Table Setters

Matt Watson’s 53rd-minute tally provided the game winner for the RailHawks on Friday night in Edmonton, where they extended their winning streak to seven matches and their unbeaten streak to 10.

The result also ensured the RailHawks remained unbeaten away from WakeMed Soccer Park this season (4-1-0).

In the 53rd minute, Watson played the ball forward toward Etienne Barbara. After Barbara shielded his defender off the ball, Watson regained possession, split the defense and buried it past Edmonton goalkeeper Lance Parker to put the RailHawks on top 1-0.

It was Watson’s first goal since last Sept. 25 and the sixth of his RailHawks’ career.

Thanks to Watson’s touch of  brilliance, the RailHawks came out of the weekend with more than unbeaten streaks intact. Most importantly, they picked up three more points while Minnesota and Edmonton, the teams trailing the RailHawks in the NASL table, both dropped points over the weekend. The RailHawks’ win over Edmonton and Minnesota’s 3-0 loss at Ft. Lauderdale allowed the RailHawks to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.

Not only are the RailHawks leading the league table, with 28 points, they are tops in the league in goals scored, (23), fewest goals allowed (nine) and goal differential (plus-14).

No Rusin, No McKenney, No Problem

From April 16 through May 21, a span of six matches, Kupono Low, John Krause, Brad Rusin and Devon McKenney played 536 of a possible 540 minutes across the backline.

McKenney suffered an ankle injury on May 21 and has missed the last three matches, and Rusin did not make the trip to Edmonton due to an MCL sprain.

Despite the disruption to the rearguard, the RailHawks have remained a difficult nut to crack. They have shutouts in three of their last four matches and have not allowed a goal against the run of play in 366 minutes. The only goal they did allow was an 86th-minute penalty kick at Tampa Bay on June 4.

On Saturday, Cory Miller filled in at centerback and held down the fort for 90 minutes, his first action since the season opener on April 9. And Cory Elenio, making his second start of the season, slid in at right back and played 90 minutes for the first time in 2011. With two new faces, the RailHawks allowed Edmonton only eight shots, and Brad Knighton made four saves to keep the clean sheet.

Something to Think About

Back in 2009, the Portland Timbers embarked on a remarkable 24-match unbeaten streak. From April 30 to Sept. 3, the Timbers went 14-10-0, outscored their opponents 38-14 and went on to win the Commissioner’s Cup (by just three points over the RailHawks).

The RailHawks are unbeaten over their last 10, so they’re not even halfway toward reaching the Timbers’ run, but we’ve not seen a team sustain this run of form since the Timbers year before last. Given that, here’s a comparison where the Timbers stood 10 matches into their run and the RailHawks’ current 10-match unbeaten streak.