Coming off their first loss since April 9, the Carolina RailHawks look to get back to their winning ways on Wednesday, when they face Edmonton at Foote Field at 9:30 p.m. EDT in a match between the NASL’s top two teams in the table. It can be seen live on CarolinaRailHawks.com.

While the RailHawks saw their 13-match unbeaten and 10-match winning streaks come to an end with Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Minnesota, they’ll square off against an opponent on Wednesday whose heating up and riding a streak of their own. Edmonton is unbeaten over its last four (2-2-0) and has outscored its opponents 7-3 during that time.

The RailHawks (12-1-2, 37 points) own a 13-point advantage in the table over second-place Edmonton (7-3-4, 24 points), who has Puerto Rico lurking behind them by just a single point.

Wednesday’s match is the start of a potential table-swinging three-game stretch for Edmonton. The RailHawks’ loss Saturday meant that FCE did not lose any ground in the table while they were idle last weekend. If they pick up three points tonight, then three more on Sunday when they host Tampa Bay, which lost 4-0 on its last trip to Foote Field, then Edmonton will have nearly cut the RailHawks 13-point lead in half before traveling to North Carolina to meet the RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park on July 23.

Not only does Edmonton have that for an extra spark, but the RailHawks have defeated them twice this season, and Edmonton has yet to score on the RailHawks.

On the other hand, the RailHawks have a chance to increase their lead significantly in the next 10 days. A win tonight and another one on July 23 could put the RailHawks nearly 20 points ahead of the pack.

Despite being shut out for the first time all season – and first time in 17 regular-season matches dating back to last season – in their last match, the RailHawks remain the league’s most prolific attack with 2.20 goals per game and a plus-21 goal differential. While they’ve been shut out once, they have scored two goals or more in 11 of the season’s other 14 matches.

Forward Etienne Barbara has been at the forefront of the offensive onslaught. He has 14 goals and seven assists, and he has scored a goal or assist in all but three games this season. Forward Pablo Campos has contributed six goals and one assist, and Nick Zimmerman has added five goals, including two in the last three games. Midfielder Jonny Steele has six assists, and Floyd Franks four.

Though the RailHawks have had to shuffle their defense some in recent weeks because of injuries, yellow-card suspensions and the transfer of Brad Rusin to Europe, the defense remains a formidable unit. Their 12 goals allowed are fewest in the league, as is their goals against average (0.800). Brad Knighton has played all 1,350 minutes of the season in goal, and he leads the league in shutouts (five) and goals against average.

If the RailHawks want to improve on their defensive numbers, then they’ll have to keep a watch out for Shaun Seiko (three goals, four assists) and Kyle Porter (one goal, five assits).

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks suffered a 1-0 defeat on an added-time goal Saturday night against Minnesota, ending their 13-match unbeaten and 10-match winning streaks.

Minnesota forward Amani Walker scored the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute of a contentious affair at the National Sports Center. The match featured a combined 29 fouls (19 on the RailHawks), and Carolina players were carded four times, including an 85th-minute red card on Chris Nurse.

But the RailHawks had their chances. In the 49th minute, Pablo Campos sent a shot off the crossbar, and in the 66th minute, Etienne Barbara’s penalty kick was saved by Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren, who finished the night with five saves and was rewarded the NASL Defensive Player of the Week award for his efforts.

Saturday’s loss was the RailHawks first since April 9, when Puerto Rico scored a 94th minute goal to sink the RailHawks 2-1. Saturday also marked the end of the RailHawks five-match road winning streak and it was the first time all season they were shut out.

SERIES HISTORY

Wednesday’s match will be the third of four meetings between Edmonton and Carolina this season. They will conclude their regular-season series on July 23 at WakeMed Soccer Park. The RailHawks are 2-0-0 against Edmonton this season and have outscored them 3-0.

In their last match, on June 10 at Foote Field, the RailHawks earned a 1-0 win thanks to Matt Watson’s 53rd minute goal. Brad Knighton had four saves and recorded his second shutout of the season against Edmonton.

In their first meeting, on April 20 in Cary, the RailHawks prevailed 2-0. Etienne Barbara punched in a rebound in the 19th minute, and Nick Zimmerman sealed the win with a strike in the 76th. Though both teams took 14 shots, Edmonton did not put any of theirs on target. Knighton wasn’t required to make a save en route to his first shutout of the season.

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 14 goals, seven assists and 35 points.

Forward Pablo Campos is tied for fourth in the league with six goals, and Nick Zimmerman is tied for fifth with five goals.

Midfielder Jonny Steele is second in the league with six assists, and midfielder Floyd Franks is tied for third with four assists, and midfielder Chris Nurse is tied for fourth with three assists.

Goalkeeper Brad Knighton leads the league in shutouts (five) and goals against average (0.800), and is second in saves (62).

PLAYER NOTES

• Forward Etienne Barbara was held pointless on Saturday, marking the first time all season he did not record a goal or assist in back-to-back matches.
• Midfielder Chris Nurse was red carded in the 85th minute Saturday, meaning he will be unavailable for selection on Wednesday.
• Midfielder Jonny Steele took a team-leading four shots against Minnesota. He has the most shots on the team without scoring a goal (29).

2011 STAT LEADERS

Appearances: Floyd Franks, Etienne Barbara, Nick Zimmerman, Brad Knighton (15)

Starts: Floyd Franks, Nick Zimmerman, Brad Knighton (15)

Minutes:Floyd Franks, Brad Knighton (1,350)

Goals: Etienne Barbara (14)

Assists:Etienne Barbara (7)

Shots: Etienne Barbara (46)

Yellow cards:Kupono Low (6)

Red cards:Pablo Campos, Jonny Steele, Chris Nurse (1)

Saves: Brad Knighton (62) 

NASL TABLE

NASL SCHEDULE – WEEK 14

Wednesday, July 13

Ft. Lauderdale vs Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Que.

Carolina vs Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.
Foote Field, Edmonton, Alb.

Sunday, July 17

Atlanta vs Montreal, 3:30 p.m.
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Que.

Tampa Bay vs Edmonton, 6 p.m.
Foote Field, Edmonton, Alb.

Puerto Rico vs Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.
National Sports Center, Blaine, Minn.

NASL RESULTS – WEEK 13

Saturday, July 9

Atlanta 3, Ft. Lauderdale 2
Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Tampa Bay 1, Puerto Rico 1
Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, PR

Minnesota 1, Carolina 0
National Sports Center, Blaine, Minn.

NEXT UP

The RailHawks will have a longer layoff between matches, but their opponent will remain the same. After a four-day before facing Edmonton on Wednesday, the RailHawks will have a 10-day layoff before facing Edmonton against on June 23 at WakeMed Soccer Park. That match kicks off a two-game homestand for the RailHawks, who will face Atlanta at home on July 30. Both matches kick off at 7 p.m.

2011 NASL STATISTICS