CARY, N.C. – Carolina RailHawks forward Etienne Barbara has been named the NASL Offensive Player of the Week for Week 21, the league announced on Monday.
It is the fourth time this season Barbara has been selected Offensive Player of the Week.
Barbara recorded a hat trick in the RailHawks’ 4-2 win at Atlanta on Saturday. With the RailHawks trailing 1-0, Barbara netted the equalizer in the 28th minute. One on one against Atlanta’s Felipe Quintero, Barbara pulled the Silverbacks goalkeeper off his line then placed the ball through the legs of defender Mattias Schnorf, who’d retreated to cover the open goal. In the second half, with the match tied 2-2, Barbara put the RailHawks ahead for good when he converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute. He hit another spot kick in added time.
“Etienne has consistently been scoring and to score 20 goals in a season is a big accomplishment,” said RailHawks Head Coach Martin Rennie. “He has done an incredible job working hard for the team and we will see how many more he can score to finish out the season.”
The hat trick was the first in the NASL this season, and the fifth in RailHawks history. It was also Barbara’s fourth multi-goal game of the season. He now has scored a league-leading 20 goals, and with eight assists, he has a staggering 48 points. He is the only RailHawks outfield player to have appeared in every match this season, and he ranks third on the team with 1,898 minutes played.
Barbara and the RailHawks, who matched the club record for wins in a season on Saturday, aim for their third straight victory on Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park, where they will face Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. The RailHawks are 3-0-0 this season against FCTB, outscoring them 8-3. For game and ticket information visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com or call the Cruizers Box Office at WakeMed Soccer Park at 919-459-8144.
