/2007 12:19:03 PM

Quote :

"what the hell is a railhawk? Is this for real? "

Here's the link for the explanation of the guy that won the naming contest.

I came up with Raleigh-Durham United (or RDU for short). It did not win.

http://www.trisoccerfan.com/index.php?itemid=255

4/16/2007 12:23:48 PM

Quote :

"i'm trying to get into soccer, so if they introduce a student price, i'll go to some. i'm not paying $12 per ticket, though."

I'm willing to give my season ticket to others when I am sometimes unable to go. Just communicate that to me in a pm.

Also, there are ways to get $8 tickets.

4/16/2007 12:30:14 PM

We finished off our roster.

Dario Brose was retired and coaching locally, but decided to try out and made it. Last team was the San Jose Earthquakes and is a former USA international, with 4 caps and 1 goal. Brose is also an NC State graduate and GoPack.com has an article on him here: http://www.gopack.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9200&ATCLID=873835

Stuart Brightwell is from England, last played for Hartlepool, and a long time ago was on Manchester United's roster (as one of the youth 18-year-olds usually at the end of the roster). He was invited to the tryout by a friend and told if he did not make the team he would be guaranteed a coaching job in the area.

Eric Kaufman is American, and last played for NC State.

Mark Jonas is also American, played college soccer at NC State, and last played for Virginia Beach.

Here's a link to a video segment from ABC 11 on the team and talks to some of the players. http://www.trisoccerfan.com/index.php?itemid=648

[Edited on April 21, 2007 at 10:49 AM. Reason : .]

4/21/2007 10:47:06 AM

aha, I was just about to make this thread, hadn't seen yours, gg

i'm gonna be out there tonight, looking forward to it

oh and

Quote :

"21 Fusiller, Santiago M (Argentina) - last team: NC State University"

bears repeating

w00t

[Edited on April 21, 2007 at 11:19 AM. Reason : ]

4/21/2007 11:17:30 AM

1-1.

Railhawks get a 5th-minute goal from Kupono Low, our defensive midfielder.

We absolutely dominate the opening half-hour of the game but can't get the second. Toward the end of the first half Minnesota finally starts getting into the game.

Second half we weren't able to really get anything going offensively. Minnesota around the 65-minute mark gets a penalty. I was at the opposite end of the field but it looked like our guy scissored the Minnesota player. Penalty converted - 1:1.

After that, it didn't look like they would score, but it didn't look like we would score either. I thought our midfield dominated, but our forwards were lacking. In injury time, we made a couple surges with a couple corners, but we ran out of time in the end.

Had an announced crowd of 6327. My section made a lot of noise and at the end of the match we got a lot of people coming up saying they want to join the supporters' club so that's good. Talked for a couple minutes to a guy in an Argentina jersey and his Venezuelan friend, both in high school, that were really into the game and said they would join up with us and they were our a couple of the best-cheering guys.

Undefeated!

Next home game is next Saturday against Atlanta. Also, just to let everyone know that is interested, the contract has been signed and on Tuesday, May 8th, the Railhawks will host an exhibition match against Chivas USA. It's not been announced publicly yet but will soon.

[Edited on April 22, 2007 at 10:42 AM. Reason : .]

4/22/2007 10:35:19 AM

First ever goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZPNR5J4OW0 (it's the radio commentary implanted over the video)

4/22/2007 6:39:22 PM

did they ever sign Phil Long?

4/22/2007 6:59:34 PM

April 28 Atlanta Silverbacks (John Queeley's team)
May 4 Puerto Rico Islanders
May 8 Chivas USA (MLS)
May 19 Charleston Battery (Aaron King's team)

The Railhawks are coached by former NC State All American Scott Schweitzer who played on the 1990 Final Four team. His ex-teammate at State Dario Brose (Also an All America on the FF team) is listed on the roster, but I have heard he is injured. He isn't listed on the uslsoccer.com roster either. Former State star Mark Jonas is also on the roster in the game day program, but isn't listed on the uslsoccer.com roster. Former State star Eric Kaufman is listed in the preview, but isn't on uslsoccer.com. Former State star Santiago Fusilier is listed in the game day preview and on the web at uslsoccer.com. There are plenty of Wolfpack players in the USL, so lets go support the Railhawks!

4/24/2007 12:54:08 AM

also, caleb norkus...who grew up in raleigh and played at sanderson high and then at unc...always thought he was gonna be a star back in the day, his mom was my PE teacher in elementary school...there is a broughton alum on the squad as well

/more local connections

4/24/2007 1:56:05 AM

i still don't really like the name.....

4/24/2007 10:37:56 AM

Railhawks sounds like a name for a WNBA team...

I would like to go watch a couple of these games, but I'm not sure if I'd pay $12.

4/24/2007 11:17:24 AM

^I don't mind the name. The other night at the game you could hear the train go past on the tracks near the stadium. Having a reference to the railroad in the name is a good thing because of the location.

4/24/2007 11:18:45 AM

This is my creation. I made a giant red card and yellow card to take to the games and hold up everytime we get fouled, or the other team runs their mouth.

[Edited on April 24, 2007 at 9:24 PM. Reason : photos]

4/24/2007 9:23:15 PM

I went to the game last night... not a bad turnout, play was decent in the 2nd half at least.. but music during the game, wtf seriously, it's so gay

4/29/2007 4:00:13 PM

^I wasn't there for the second game, but I heard they cut back on the music during the game. It was even worse during the first game. I know the guy that runs trisoccerfan.com. He said the owner doesn't like the music being played either. I don't understand why he doesn't shut it off then.

4/29/2007 6:49:43 PM

i went to the game last night. the first half was pretty slow...but the second half was entertaining. i thought the storyline about the origin of the railhawk that they went over before the game was stupid. and the dance team was bad. and i agree that the music was annoying. but other than that it was enjoyable.

a friend of mine is on the team, so i went for free...and will take free tickets and go on every nice night that they play. not something i would pay 12 bucks for on a regular basis...once in awhile though.

4/29/2007 9:52:47 PM

^^^ The head of our supporters' club talked to the owner after the first game. He said the fans' (read: hardcore soccer fans) biggest complaint was the music. The owner said he hates the music too, but thinks it's needed for all the non-diehards, which is what, everyone in attendance minus 100?

He did say though he would try and cut it down and only place it in at certain times and better time it. Plus, he was happy that the music was the biggest complaint cause to him it means most everything else was nice. You're welcome to come down to the end behind the goal, we can hardly hear the speakers most times.

[Edited on April 29, 2007 at 11:00 PM. Reason : .]

4/29/2007 10:58:43 PM

^I know Jarrett too and have heard that story already. It still sucks that they play music. I told the marketing director in an e-mail that they should stick with the tapping song, or what ever you call that and the Charge song in dead ball situations only.

4/30/2007 1:37:57 PM

They used to play music all during the game when I worked for the Courage, too, and I never understood how that was supposed to benefit the average fan. Little blasts of music during dead balls, sure, but music isn't constantly played in any other sport, so why do it in soccer?

4/30/2007 2:00:34 PM

^ Music's going during run of play in the NBA and during every single dead puck situation in the NHL.

4/30/2007 3:53:21 PM

isn't it a bit expensive for that puerto rico team?

4/30/2007 3:54:40 PM

Quote :

"a friend of mine is on the team, so i went for free...and will take free tickets and go on every nice night that they play. not something i would pay 12 bucks for on a regular basis...once in awhile though."

seriously! i'd go on every nice night, but $12 is fucking ridiculous. they need a student price!

4/30/2007 3:57:20 PM

yea i remember the ACC tourney games being pretty expensive as well

4/30/2007 4:01:01 PM

Quote :

"Music's going during run of play in the NBA and during every single dead puck situation in the NHL."

I wouldn't be caught dead watching an NBA game, so that's news to me, but hockey games will often go a good four or five minutes without a stoppage. I wouldn't say that's similar at all.

4/30/2007 4:37:26 PM

^^^Jarrett said he was going to send my e-mail to the front office about if there was a student price. I don't think there is though. It's $8 for the behind the goal seats if you pay to join the support group. It's your guys turn to send their front office an e-mail about music and student ticket prices. I already have.

4/30/2007 5:12:50 PM

i sent them an email a few months ago saying that i'd love to see a student price, and i got a response saying that they were talking about doing it and to pay attention to the website. but alas.

4/30/2007 5:17:28 PM

Tomorrow there is another home game at 7:30pm

5/3/2007 11:44:26 PM

We pretty much controlled the game, but it was a 0-0 tie again. They don't play much music now. They still play some, but it's not as bad as the first game.

5/4/2007 11:57:52 PM

5/5/2007 11:04:23 AM

They lost 2-0 tonight in Atlanta.

5/5/2007 10:52:17 PM

i'm liking the orange/blue jerseys...what team is that

5/6/2007 2:37:39 AM

^ Puerto Rico Islanders

5/6/2007 12:13:41 PM

that is some nice grass, i wish our adult league played on grass like that

5/6/2007 12:16:39 PM

^Who do you play in an adult league for? What league?

5/6/2007 2:45:51 PM

2-2 game tonight versus Rochester.

6/8/2007 11:09:09 PM

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/06/10/are-american-soccer-fans-starting-to-get-it/

An article about American sports fans, how it compares to Europe, and the "punks" in the U.S. that are acting like European fans. Even has a picture of the Railhawks' fan group I'm in.

6/10/2007 4:32:04 PM

Home game tomorrow night against Seattle at 8 o'clock.

If you don't want to come, the game will be nationally televised on Fox Soccer Channel and you can watch it there.

6/14/2007 11:01:34 PM

how good is the team?

6/14/2007 11:08:44 PM

Awesome article. I read AOL sports blog (along with Deadspin) everyday.

6/14/2007 11:25:17 PM

Currently 3-2-5. Undefeated at home in league play although we need to start winning (1-0-4). For weekend home games we've been getting around 5000 in attendance.

1. Vancouver 21
2. Rochester 20
3. Montreal 16
4. Seattle 16
5. Portland 14
6. Puerto Rico 14
7. Carolina 14
8. Miami 13
9. Charleston 12
10. Atlanta 12
11. Minnesota 7
12. California 6

In other games, we defeated MLS side Chivas USA in an exhibition in May 2-0 and we won our First Round US Open Cup match Tuesday night 4-1 over a Chicago amateur team.

[Edited on June 14, 2007 at 11:33 PM. Reason : .]

6/14/2007 11:29:24 PM

Confirmed today.

The Carolina Railhawks on Wednesday, July 25th, will play one of the top Mexican teams, Cruz Azul.

8pm that night at SAS Soccer Park.

http://carolinarailhawks.com/press-releases/carolina-railhawks-to-host-mexican-soccer-stalwarts-2.html

6/20/2007 7:51:07 PM

Tomorrow evening. 7:30pm at SAS Soccer Park in Cary.

vs.

Carolina Railhawks play the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer in the 3rd Round of the U.S. Open Cup. Winner will advance to the Final 8 of the competition.

As an elimination game, they will play 30 extra minutes if tied after 90 minutes, and then penalty kicks if necessary.

Tickets are still available. Same prices as regular season games. High turnout with lots of people buying walk-up tickets is expected. Chicago's Section 8, one of the better fan groups in MLS, have taken out a section for themselves.

7/14/2007 9:23:37 PM

Preview:

Quote :

"Tonight’s third round match up pits two teams with vastly different Open Cup pedigrees. After opening their debut tournament against two USASA clubs, The Carolina RailHawks jump all the way to the top to face four-time defending Open Cup winners Chicago Fire. With frustration growing over MLS clubs fielding reserve sides in cup matches, the Fire are one of the teams who seem to always make the Open Cup a priority, and it shows in their record. Since their first tournament in 1998, Chicago have reached either the semifinals or the final seven times. In fact, the only two times they failed to make it so far, they were upset by A-League clubs (Rochester in 1999, Milwaukee in 2002) in their very first match. In an interesting twist, 11 of the Fire’s last 15 U.S. Open Cup matches have been against fellow MLS clubs, Carolina will be their first lower division opponent since their 2005 quarterfinal match up with Rochester. Their two early round exits are their only losses to USL First Division level clubs in cup play. The position Chicago are in this year bears little resemblance of their past Open Cup success. The Fire are languishing in last place in the MLS Eastern Conference, even trailing expansion club Toronto FC. After starting off hot at 3-0-1, the Fire have a record of 1-8-3 since the beginning of May, and have taken only 2 points from their last 6 matches. The team fired head coach Dave Sarachan in June, and are coming off a 4-0 loss to Houston, their worst MLS defeat since 2003. Mexican international Cuatemoc Blanco is on his way to join the Fire, and they hope it’s not too late to salvage what’s left of the season. Forward Chris Rolf is the team’s go-to man on offense, netting four goals and adding three assists. The team is scoring an MLS second-worst 0.81 goals per game however, while giving up a league worst 1.6 goals per contest. The RailHawks got off to a good start to their first ever USL First Division season, but have fallen on a rough string of results lately. Carolina have taken only six points from their last seven matches, and have dropped to 10th place in the USL-1 standings, and are in a pack of four teams either one or two points out of the final USL-1 playoff berth. While Carolina feature a modest offense (0.75 goals per game), their defense is near the top of the league, allowing less than a goal a game (0.81). Carolina are anchored on the backline by USL veterans Chad Dombrowski and Caleb Norkus, as well as David Stokes, formerly with D.C. United. Chris McClellan has started all sixteen games in goal for Carolina, and his 0.81 goals against average ranks second in the USL First Division, behind Portland’s Josh Wicks’ 0.53. At this point, Chicago are in a dark tunnel looking for light. Will the Open Cup Express stop to pick them up, or will the Fire be stuck on the tracks as the RailHawks run over them on their way to Richmond?"

[Edited on July 15, 2007 at 12:56 PM. Reason : .]

7/15/2007 12:55:29 PM

1-0 win for the Railhawks.

You can watch the game or highlights here: http://usl.playonsports.tv/free/event/1694/index.html?eventId=1694

7/15/2007 11:42:20 PM

didn't get back from the beach in time to make it, it is a shame the galaxy lost too

7/16/2007 12:17:12 AM

so......they beat an mls team, that's pretty good no?

were the fire missing a lot of players or something?

is this like an nbdl team beating a eastern conference team?

7/16/2007 3:12:11 AM

yeah that's fair

We beat a major league team but definitely one of the weakest in the league, maybe like a Knicks/Celtics analogy would work.. the Fire have won this tournament 4 times I think and they've won MLS before too, but recently, they're horrible

oh and they were pretty much playing their starting lineup, ex-national player Chris Armas played almost the full 90 and current national call-up Justin Mapp played the first half

NBDL comparison is pretty fair too, alot of the RailHawks players could probably fight for reserve spots on MLS rosters

[Edited on July 16, 2007 at 7:51 AM. Reason : NBDL]

7/16/2007 7:50:28 AM