While the RailHawks have been one of the most efficient defensive outfits in the league the last two seasons, coach Martin Rennie is quick to note that his side has been similarly productive on the attack, too.

In 2009, Carolina set a club record with 43 goals scored. In 2010, they set the record again with 44.

Last year’s production was second in the league to Austin’s 53 and tied for third-most in all of U.S. professional soccer. (Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy scored 45 and 44 goals respectively in 2010).

If the RailHawks are to set a new club record again in 2011, new faces will be responsible for it. Of the 44 goals scored last season, only 16 return this season – and half of those belong to Etienne Barbara.

Not to fear.

The 2011 forward corps will feature a group whose attacking ability is as diverse as their nationalities.

Barbara, the Maltese international who led the team in scoring last season, returns, as does mid-season transfer from Scotland, Allan Russell. New up front are seasoned veterans Kithson Bain, a Grenada international, and Pablo Campos, a Brazilian with two years of Major League Soccer experience.

 “There’s good pace, good mobility, good finishing amongst the group,” Rennie said. “That’s exciting. If we get the rest of our game right, then we can definitely score goals. I’m excited to get them all clicking together. It’s unfortunate that we’ve not had them all here through the preseason, but now that they are, we’re very excited.”

Barbara led the RailHawks last year with eight goals and two assists and set a new club record for points in a season (18). He’ll return to Carolina for his second season in midseason form. He went on loan to Sliema Wanderers in his homeland in February, and he scored two goals during his loan stint.

Russell will look to add to his tally of two goals and two assists from last season. He’s relished taking part in training camp this season, not only to better familiarize himself with his teammates, but also to better acclimate himself for the season ahead. Injuries have sidelined him during the preseason in each of the last three years. He got a needed boost in Saturday’s preseason win over Wilmington, scoring the game-winner on a 29th-minute volley.

“This is my first preseason in nearly three years. So I’m starting to feel really sharp and strong,” Russell said. “I’m looking forward to the start of the season.”

Bain arrived from Grenada on Saturday in time to take in the match against Wilmington. He comes to the RailHawks after two seasons in England with Tranmere Rovers and Queens Park Rangers.

Bain also has extensive experience with Grenada’s National Team. He has been capped 33 times and has 15 international goals to his credit. At last winter’s Caribbean Cup, he took home Golden Boot honors (and a Samsung Galaxy tablet as his prize) after scoring three goals and leading Grenada to the semifinals.

Campos joined training on Tuesday.

He has played the last two seasons in MLS with San Jose and Real Salt Lake. He appeared in 16 matches for RSL in 2010, including a 65-minute run in the their 3-1 Champions League win over Cruz Azul last fall. He also earned a winner’s medal with RSL at the 2009 MLS Cup. At 6-foot-3, Campos presents an imposing aerial threat, plus speed and skill.

With such a diverse group to spearhead the RailHawks’ formation, there’s little reason to doubt that Carolina will re-write the record book once again in 2011.

“It doesn’t matter the pairing up front or if it’s one person up front, we’ll work together and try to get as many goals for the team as we can,” Russell said.