The Carolina RailHawks lost 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday night, despite outshooting the visitors 17-9. Mike Ambersley and Daniel Antoniuk scored for the Rowdies and Brian Shriver had equalized the match for the RailHawks before Antoniuk’s strike. With Saturday night’s result the RailHawks will need to win by one goal to force extra time. A win by two or more goals and the RailHawks will advance to the NASL Finals.

“Tonight we played a good game, but didn’t finish our chances,” said Head Coach Colin Clarke. “We dominated much of the game, passed the ball well, created chances, but we didn’t finish and that costs us the game. We still have 90 minutes and we are going to work on finishing up our chances.”

The RailHawks dominated the first half outshooting the Rowdies 9-2. Just like against the Strikers, the RailHawks offense attacked with their speed and ball movement. Jason Garey caused havoc to the Rowdies back line dispossessing them from the ball three times in the half to create counter attacks. Nick Zimmerman, Tiyi Shipalane and Shriver created chances with their darting runs down the sides.

The second half started off even in possession with the Rowdies generating chances. A pass by Shane Hill found Amberseley inside the box, whose slotted ball past RailHawks goalkeeper Ray Burse to give the Rowdies a 1-0 lead. The RailHawks tied it up in the 77^th minute when Shriver converted a penalty kick following a foul on Floyd Franks inside the box. When the RailHawks seemed to be closing in on the second goal, Evans Frimpong crossed a ball to find Antoniuk in the far post to head in the second goal for the Rowdies, making the match 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

The RailHawks will travel to Tampa Bay next Saturday, October 13^th at 7:30 PM to close out the Semifinal Series. The match will be shown live online at www.CarolinaRailHawks.com/live. Fans can join RailHawks players and fellow fans at Mellow Mushroom in Cary on Saturday for the RailHawks Viewing Party to watch the match. Mellow Mushroom, located at 4300 NW Cary Parkway, will have drink and food specials available including $3 pints and $12 pitchers of Lonerider’s Shotgun Betty.  RailHawks staff will be on hand with raffles and giveaways.  For more information on the viewing party and 2013 RailHawks ticket package call the Cruizers Box Office at 919-459-8144 or email tickets@CarolinaRailHawks.com.

LINEUPS

CAR: GK Burse, D Graye (Elenio, 83), D Stockley, D Kalungi, D Low (c), M Zimmerman (Palacio, 73), M Lowery, M Franks, M Shipalane, F Garey (Luzunaris, 73), F Shriver

TBR: GK Attinella, D Sanfilippo, D Arango, D Yamada, D Rodrigues, M Hill, M Savage (Frimpong, 82), M Mulholland, M Campbell, F Cort (Antoniuk, 70), F Amberseley

 GOALS

CAR: Shriver (Unassisted), 77;

TBR: Ambersley (Hill), 64; Antoniuk (Frimpong), 85

CAUTIONS

CAR: Lowery, 86; Franks, 89;  

TBR: Arango, 77; Attinella, 83;

SHOTS

CAR: 17

TBR: 9

SAVES

CAR: 1

TBR: 3