With just over three weeks to go in the NASL regular season, the playoff race still has plenty of room for change. After this past week’s games, the San Antonio Scorpions are still in first place with 42 points, but the Carolina RailHawks are climbing their way up the table.  With 31 points and six games to go, the RailHawks are only five points out of second place and 11 points out of first place. 

This past weekend, the RailHawks traveled to Atlanta and came back with three points.  Carolina took the game behind a 66th minute goal (video highlights) from Cary native Brian Ackley. 

In only his third start, Ackley proved his place with an upper 90 rocket from 25 yards out.  His goal has been nominated for NASL Week 21 Play of the Week. Fans can vote here.

With the loss, chances for Atlanta to make the playoffs are slim.  The Silverbacks have five games to go, four of which are against the current top four teams in the league.

Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald received his second start and posted the shutout, garnering him NASL Defensive Player of the Week.

In other off-field news, the RailHawks acquired Konrad Warzycha on loan from Sporting KC for the remainder of the season.  Warzycha is a versatile player, having experience in defensive midfielder and across the back line.  The addition of Warzycha only furthers an already deep Carolina roster.

The biggest result across the league came when fourth-ranked Fort Lauderdale beat the Scorpions 2-1 on Saturday (highlights here).  The Strikers gained a vital three points behind two goals from Abe Thompson, one being a penalty kick after a handball in the box.  Thompson’s performance in the game won him the NASL Offensive Player of the Week title.

A crucial match in Tampa Bay ended without much of a resolution as the Rowdies and the Puerto Rico Islanders drew 0-0 (highlights here).  Both teams are battling for sole ownership of the second-place spot, but the much-anticipated match did not give either team an edge.

FC Edmonton, currently in seventh place, managed to gain a point on the road against Minnesota Stars.  The teams played to a 1-1 draw, not helping either team in the rankings, and stretching Minnesota’s winless streak to seven games.

Minnesota got on the board first, on a 17th minute strike from midfielder Cristiano Dias.  However, they couldn’t hold on to their lead and in the 74th minute, Bryan Arguez scored his first goal since moving to Edmonton from Montreal Impact.

All the highlights from the past week’s games can be found on the NASL Weekly Rewind.  The MLS Reserves, Soccer By Ives and Inside Minnesota Soccer all gave a weekly recap and analysis of the action as well.

On Tuesday, San Antonio announced a partnership with Toyota to build a new Scorpions Stadium.  The stadium is expected to have a capacity of 8,000 and be finished in time for the 2013 NASL season.  The soccer-specific stadium will be called Toyota Field, and it is only the second stadium in the NASL to have sold naming rights, the other being the RailHawks’ WakeMed Soccer Park.

 WakeMed is still under construction, with plans to be finished this fall.  The stadium was recently visited and evaluated by website Stadium Journey.  The stadium received great reviews and will only get better with new amenities after the construction is finished.

All the teams are preparing for another critical week of games as Carolina travels down to Puerto Rico in an important match for both teams as they look to move up in the rankings.  The RailHawks are without Agbossoumonde and Lowery, but will turn to their deep roster to fill the roles.  Catch the match preview here.

Tampa Bay hosts in-state rival Fort Lauderdale after having added UNC-Chapel Hill and Colorado Rapids defender Eddie Ababio to their roster.  Read the Rowdies match preview here.

Minnesota looks to end their winless streak, but will have a tough task at hand, as their visitors are the Scorpions.  Minnesota will also be hosting their “Breast Cancer Awareness Night” and wearing a very colorful jersey.

And in the fourth game of the weekend, Atlanta travels to Edmonton as both teams try to gain points in hopes of making the playoffs.

All matches and live stats this weekend will be available for your viewing pleasure on NASL.com.