Winners of six straight games, the NASL-leading Carolina RailHawks look to extend their eight-point lead at the top of the table on Friday at Foote Field against FC Edmonton. Kick off is at 9:30 p.m. EST.

The RailHawks (8-1-1) are in the midst of their best start to a season in the club’s five-year history. In addition to their club-record six-match winning streak, they are also unbeaten in their last nine (8-1-0), tying a club record, and they are undefeated away from WakeMed Soccer Park this season (3-1-0). They have picked up 25 of a possible 30 points in the table.

Carolina has shot out of the gate and to the top of the table thanks to the NASL’s most prolific attack and most stingy defense.

The RailHawks lead the league in goals (22, seven more than anyone else) and have not been shut out in 2011. They have scored two or more goals in six straight games and in eight of 10 matches this season. Strikeforce Etienne Barbara and Pablo Campos have scored 16 of the RailHawks’ 22 goals and they have six of the team’s 14 assists. Forwards Nick Zimmerman and Allan Russell have two goals apiece.

Defensively, the RailHawks’ nine goals allowed are fewest in the league, and their 0.90 goals against average is not only best in the league, it’s the only one in the NASL below 1.00. Their plus-13 goal differential is by far tops in the league (Minnesota is second at +5).

Edmonton (5-1-3) has enjoyed a fine start to its debut NASL season and enters the weekend in third place in the table, five points ahead of fourth-place Puerto Rico, one point behind second-place Minnesota. Friday’s match will be Edmonton’s fourth home date of the season. Since a 5-0 defeat to Montreal in their home opener, Edmonton has won its last two, 2-1 over Minnesota on May 23 and 4-0 over Tampa Bay on May 31. Eight different players have accounted for Edmonton’s 12 goals this season, with forward Kyle Porter leading the way (four). Forward Paul Craig and midfielder Shaun Saiko share the team lead with two assists.

Edmonton averages 1.00 goals allowed per game, and the RailHawks are one of only two teams in the NASL to score more than one in a game against them. The RailHawks defeated Edmonton 2-0 on April 20, while Montreal has recorded 5-0 and 2-0 wins over Edmonton. In their other seven games, Edmonton has allowed a total of three goals.

LAST TIME OUT

The RailHawks earned their sixth straight win and remained undefeated on the road in 2011 with a 2-1 win at Tampa Bay last Saturday.

The RailHawks scored twice in a 90-second span just past the hour mark before FCTB drew one back on an 86th-minute penalty kick. Etienne Barbara drew and converted a PK in the 63rd minute for Carolina, and Nick Zimmerman headed in a cross from Jonny Steele in the 65^thminute. The RailHawks took a season-high 18 shots, while allowing a season-high 22. Goalkeeper Brad Knighton recorded seven saves, including six in the first half, to preserve the win for the RailHawks.

SERIES HISTORY

Friday’s match will be the second of four meetings between the RailHawks and Edmonton this season. Their remaining two matches will be played on July 13 at Foote Field and July 23 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

In their first match, on April 20 in Cary., the RailHawks prevailed 2-0. Etienne Barbara punched in a rebound in the 19th minute, and Nick Zimmerman sealed the win with a strike in the 76th. Though both teams took 14 shots, Edmonton did not put any of theirs on target. Brad Knighton wasn’t required to make a save en route to his first shutout of the season.

BARBARA, NAMED MAY’s PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

Etienne Barbara was named the NASL’s Player of the Month for May earlier this week.

In five matches last month, Barbara scored seven goals and recorded five assists while leading the RailHawks to a 5-0-0 record.

Barbara was also April’s Player of the Month, and he’s been named the league’s Offensive Player of the Week four times this year.

For the season, Barbara has 12 goals and five assists for 29 points, and he has at least one goal or one assist in all 10 of the RailHawks’ games this season. His 12 goals lead all levels of U.S. professional soccer, and his five assists and 29 points are tops in the NASL. 

With just more than one-third of the season complete, Barbara has already established single-season club records for goals and points, and he’s tied the club record for most assists in a season. He’s also set career club records for goals and points, and he’s closing in on the club record for career assists.

NASL LEADERS

Not only are the RailHawks at the top of the NASL table, several players are among the league leaders in a handful of statistical categories.

Forward Etienne Barbara leads the league with 12 goals, five assists and 29 points.

Forward Pablo Campos rates second in the league with five goals.

Midfielders Floyd Franks and Jonny Steele are tied with two others for second in the league with three assists.

Goalkeeper Brad Knighton is third in the league in shutouts (three), second in saves (38) and fourth in goals against average (0.90).

PLAYER NOTES

• Forward Etienne Barbara scored his 12th goal of the season in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Tampa Bay, converting a penalty kick in the 63rd minute. Barbara is 4-for-4 on spot kicks in 2011.
• Forward Nick Zimmerman scored his second goal of the season against Tampa, heading in what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 65th minute.
• Jonny Steele earned his third assist of the season against Tampa Bay after setting up Zimmerman’s goal. It was his third assist in four games. Since returning to the starting 11 on May 11, Steele has played every minute of the RailHawks’ last five matches.
• Forward Allan Russell made his first start of the season on Saturday – and first start since Sept. 15, 2010 – and logged 56 minutes.
• Midfielder Stephen Glass saw action for the first time since May 14 at Tampa Bay last weekend. He was subbed on for Russell in the 56th minute.
• Goalkeeper Brad Knighton had seven saves against FCTB and was four minutes away from his third straight shutout before Tampa converted a penalty kick to halt his shutout streak at 272 minutes.

2011 STAT LEADERS

Appearances: Floyd Franks, Kupono Low, Etienne Barbara, John Krause, Nick Zimmerman, Brad Knighton (10)
Starts: Floyd Franks, Kupono Low, John Krause, Nick Zimmerman, Brad Knighton (10)
Minutes:Floyd Franks, Kupono Low, John Krause, Brad Knighton (900)
Goals: Etienne Barbara (12)
Assists:Etienne Barbara (5)
Shots: Etienne Barbara (32)
Yellow cards:Floyd Franks, Kupono Low, John Krause (4)
Red cards:Pablo Campos, Jonny Steele (1)
Saves: Brad Knighton (45)

NASL TABLE

NASL SCHEDULE – WEEK 10

Wednesday, June 8

Atlanta 2, Montreal 1
Atlanta Silverbacks Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.

Friday, June 10

Carolina vs Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.
Foote Field, Edmonton, Alb. 

Saturday June 11

Ft. Lauderdale  vs Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Sunday June 12

Atlanta vs Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Montreal vs Puerto Rico, 6:05 p.m.
Estadio Juan Roman Loubriel, Bayamon, PR

NASL RESULTS – WEEK 9

Tuesday, May 31

Edmonton 4, Tampa Bay 0
Foote Field, Edmonton, Alb.

Wednesday, June 1

Minnesota 1, Puerto Rico 1
Estadio Juan Roman Loubriel, Bayamon, PR

Saturday, June 4

Edmonton vs Montreal, 2:30 p.m.
Stade Saptuto, Montreal, Que.

Carolina 2, Tampa Bay, 1
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Minnesota 2, Atlanta 0
Atlanta Silverbacks Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.

Ft. Lauderdale  3, Puerto Rico 2
Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

NEXT UP

The RailHawks will have a respite from their road trip next week, with their only home date in all month on Saturday, June 18 against Tampa Bay. The RailHawks are 2-0-0 against FCTB this season. After facing FCTB, their RailHawks will play three of their next four matches on the road. The lone home date during that stretch is on July 3 against Montreal.

2011 NASL STATISTICS