Etienne Babara did it again.

Barbara tallied his league-leading 16th goal of the season Saturday night, which proved to be the game winner in the RailHawks’ 1-0 win over Atlanta. (To see the goal, click here. The sequence starts 45 seconds into the clip).

With his 16th goal, Barbara has doubled his scoring production for the entire 2010 season. 

The sequence began with Jonny Steele sending in a cross from the left flank. Atlanta goalkeeper Felipe Quintero came way out to snag the ball out of the air, then quickly punted it upfield looking to kickstart a Silverbacks counterattack. But RailHawks defender Devon McKenney coolly headed the ball down to Nick Zimmerman. Zimmerman turned, took one touch, looked up and chipped a ball into Barbara. Barbara found space between a pair of Atlanta defenders, turned back, chested the ball down, took one more touch, then somehow squeezed off a shot that slipped by Quintero.

The whole sequence took 15 seconds.

Schedule Congestion Looms

The RailHawks have 10 games remaining in the regular season, and they will play one-third of them in the space of 14 days, beginning Saturday.

The RailHawks go to Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday to face the Strikers, then it’s on to face the Islanders in Puerto Rico on Aug. 13. They’ll have four days to recover before facing Minnesota at WakeMed Soccer Park on Aug. 17, then they’ll welcome Ft. Lauderdale to Cary three days later, on Aug. 20.

A difficult stretch without a doubt, but the RailHawks figure to be in good shape from a personnel standpoint. Chris Nurse is the only player with a yellow card accumulation suspension threatening (he has four), and no one is injured.

Former RailHawks Shine

Not only was it a banner weekend for the Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park, two former RailHawks enjoyed masterful moments at home and abroad.

On Saturday night, as we were getting washed out at WakeMed Soccer Park, Tom Heinemann netted his second goal of the season for Columbus and helped the Crew stun Real Salt Lake 2-0 at the previously impenetrable Rio Tinto Stadium.

On Sunday in Denmark, Brad Rusin capped a brilliant runthat started on his side of the field with a delightful goal that’s drawn comparisons to Diego Maradon’a Hand of God.

Rusin’s goal tied HB Køge’s match with Lyngby 1-1 in the 42nd  minute, but Lyngby went on to win 3-1.

Extra Time

• The RailHawks’ win, coupled with Puerto Rico’s 1-0 loss at Montreal on Sunday, gives the RailHawks a whopping 15-point lead at the top of the NASL table.
• Saturday’s win was the RailHawks’ 14th of the season. With it, they surpassed last season’s win total, and they are two shy of the club’s record for wins in a season.
• Saturday’s win was the RailHawks’ ninth straight at WakeMed Soccer Park.
• Nick Zimmerman picked up his first assist of the season on Barbara’s eighth-minute goal, and he now rates third on the team in points (11).
• Brad Knighton earned his sixth shutout of the season on Saturday, and finished the night with three saves.
• With Floyd Franks serving his one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation Saturday, Brad Knighton is the only player who’s  been on the field for all 1,580 minutes played this season.