The North American Soccer League has announced that Carolina RailHawks Goalkeeper Ray Burse has been named Week 1 Defensive Player of the Week.  Burse rose to the occasion with 7 saves and helped secure the shutout against defending NASL Champion Minnesota Stars in the Champions Challenge pitting the, NASL Regular Season Champion, RailHawks against the Stars. This is the 2nd Defensive Player of the Week award for Burse, who joined the RailHawks in the offseason after a year with the Puerto Rico Islanders.

“Ray is very deserving of the award and made some big saves to preserve the shutout,” said RailHawks Head Coach Colin Clarke.  “He was a big reason that we were able to come away from Minnesota with a point.  It is a great start to our season to be able to get a point and shutout on the road.”

Burse and his RailHawks teammates will return to WakeMed Soccer Park for the RailHawks Home Opener on April 14th against the Atlanta Silverbacks.  The match is presented by WakeMed Health and Hospitals and the first 1,000 fans will receive RailHawks thundersticks.  Kickoff is 7:00p.m. and tickets for the match are available at www.CarolinaRailHawks.com.  For more game or ticket information e-mail tickets@carolinarailhawks.comor call the Cruizers Box Office at 919-459-8144.