The NASL Playoffs begin for the Carolina RailHawks this Saturday, when they travel to Blaine, Minn., to face the NSC Minnesota Stars in the first leg of the NASL Semifinal Series.

The RailHawks (17-3-8) will be eager to take the field after receiving a bye into the semifinal series for their first place finish in the regular season. This will be the RailHawks third consecutive postseason appearance and they will look to recapture their regular season form that included a ten-game winning streak and club record for most wins in a season (17). Minnesota (9-9-10) will be looking to continue their two-game win streak that included a 1-0 victory at FC Tampa Bay in the quarterfinals of the NASL Playoffs.

This is the second straight season that the RailHawks and Stars will meet in the playoffs.

In last year’s quarterfinals, after a scoreless first leg in Minnesota, the RailHawks returned home and won the second leg 4-0 to win the series and advance to the semifinals. If anything is certain, the series will be a hard fought, physical match that will be sure to entertain. In eight all-time meetings, including the playoffs, four matches have seen a player sent off and seven of eight matches have ended in a tie or a one-goal game.

The RailHawks will be led by the striker tandem of Etienne Barbara and Pablo Campos and their 32 goals combined, 20 and 12 goals respectively, to lead the NASL’s highest scoring offense, 50 goals scored. Carolina also contains the league’s stingiest defense, only allowing 26 goals on the season, that is led by captain Kupono Low and goalkeeper Brad Knighton.

The semifinal series will be a home and home series with the series concluding on October 15 at WakeMed Soccer Park, with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. The winner will advance based on aggregate goals and the away goals rule will not be in effect. For tickets and information about the RailHawks home match on October 15, call the Cruizers Box Office at 919-459-8144 or visit CarolinaRailHawks.com.

HOW WE GOT HERE

The top six teams in the regular season advanced to the NASL Playoffs.

A one-game quarterfinal was held last weekend, when Minnesota beat Tampa Bay 1-0 and Ft. Lauderdale roughed up Edmonton 5-0 to advance to the semifinals.

The semifinals will consist of two, two-leg, aggregate goal series. The away goals rule is not in effect.

In one semifinal, No. 1 Carolina travels to No. 6 Minnesota for the first leg on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. EST. They will play the return leg next Saturday, October 15, at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7 p.m.

In the other semifinal, No. 2 Puerto Rico will host No. 4 Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and they will play the return leg next Saturday, October 15, at Lockhart Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

The semifinal winners will advance to the championship final, which will consist of a home-and-home, aggregate goal series. Once again, the away goals rule is not in effect. The championship kicks off on Oct. 22.

In the event teams are tied on aggregate after the second leg, they will proceed to play an additional 30 minutes of extra time (two, 15-minute halves). No Golden Goal. If they remain tied after extra time, the match will be decided in a penalty kick shootout.

RAILHAWKS IN THE PLAYOFFS

The RailHawks have qualified for the postseason for the third straight year and the fourth time in the club’s five-season history.

All-time, the RailHawks are 2-3-5 in the postseason.

In 2007 and 2009, their postseasons ended in the first round to Seattle (3-0 on aggregate) and Vancouver (1-0 on aggregate), respectively.

They scored their first playoff goal, won their first playoff game and won their first playoff series all on the same day in 2010. Against Minnesota in the return leg of last year’s quarterfinals, the RailHawks ended a 514-minute playoff scoreless streak with Daniel Paladini’s 64th-minute goal. The RailHawks went on to win the match 4-0, ending a four-match playoff winless streak (0-1-3), and they won the series, their first in three tries. That win propelled them into the semifinals, where they eliminated Montreal 2-1 on aggregate, and onto the finals, where they fell 3-1 on aggregate to Puerto Rico.

SERIES HISTORY

In four regular-season matches, the RailHawks were 0-2-2 against Minnesota this season, and the Stars were the only team the RailHawks did not defeat this year.

In their last meeting on September 24, the teams combined to score three goals in the first seven minutes of the second half. Kyle Altman converted a penalty kick in the 48th minute for Minnesota. The RailHawks came back two minutes later, with Jonny Steele setting up Pablo Campos for the equalizer. But the Stars answered just as quickly, with Brian Cvilikis catching the RailHawks off the break. Despite a continued flurry of attacks for the remainder of the second half, another goal never materialized and Minnesota won 2-1.

Their August 17 match at WakeMed Soccer Park ended a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless first half, the teams scored both goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. In the 48th minute, Jonny Steele played Pablo Campos into space, and Campos tucked the chance into the goal. But seven minutes later, Minnesota scored in similar fashion, with Lucas Rodriguez burying his chance at the far post. The RailHawks outshot the Stars 13-9.

In their July 9 match in Blaine, Minn., the RailHawks and Stars seemed destined to play a scoreless draw, but Amani Walker tucked the ball in added time to deal the RailHawks a 1-0 defeat. The match was tight throughout and featured 29 fouls. Minnesota held a slight edge in shots (14-13) and both teams’ goalkeepers made five saves.

In the season’s first meeting on April 30, the RailHawks and Stars played to a 1-1 draw at the National Sports Center. Etienne Barbara converted a 59th-minute penalty that saw the RailHawks go up 1-0, but Minnesota answered back quickly. In the 66th minute, Simone Bracallelo capitalized in a Carolina giveaway to even that match at goal apiece. The RailHawks were held to five shots, while Knighton had five saves.

In the all-time series, the RailHawks are 0-3-2 against Minnesota (1-4-2, including postseason). The Stars won both matches in 2010 by scores of 1-0, though the RailHawks did prevail 4-0 on aggregate in the playoffs. The Stars are the only team in the NASL that the RailHawks have not defeated in 2011, and they were the only team the RailHawks did not beat during the 2010 regular season

FOUR RAILHAWKS NAMED TO BEST XI

Forward Etienne Barbara, midfielder Matt Watson, defender Kupono Low and goalkeeper Brad Knighton were named to the NASL Best XI for their superlative efforts during the regular season.

Barbara led the NASL in scoring with 20 goals and eight assists, both single-season club records. He appeared in 27 matches and logged 2,218 minutes, third most on the team.

Low appeared in 26 matches and led all RailHawks field players in minutes played (2,300) this season..

Watson appeared in 24 matches and played 2,031 minutes and had three goals and two assists this season.

Knighton played every minute of the regular season (2,480) and had a 0.93 goals against average, 113 saves and eight shutouts. His 17 wins and 113 saves are both single-season RailHawks records.

Prior to this season, only one player in club history had been selected to the Best XI. Daniel Paladini earned the honor in 2009 and 2010 before joining Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire prior to the 2011 season.

NASL LEADERS

Several RailHawks finished the 2011 Regular Season leading the NASL in a number of statistical categories.

Forward Etienne Barbara won the Golden Boot after scoring a league-best 20 goals. He also tied teammate Jonny Steele for the NASL lead in assists. Both players had eight.

Forward Pablo Campos finished the season second in the NASL in scoring, with 12 goals.

Goalkeeper Brad Knighton was second in the league in goals against average (0.929), saves (113) and shutouts (eight).

MISC. NOTES

• The RailHawks were 6-2-6 on the road this season, including 0-1-1 at Minnesota.
• The RailHawks were undefeated in games in which they scored the first goal this season (12-3-0). They are 5-0-8 in matches where they concede the first goal.
• The RailHawks set new team records for wins in a season (17) and goals in a season (50) this season, and they were one point shy of matching the club record for points in a season.

2011 NASL STATISTICS