USL News Release
Thursday, July 16, 2009
TAMPA, FL – The Carolina RailHawks play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps for the first meeting between the two teams this season Friday night on Fox Soccer Channel. The broadcast begins at 8:00 pm ET. Previously on Thursday, Episode 3 of USL Breakaway debuts at 11:30 pm ET on FSC.
Carolina will be looking for their first win against the Whitecaps since the first-ever meeting between the two sides in Vancouver two years ago. Since then the Whitecaps have won twice with two other contests finishing in a stalemate. Last year, the series opened with a 1-1 draw in Vancouver with the Whitecaps posting a 1-0 draw at home two weeks later. Vancouver posted a 3-2 road win over the RailHawks in the final meeting to take the season series.
Vancouver comes into the contest in seventh after a weekend of mixed results. They dominated at home Thursday in a 4-0 victory over Minnesota, but then fell in Miami 2-1 on Sunday.
The Whitecaps offense currently rates second best in the league based on its goals per game ratio. Charles Gbeke, Marcus Haber and the injured Marlon James each have four goals on the year with captain Martin Nash chipping in with three goals and three assists. Defender Wesley Knight has also helped launch the attack with four assists on the campaign.
Sitting four points back of first in fourth place, the RailHawks are in a position to move into a tie for second with a win if Portland and Charleston both also falter Friday evening. Carolina came off a brief idle spell in league play last week to hand Charleston its first loss at home this season, downing the Battery 1-0 Saturday.
The RailHawks have been a team of shared responsibilities this season with no real front-runner in the scoring department and its two goalkeepers, Caleb Patterson and Eric Reed, virtually split in games played through 15 contests and both averaging under one goal allowed per game.
Next Week: The Minnesota Thunder play host to the Miami FC Blues Friday, July 24 at 8:00 pm ET. It will be the second meeting between the two clubs this season. Full schedule [+]
USL Breakaway: Episode III of USL Breakaway debuts Thursday, July 16 at 11:30 pm ET. The episode will boast a Manhattan flavor with several stories hailing from the greater New York metropolis. The show will take a look at former USL-1 star Macoumba Kandji of the New York Red Bulls and will profile the PDL’s Brooklyn Knights and the Super-20 League’s FC Harlem.
The Knights relationship between their senior team and youth program will be highlighted along with an inside look at the club's unique diversity and success in developing players in NYC. Their stadium, Met Oval, is historic in the NYC soccer scene and in terms of soccer in North America. The Brooklyn Knights were inducted into the USL 10+ Club this past season and are one of USL’s showcase clubs.
The show will also feature a profile of veteran USL-1 goalkeeper Dusty Hudock, who is in the midst of what could be his third campaign to earn honors at the end of the year. Episode 3 will re-air July 18 at 12:30 am ET, July 19 at 1:30 pm ET and 4:00 pm ET, July 23 at 9:00 pm ET, July 25 at 5:30 pm ET and August 14 at 6:00 pm ET. Check your local listings.
