CARY, N.C. -- The NASL Regular Season Champion Carolina RailHawks play their final away match of the 2011 season Saturday at Puerto Rico.

The first-place RailHawks (17-3-6) and second-place Islanders (13-6-7)  have both secured byes in to the NASL Playoffs’ semifinals, but plenty is on the line when the league’s top two teams kick off at 7:30 p.m. from Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel.

Having dropped their last two matches, the RailHawks are looking to build some momentum heading into the Playoffs, and squaring off against  the battle-tested Islanders in Puerto Rico will offer a playoff-like environment. The Islanders are undefeated at home this season (7-5-0) and they’ve lost just once in the last six weeks (5-2-1). The RailHawks are also looking to even the season series with Puerto Rico, which has won two of three head-to-head meetings with Carolina in 2011.

Heading into the season’s 24th week, the RailHawks sit at the top of the table on 54 points, eight clear of the Islanders with two games remaining. Carolina is looking to add to its club record totals for wins (17) and goals (49) in a season, and they are one point shy of matching the club record for points in a season (55). A win Saturday would also match the single season record for away wins (7).

The RailHawks have been in first place since April, and they’ve remained there on the strength of the league’s most prolific attack and its most stingy defense. The RailHawks have scored a league-leading 49 goals  – 10 more than any other team in the league – and their goal differential is plus-26. They have been shut out five times all season.

Forward Etienne Barbara has scored an NASL-best 20 goals this season, and he leads the league in assists (eight) as well. He’s scored three against Puerto Rico this season. Pablo Campos, who’s tied for second in the NASL with 11 goals, has put one in the back of the net against Puerto Rico this season. Nick Zimmerman has added five goals, and Matt Watson three. Jonny Steele remains second in the league with seven assists.

Defensively, the RailHawks’ 23 goals allowed – four fewer than any other team in the league – and 0.885 goals against average are both best in the league. Their GAA is the only one in the NASL under 1.00. Goalkeeper Brad Knighton leads all NASL goalkeepers in minutes played (2,300), and he leads the league in GAA and shutouts (eight) and  is second in saves (106). One of Knighton’s eight shutouts this season was against the Islanders, on May21.

Like the RailHawks, Puerto Rico is a balanced offensively and defensively. Their 39 goals scored are second most in the NASL, and their 32 goals allowed are fourth fewest.Like the RailHawks, the Islanders have been shut out just five times in 2011.

The Islanders feature three players in the top 10 in goals scored this year, and 13 different players have scored for them in this season. Jonathan Fana is tied for second in the league with 11 goals, while David Foley and Nicholas Addlery are tied for eighth with seven goals. Foley is also third in the NASL with six assists.

Defensively, the Islanders’ 32 goals allowed are fourth fewest. Ray Burse has logged most of the minutes in goal for the Islanders, and he’s posted a 1.17 GAA, with 91 saves.

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks suffered their second straight defeat last Sunday at Montreal, falling 1-0 to the Impact in a very tight match.

The teams totaled 39 fouls and six yellow cards, and Montreal held an 18-4 advantage in shots.

The lone goal that was scored was rather suspect.

In the 40th minute, Montreal’s Luke Kreamalmeyer, just off the touchline in the right corner, played a long ball toward the RailHawks goal. RailHawks goalkeeper Brad Knighton knocked the ball down at the goal mouth, appearing to have kept it from crossing the line. Play continued for several more seconds until the referee and linesman conferred. They ruled the ball had crossed the plane, and a goal was awarded.

The result snapped a four-match winning streak against Montreal, dating back to 2010.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday’s match will be the fourth and final meeting between the RailHawks and Islanders in 2011. The RailHawks are 1-0-2 against the Islanders this season.

In their last match, in Bayamon, P.R., on Aug. 13, the Islanders defeated the RailHawks 2-0. David Foley converted a 37th-minute penalty kick and Petter Villegas scored in the 86th minute. The Islanders held a slight edge in shots, 14-13.

In the NASL season opener – and re-match of the 2010 league finals – Puerto Rico dealt the RailHawks a 2-1 defeat in Cary. The match began amid threatening skies and was halted for two-hours after 10 minutes had been played due to severe weather. Once play resumed, Puerto Rico’s Josh Hansen scored in the 32nd minute. Etienne Barbara seemed to have rescued a point for the RailHawks when he drew a penalty kick in the 85th-minute and converted the spot kick to even the match at 1-1. But Puerto Rico’s Jay Needham got his head on a corner kick in the fourth minute of stoppage time for the winner.

In the second match, on May 21, the RailHawks dispatched Puerto Rico 3-0. Barbara scored goals in the 26th and 53rd minutes and assisted on Pablo Campos’ 67th-minute tally for their biggest win ever over Puerto Rico.

Saturday’s match will be the 15th regular-season meeting between Carolina and Puerto Rico. The RailHawks are 5-1-8 all-time against the Islanders. After going winless (0-1-6) in the series’ first seven meetings, Carolina got its first win on Sept. 12, 2009, when the RailHawks defeated Puerto Rico 2-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

NASL LEADERS

Not only are the RailHawks at the top of the NASL table, several players are among the league leaders in a handful of statistical categories.

Forward Etienne Barbara leads the league with 20 goals, eight assists, 48 points and 73 shots.

Forward Pablo Campos is tied for second  in the league with 11 goals.

Midfielder Jonny Steele is second in the league with seven assists.

Goalkeeper Brad Knighton leads the league in goals against average (0.885), and shutouts (eight) and is second in the league in saves (106).

Defender and captain Kupono Low ranks seventh  in the league in minutes played (2,120).

MISC. NOTES

• Brad Knighton tied the club record for saves in a match on Sunday. He finished with 11. It’s the second time this season he’s posted 11 saves in a game, and the fifth time he’s had seven or more. He is now three saves shy of matching the club record for saves in a season (109).
• Chris Nurse and John Krause returned to the Starting 11 Sunday after missing the RailHawks’ two previous matches while away on international duty with Guyana and Puerto Rico, respectively.
• Devon McKenney returned from injury and made his first appearance Sunday in Montreal since Aug. 13. He played the full 90 minutes.
• Tyler Lassiter has played every minute of the last three matches since joining the RailHawks ahead of their Sept. 3 match against Tampa Bay.
• Gareth Evans has played every minute of the last four matches since joining the RailHawks ahead of their Aug. 27 match against Atlanta.
• The RailHawks are 6-2-5 in away matches this season.
• The RailHawks are undefeated in games in which they score the first goal this season (12-0-3). They are 5-6-0 in matches where they concede the first goal.
• The RailHawks have set new team records for wins in a season (17) and goals in a season (49) this season, and they are one point shy of  tying the club record for points in a season.

2011 STAT LEADERS

Appearances: Brad Knighton (26)

Starts: Brad Knighton (26)

Minutes (All Players):Brad Knighton (2,300)

Minutes (Field Players):Kupono Low (2,120)

Goals: Etienne Barbara (20)

Assists:Etienne Barbara (8)

Shots: Etienne Barbara (70)

Yellow cards:John Krause (8)

Red cards:5 players tied (1)

Saves: Brad Knighton (106)

NASL TABLE

Team	W	T	L	GF	GA	PTS
Carolina	17	3	6	49	23	54
Puerto Rico	13	6	7	39	32	46
Tampa Bay	10	7	8	38	34	37
Ft. Lauderdale	9	10	7	34	33	37
Edmonton	10	6	11	35	38	36
Minnesota	8	8	10	27	30	32
Montreal	7	8	11	29	27	29
Atlanta	4	3	19	24	58	15

NASL SCHEDULE – WEEK 24

Saturday, Sept. 17

Minnesota vs Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Atlanta vs Ft. Lauderdale, 7:30 p.m.
Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Carolina vs Puerto Rico, 7:30 p.m.
Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, P.R.

Edmonton vs Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Que.

NASL RESULTS – WEEK 23

Tuesday, Sept. 6

Tampa  Bay 2, Minnesota 1
National Sports Center, Blaine, Minn.

Wednesday, Sept. 7

Puerto Rico 1, Montreal 1
Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, P.R.

Ft. Lauderdale 1, Carolina 0
Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Edmonton 2, Atlanta 1
Foote Field, Edmonton, Alb.

Saturday, Sept. 10

Minnesota 2, Atlanta 0
National Sports Center, Blaine, Minn.

Sunday, Sept. 11

Montreal 1, Carolina 0
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Que.

Ft. Lauderdale 2, Edmonton 1
Foote Field, Edmonton, Alb.

NEXT UP

The RailHawks return home to WakeMed Soccer Park on Sept. 24 to wrap up the NASL regular season against Minnesota. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.