The Carolina RailHawks (2-0-1) host the Atlanta Silverbacks (1-1-1) this Saturday May 10th at 7:30 PM at WakeMed Soccer Park in the first Southern Derby Cup match of the season...
The Carolina RailHawks (2-0-1) host the Atlanta Silverbacks (1-1-1) this Saturday May 10th at 7:30 PM at WakeMed Soccer Park in the first Southern Derby Cup match of the season. It will be Mother’s Day night at WakeMed Soccer Park and the first 3,000 fans will receive a magnet schedule courtesy of KBS Accounting Firm, an official accountant of the Carolina RailHawks. Doors open at 6:00 PM and tickets ($10, $15 and $20) are still available by calling the LGFCU Box Office at 919-859-5425.
The RailHawks are looking to build momentum after two straight 1-0 wins, the latest of which was last Sunday against Miami FC at Tropical Park Stadium with a late game winner by former Silverback Dan Antoniuk. Midfielder Matt Watson, fresh off his MISL Indoor Championship with the Baltimore Blast, is expected to make his WakeMed Soccer Park debut and join Kupono Low and Martin Nuñez in the midfield. Dan Antoniuk is also expected to start and hopefully continue to entertain fans with his scoring.
“Atlanta is a team we’ve already seen this season,” said RailHawks Head Coach Scott Schweitzer. “All their players are in now and it will be a better squad than the first game of the season. We will have to declare dominance at home, play for our fans and sponsors and make sure we keep a true home field advantage every game this season.”
The Atlanta Silverbacks are coming of a key home loss against 2007 USL-1 Champion Seattle Sounders. They are led by midfielder Mac Kandji and forwards Jerson Monteiro and Warren Ukah who add speed to their attack. Defenders Matt Bobo and David Hayes will attempt to neutralize their former teammate Dan Antoniuk and his powerful finishes.
"The RailHawks are playing good soccer right now,” said Silverbacks Head Coach Jason Smith. “Having opened the season against them, we know how dangerous they can be. We have to hope that we continue to improve, and we know it is going to be a difficult place to steal three points."
The Carolina RailHawks Women will make their WakeMed Soccer Park debut the following Friday, May 16th at 7:30 PM against the Atlanta Silverbacks. For tickets to these events and information on Carolina RailHawks Men and Women season packages please visit www.carolinarailhawks.com of call the LGFCU box office at 919-859-KICK (919-859-5425).
Notes:
Schedule of Events
Doors open at 6:00 PM
First 3,000 fans receive a schedule magnet courtesy of KBS Accounting Firm
Pregame meet and greet with some of the RailHawks in the Tecate Fan Zone on the West Concourse
Inflatables and Rock Climbing wall for the kids on the East Concourse
Kids human tunnel to greet the starting lineup (meet at 7:00 PM at the Northwest corner of the field)
Kickoff at 7:30 PM
Head to Head
The RailHawks overall record against the Silverbacks is 1-1-3. The two teams met four times last year each winning one contest and tying the last two. They battled to a 1-1 tie at the beginning of this season with goals by Steven Curfman for the RailHawks and Jerson Monteiro for the Silverbacks
Southern Derby
The Carolina RailHawks are the current holders of the Southern Derby Cup, a tournament organized by southern states fans to help promote soccer in the south. The tournament takes into account the scores of the last home and away matches between the teams who participate in it, Atlanta, Charleston and the RailHawks. This is the first match valid for the Southern Derby Cup standings in the 2008 season
Carolina RailHawks Women Debut
The Carolina RailHawks Women will make their WakeMed Soccer Park debut on Friday, May 16th against the Atlanta Silverbacks W-League side. It will be the return of competitive soccer to the triangle since the Carolina Courage folded with WUSA in 2003.