Last April, before the RailHawks kicked off what has proven to be a memorable season, goalkeeper Brad Knighton promised, We're going to entertain our fans. We'll put some goals in the back of the net and try not to concede many.

Winning the NASL Regular Season Championship with the league's highest scoring offense and the best defense, Knighton has stuck by his word.

He's played every minute of the season in goal (2,390), and the RailHawks have conceded an NASL-low 24 goals. While Knighton hasn't conceded many goals, he's had plenty of shots to contend with. After making four saves Saturday night in Puerto Rico, Knighton broke the club record for saves in a season. Heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against Minnesota at WakeMed Soccer Park, he has 110 saves. Knighton has also set a new record for wins in a season (17), and he has twice tied the club record for saves in a game (11). Also, he rates second in the league in goals against average (0.89) and he has eight shutouts.

I wanted to have the lowest GAA, win the most games, have the most shutouts and be at the top of those stats because you know that's only going to bring good things, but I've focused on training day in and day out, staying positive and letting my actions speak for themselves, Knighton said. It's all about getting experience. The number Knighton does care about is 27, as in the number of games he's played this season. In four seasons with New England and Philadelphia in Major League Soccer, Knighton played a total of 15 games. With the RailHawks, he played 15 games from April 9 to July 9.

What the experience has allowed him to do is hone so many vital skills that can only be developed on gameday  knowing when to come out for crosses, taking control of the area, parrying shots away to prevent rebounds, organizing the defense, etc.

Those are all things you can't get in practice, Knighton said. In a game, you have to make a decision in an instant. In training, it's OK to mess up. In a game, you've got to make the right decision at the right time. If you don't, it can cost your team the game.

Making his breakout season all the more enjoyable for him has been that he's been able to enjoy it with friends and family in the stands at WakeMed Soccer Park. He was born in Hickory, grew up in Richmond, Va., went to college at UNC-Wilmington and his in-laws live in Greensboro.

Having family around is huge, Knighton said. When my wife and I were in Boston, we didn't have anyone. In Philadelphia, we only had a couple people around. But there's nothing like having your family around, going home for a home-cooked meal or spending time with folks when they come to visit. It's been a great big help.

Knighton has been the one constant in the RailHawks defense all season he's the only player to have appeared in all 27 matches this year but his presence has been most assuring during the last 12 matches. Because of players transferring in and out, injuries and yellow card suspensions, the RailHawks have featured nine different combinations across the backline, and only twice has the same quartet played together in back-to-back games.

Rotating players for all these reasons has made it difficult at times, but everyone on this team knows their role, he said. Everyone knows they have a job to do, and the person beside them will do theirs. We've bought into the whole system. Everyone is working for one another.

And as the regular season concludes this weekend, the RailHawks turn their attention toward the Playoffs, where they have a bye into the semifinals.

We set a goal to win the regular season, and we did that, Knighton said. Now we want to go win in the playoffs.

As Knighton demonstrated over the course of the regular season, he's a man of his word.