The first-place Carolina RailHawks take their five-match winning streak on the road this week to meet FC Tampa Bay on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The RailHawks (7-1-1) are unbeaten in their last eight and hold a six-point lead at the top of the NASL table heading into the weekend. They have picked up 22 of a possible 27 points to start the season, while Tampa Bay (2-4-3) is in fifth place on 10 points.

The RailHawks return to the site of where their current five-match winning streak began. On May 7, coming off  a 1-1 tie at Minnesota, the RailHawks defeated  FCTB 3-1 at Al Lang Stadium. That result kicked off an unprecedented run in RailHawks history. During the club record win streak, they have outscored the opposition 14-4. With a win or tie this weekend, the RailHawks will match the club record for most consecutive matches unbeaten.

The RailHawks continue riding their prolific attack to the top of the table. They have scored a league-best 20 goals and have not been shut out this season. They have scored two goals or more in five straight and in seven of nine matches this season. Strikeforce Etienne Barbara and Pablo Campos have scored 16 of the RailHawks’ 20 goals and they have six of the team’s 14 assists.

The RailHawks have also gotten a big boost defensively in the last two weeks. The RailHawks have conceded only eight goals all year – tied with Montreal for fewest in the NASL – and their 0.88 goals against average is best in the league. They have  posted shutouts in back to back matches and have not conceded a goal in 186 minutes.

As the RailHawks used their last trip to Florida as a springboard for their current run, it seemed to have sent Tampa Bay into a bit of a tailspin. FCTB is 1-2-2 since the last time the RailHawks visited Al Lang Stadium. After a 3-0 home win over Montreal on May 21, Tampa played its next two on the road, playing Minnesota to a scoreless draw on May 28 and falling 4-0 at Edmonton on Tuesday. 

Tampa’s seven goals scored are tied with Montreal for the second fewest in the NASL, and they have scored more than one goal in just one of nine matches to date. Their 11 goals allowed are second most in the league.

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks put an exclamation point on an outstanding month of May with a 2-0 win over Atlanta last Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The RailHawks weren’t able to solve the Silverbacks defense until the 81st minute, but after Pablo Campos’ diving header broke the stalemate, Carolina got another one in stoppage time from Allan Russell. Etienne Barbara assisted on both goals.

The win gave the RailHawks their fifth straight and extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches (7-0-1). For the month, they went 5-0-0 and outscored their opponents 14-4.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday’s match will be the second of four meetings between the RailHawks and Tampa Bay this season Their remaining two matches will both be played at WakeMed Soccer Park, on June 18 and Sept. 3.

In their first match, on May 7 in St. Petersburg, Fla., Etienne Barbara scored two goals and had one assist in the RailHawks’ 3-1 win. Barbara opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, but Tampa’s Pascal Millien equalized three minutes later. Barbara set up the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute, feeding Brian Farber for a 2-1 lead. Barbara put the game away with an insurance goal in the 76th minute.

The RailHawks are 2-0-1 in three all-time meetings with FCTB. The RailHawks have won both of their games in the series at FCTB’s home ground, where they’ve outscored Tampa 5-2.

BARBARA, RUSIN NAMED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Etienne Barbara and Brad Rusin were named the NASL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for Week 8.

Barbara had two assists in the RailHawks’ 2-0 win over Atlanta at WakeMed Soccer Park, while Rusin led the backline to its second straight shutout last weekend.

It was the fourth time this season Barbara has been selected as Offensive Player of the Week, and the second time for Rusin as Defensive Player of the Week.

BARBARA GOAL STREAK ENDS

Forward Etienne Barbara’s goal scoring streak ended at eight consecutive matches last weekend, but his two assists ensured his point scoring streak lives on. With the two assists,  Barbara has recorded a point in nine straight games, and he leads the NASL  in goals (11), assists (five) and points (27).

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 11 goals, five assists and 27 points.

Forward Pablo Campos rates second in the league with five goals.

Midfielder Floyd Franks rates second in the league with three assists, and midfielder Jonny Steele is tied with nine others for third in the league, with two assists.

Goalkeeper Brad Knighton is tied for the league lead in shutouts (three), is second in saves (38) and fourth in goals against average (0.88).

PLAYER NOTES

• Forward Etienne Barbara had two assists in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Atlanta.
• Forward Pablo Campos scored a goal in the 81st minute of Saturday’s win over Atlanta, his fifth of the season.
• Forward Allan Russell scored a goal in stoppage time against Atlanta, his second of the season.
• Goalkeeper Brad Knighton made four saves and earned his third shutout of the season – and second straight –  last weekend against Atlanta.
• Defender Devon McKenney missed his first match of the season Saturday due to an ankle injury. He’d started all of the RailHawks’ first eight matches of the season.

2011 STAT LEADERS

Appearances: Floyd Franks, Kupono Low, Etienne Barbara, John Krause, Nick Zimmerman, Brad Knighton (9)
Starts: Floyd Franks, Kupono Low, John Krause, Nick Zimmerman, Brad Knighton (9)
Minutes:Floyd Franks, Kupono Low, John Krause, Brad Knighton (810)
Goals: Etienne Barbara (11)
Assists:Etienne Barbara (5)
Shots: Etienne Barbara (28)
Yellow cards:Floyd Franks, John Krause (4)
Red cards:Pablo Campos, Jonny Steele (1)
Saves: Brad Knighton (38)

NASL TABLE

NASL SCHEDULE – WEEK 9

Tuesday, May 31
Edmonton 4, Tampa Bay 0
Foote Field, Edmonton, Alb.

Wednesday, June 1
Minnesota 1, Puerto Rico 1
Estadio Juan Roman Loubriel, Bayamon, PR

Saturday, June 4
Edmonton vs Montreal, 2:30 p.m.
Stade Saptuto, Montreal, Que.

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

Minnesota vs Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta Silverbacks Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.

Puerto Rico vs Ft. Lauderdale
Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

NASL RESULTS – WEEK 8

Saturday, May 28
Carolina 2, Atlanta, 0
WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, N.C.

Montreal 0,  Ft. Lauderdale 0
Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Tampa Bay, 0 Minnesota 0
National Sports Center, Blaine, Minn.

NEXT UP

The RailHawks remain on the road for a second straight week when they make their first-ever trip to Edmonton on Friday June 10. They’ll be back at WakeMed Soccer Park on June 18 to face Tampa Bay in their only home date all month.

2011 NASL STATISTICS