Seemingly every week the RailHawks play, they shred another line item in the club’s record books.
This past weekend was no different.
Following Saturday’s 5-1 win at Atlanta, the RailHawks extended their club-record winning streak to nine matches and their club-record unbeaten streak to 12 matches. The win was also their fifth straight on the road – another club record.
And the five goals they scored were the most ever for the team in an away match. The previous high was four, which the RailHawks scored at Crystal Palace Baltimore last Sept. 25
The RailHawks scored three of their five goals in a 15-minute span in the first half Saturday. The last time they scored three in a half was also in that match at CP-Baltimore, though the RailHawks bagged three goals in five minutes there.
ZIMMERMAN DOUBLES
Nick Zimmerman doubled his 2011 goal tally Saturday after netting a pair of goals in the RailHawks’ 5-1 win at Atlanta.
Zimmerman put the RailHawks up for good in the 21st minute Saturday. After taking a pass from Floyd Franks, he turned to attack the goal and had more space than any forward should be allowed in the final third. After a few touches, he uncorked a masterful left-footed strike into the far-side netting.
In the 65th minute, Zimmerman again found himself with nothing but space just inside right side of the area. Again, he teed it up on his left foot. Atlanta goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer got his hands to the shot, but it had too much pace and zipped right into the net.
Zimmerman is the third different RailHawk to score two goals in a game this season, and Saturday marked the fifth time its happened in 2011. Etienne Barbara has done so three times and Pablo Campos once.
GLAD TO BE OF SERVICE
Etienne Barbara’s season-long scoring binge has catapulted him to the top of the club’s record books in several categories. Not only did his 21st-minute goal Saturday tie the match and add to his goal and points records, but it also broke his tie for the club’s all-time assist record.
Matt Watson’s clever long ball over the top of the Atlanta defense played Barbara in and gave Watson his second assist of the season and 11th of his RailHawks career – one more than Barbara. Watson had taken over the assist lead earlier this season, but welcomed Barbara at the top after the latter had two assists against Tampa Bay on June 18.
Watson’s assist also gives him points in three straight matches. He scored goals in back-to-back games before assisting on Barbara’s Saturday.
NURSE SCORES IN BURSTS
Chris Nurse netted the first goal of his RailHawks career in the first half Saturday then grabbed an assist for good measure in the second half.
In the 36th minute, Nurse took a pass from Jonny Steele at the top of the area then kissed a shot off the crossbar to put the RailHawks up 3-1.
In the 65th minute, he set up Nick Zimmerman’s second goal of the night.
Nurse is the third player this season to record a goal and an assist in a single match, and Saturday marked the sixth game a player has done so in 2011. Etienne Barbara has done it four times and Pablo Campos once.
DOWN, NOT OUT
Last week, it was noted that the RailHawks haven’t found themselves trailing too often, but when they do, they don’t stay down for long.
On Saturday, they found themselves down 1-0 after just 10 minutes. Eleven minutes later, they found the equalizer.
Through 13 games this season, the RailHawks have been down a goal five times. They have come back to tie the game on all five occasions, and they have gone on to win the last four. Of 1,170 minutes played this season, the RailHawks have trailed for 103 minutes, and they have led their opponents for 508.
EXTRA TIME
| TEAM | PTS | GP | W | T | L | GD |
| Carolina RailHawks | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Minnesota United FC | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| FC Edmonton | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| San Antonio Scorpions | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -4 |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -6 |
