Cary, NC – The Carolina RailHawks continue their march up field toward the dream of a new league. Let’s review:

September: RailHawks leave USL

Nov 9: RailHawks form a new, unnamed league with six other teams

Nov 30: NASL is born – The North American Soccer League

Reborn is more like it. The name may sound familiar to long-time soccer fans. The original NASL, 1968-1984, was the first big pro soccer league in North America and featured Pele, the Babe Ruth of futbol.

“By becoming the NASL, we are paying respect to the players, coaches and leaders who were pioneers for men’s professional soccer in North America, many of whom remain involved and committed to the growth of our game in various capacities throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Selby Wellman, principal owner of the RailHawks. “For that, we honour and thank them with a new era for the NASL.”

The Rochester Rhinos (why Rhinos?) have also joined the NASL. Team play is set to start here in Cary in April 2010, just five months away.

Photos via the RailHawks Facebook page

Soccer fans across the Triangle could only be disappointed when the RailHawks and five other teams announced they were leaving the USL in September. So yesterday’s announcement of a new league brought a sigh of relief. There will be professional soccer in Cary come April.

Unlike most professional leagues, the USL is owned by a corporation, Nu-Rock Soccer Holdings of Atlanta. Team owners wanted more of a say in league management, marketing and branding decisions. They wanted a commissioner, responsible to a Board of Directors.

On Monday, team owners  submitted paperwork for establishing a new circuit as a Division II Men’s Outdoor Professional League under the United States Soccer Federation. Joey Saputo, President of the Montreal Impact, was  elected Chairman of the Board of Governors of the new league. “We feel that the league in its current state has handicapped the growth of our team and the league itself; ownership and control of our league are critical to our individual and collective growth,” said Saputo.

“After years of failed efforts to work and improve the current structure of our league, we must take control of our own destiny,” said Dean Johnson, owner of the Minnesota Thunder. Aaron Davidson, president of Miami FC, agreed. “With this decision, we gain control of our own destiny and can finally structure and operate our league in a manner which truly positions us for growth and success.”

“This is not your typical new league,” Saputo said. “Most of our teams have existed for years. We have united some of the best owners, teams and markets around a new vision for a professional soccer league in North America.”

“There is no other way. The teams must own and control their league,” said Jeff Cooper, president of the St. Louis club.

The new, as-yet-unnamed league already has seven teams lined up:

• Atlanta Silverbacks
• Carolina Railhawks
• Miami FC
• Minnesota Thunder
• Montreal Impact
• St. Louis Soccer United
• Vancouver Whitecaps

“This will be a league that will offer the best of both worlds – outstanding experience and leadership at the ownership level combined with the promise and ability to chart our own course for success as a new league,” said Cooper. “It’s this structure that motivated me to bring St. Louis into the new league, and why I believe the new league will have a lot of success at launch next year and well into the future.”

Photo by wjarrettc via Flickr

Wednesday, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, the RailHawks punished Miami FC 9-0, clinching a spot in the division playoff.

The Miami Herald had this to say:

First-half goals by Daniel Paladini, John Cunliffe, Andriy Budnyy, Gregory Richardson and Joseph Kabwe buried the Blues (7-13-4) and ensured their winless streak would reach seven matches.

Then things really fell apart. Kabwe added a two more goals in the second half and Sallieu Bundu had the final two.

“A 9-0 loss is totally unacceptable,” Miami FC president Aaron Davidson said. “It’s embarrassing for Miami FC and it should be personally embarrassing for every single player on our team, and the coach.”

Only two regular season home games remain, on Saturday September 12 and Friday September 19th. Get tickets.

Photo by wjarrettc via Flickr and Creative Commons.

Andriy Budnyy. Photo by wjarrettc via Flickr

The Carolina Railhawks squeaked out a tie vs. the Vancouver Whitecaps last night at WakeMed Soccer Park on a score by Andriy Budnyy in the 87th minute.

The Whitecaps took the lead with a goal by Marcus Haber at 66 minutes. Carolina missed several opportunites to even the score before cheating Vancouver of the win in the final minutes.

The RailHawks move to a record of 13-5-5 with the sixth unbeaten game in a row, putting them in a tie for second place in the USL First Division. Vancouver drops to seventh place in the division with a record of 7-9-6.

According to the RailHawks website, Budnyy gives partial credit to the sticky Southern weather.

“[Vancouver] is not used to playing in this climate and we just put more pressure on them at the end, and it paid off. Unfortunately not for a win, but we got a tie, so that’s something.”

The next RailHawks home match is Wednesday August 26 vs. Miami FC Blues 7:00 PM at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Photo by wjarrettc via Flickr. Used with a Creative Commons license. CC BY 2.0

The Carolina RailHawks continue their work in the community by hosting a free clinic on Sunday, August 9, at 10:30 a.m. at Bond Park in Cary. The clinic is part of Diamante, Inc.’s festivities as they hold their fifth annual Ritmo Latino Festival. (more…)

Sallieu Bundu heading the ball. Via Facebook.

Cary’s own Carolina RailHawks bested the Austin Aztex 3-0 on Saturday at Wake Med Soccer Park.

The win was Carolina’s seventh in eight matches, and the RailHawks are the first team in the USL First Division this season to reach 11 wins.

Scoring was evenly distributed with goals from Joseph Kabwe (assist – Gregory Richardson),  Andriy Budnyy (assist – Luke Kreamalmeyer ) and Sallieu Bundu (from Mark Schulte). Bundu took over the team lead in goals (five) with his 69th-minute score.

“It’s a team effort,” said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. “Different guys are doing their job and they’re all performing. Another thing that’s encouraging tonight is there’s probably six guys who could start who weren’t even available. It’s all good. In August, there’s a lot of games, so we’re going to need everybody performing.”