The North American Soccer League released the 2013 Spring Season Schedule last week with a 42-game competition beginning on April 6 and ending with games on July 4.  For the second consecutive year, the RailHawks will open the Spring Season on the road.  The RailHawks 2013 Spring Season will open at the defending NASL Champions, Tampa Bay Rowdies, on April 6 and follow up with home matches against Edmonton on April 13 and Fort Lauderdale on April 20.

With home field advantage for Soccer Bowl on the line, getting off to a fast start in the Spring Season could make all the difference.  The RailHawks schedule can play a factor into a fast start with 2 of their first 3 games at the New WakeMed Soccer Park.  The schedule will have two weekends with no games for the RailHawks, April 27 and May 25.  The RailHawks had a similar break in May 2012, prior to the matchup against the defending MLS Champions, LA Galaxy, in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.  The RailHawks Spring Season will conclude with two home matches against Minnesota and Atlanta on June 22 and 29, respectively, before closing out the Spring Season on July 3 at San Antonio.

NASL teams will have a one month break from league play between the Spring Season and Fall Season.  The Fall Season will begin August 3, with the full Fall Season Schedule expected to be announced in the coming weeks. 

2013 Spring Season Game-By-Game Breakdown:

Game 1:  April 6, 2013 - at Tampa Bay Rowdies
2012 Series: (@TBR) 0W-3T-0L  
Results: (@TBR) April 18: 1-1, September 19: 1-1, October 13: 3-3*
Series Notes: RailHawks are 3W-3T-0L all-time when visiting Tampa Bay in regular season and playoff maches.
*indicates 2012 NASL Playoff match

Game 2:  April 13, 2013 - Edmonton
2012 Series: (@CAR) 2W-0T-0L
Results: (@CAR) June 23: 2-0, August 18: 3-2
Series Notes: The RailHawks hold a 4W-0T-0L series record over Edmonton at WakeMed Soccer Park, including a +8 goal differential over the 4 games.  The last time the two clubs played at WakeMed Soccer Park, Tiyi Shipalane showed off his late game heroics with this goal.  The April 13 match will be the Grand Opening of the New WakeMed Soccer Park.

Game 3:  April 20, 2013 - Fort Lauderdale
2012 Series: (@CAR) 1W-2T-0L
Results: (@CAR) May 2: 3-3, July 7: 3-3, September 29: 3-1*
Series Notes: Both regular season matches ended in dramatic 3-3 draws, with both clubs coming back from 2 goal deficits in each match.  The RailHawks finally tallied a victory in the playoffs with a 3-1 result.  16 goals were scored over the 3 matches.
*indicates 2012 NASL Playoff match

Game 4:  May 4, 2013 - at Minnesota
2012 Series: (@MIN) 0W-1T-1L
Results: (@MIN) April 7: 0-0, May 12: 2-1
Series Notes: The RailHawks have not won in Minnesota since August 22, 2008

Game 5:  May 11, 2013 - San Antonio
2012 Series:  (@CAR) 0W-0T-2L
Results: (@CAR) April 28: 0-1, September 8: 0-1
Series Notes: The Scorpions left WakeMed Soccer Park with max points in both matches.  Both results were the result of a second half goals allowed in the 82nd and 85th minute, respectively.

Game 6:  May 18, 2013 - at Atlanta
2012 Series: (@ATL) 2W-0T-0L  
Results: (@ATL) June 16: 2-0, August 25: 1-0
Series Notes: Local products Brian Ackley and Zack Schilawski each bagged a game winner in Atlanta. Ackley tallied two goals, one in each match, including this goalazo (3:22 mark). Schilawski delivered in the game winner in the June 16 match.

Game 7:  June 1, 2013 - at Fort Lauderdale
2012 Series: (@FTL) 0W-0T-2L
Results: (@FTL) June 30: 1-2, August 11: 0-1
Series Notes: The RailHawks have 4 losses in their last 4 visits to Lockhart Stadium, 2 occurring in 2011 and 2 in 2012.

Game 8:  June 8, 2013 - Tampa Bay Rowdies
2012 Series: (@CAR) 0W-2T-1L
Results: (@CAR) August 4: 3-3, September 22: 0-0, October 6: 1-2*
Series Notes: The clubs tied their two regular season matches before the Rowdies picking up a victory in the first leg of the NASL Semifinal Series.  All-time, the RailHawks are 2W-2T-2L against the Rowdies at WakeMed Soccer Park.
*indicates 2012 NASL Playoff match

Game 9:  June 16, 2013 - at Edmonton
2012 Series: (@FCE) 0W-1T-1L
Results: (@FCE) May 6: 0-3, September 12: 2-2
Series Notes: The RailHawks are 1W-2T-1L in Edmonton since Edmonton joined the NASL in 2011.  During the summer months (June & July) in Edmonton, the RailHawks are unbeaten with a 1W-1T-0L record.

Game 10:  June 22, 2013 - Minnesota
2012 Series: (@CAR) 2W-0T-0L
Results: (@CAR) June 9: 5-1, July 21: 1-0
Series Notes: The July 21 match experienced 4 hours of delays due to severe thunderstorms.  The final whistle blew at 1:00am ET with the RailHawks holding on to a 1-0 lead.

Game 11: June 29, 2013 - Atlanta
2012 Series: (@CAR) 1W-1T-0L
Results: (@CAR) April 14: 4-4, July 3: 2-1
Series Notes: The July 3 match experienced another extended weather delay due to severe thunderstorms in former US Men’s National Team forward Eric Wynalda’s debut as the Silverbacks head coach.  Since the Silverbacks rebirth in 2011, Atlanta holds a 0W-1T-3L record at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Game 12: July 4, 2013 - at San Antonio
2012 Series: (@SAS) 1W-0T-1L
Results: (@SAS) July 28: 0-8, September 16: 2-1
Series Notes: After the RailHawks worst loss in club history on July 28 to the Scorpions, the RailHawks went on to close out the season with a 4W-4T-2L record including their 2-1 victory at San Antonio.

Your seat for all RailHawks home matches including the NASL Spring Season and Fall Season can be reserved by purchasing your 2013 RailHawks Season Tickets.  Season Tickets can be purchased by calling the St. Lawrence Homes Box Office at 919-459-8144 or emailing Tickets@CarolinaRailHawks.com.  For more information on 2013 tickets visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com/STH.