The Carolina RailHawks (2-0-2) hosted the Atlanta Silverbacks (1-1-2) Saturday night at Wake Med Soccer Park in the first Southern derby Cup match of the season. The final score was 2-2 with goals by Dan Antoniuk and Jamil walker for the Carolina RailHawks and by Jason McLaughlin and David Hayes for the Silverbacks.

“We played unbelievable soccer,” said RailHawks Head Coach Scott Schweitzer. “It hurts to play such a good brand of soccer and get stung on just two plays.”

Atlanta gained an early lead in the first half with a nice diagonal shot from the top of the 18 yard box by Jason McLaughlin but Dan Antoniuk was able to even it up only 12 minutes later as he dribbled through a defender to slot the ball in the back of the net. RailHawks goalkeeper Chris McClellan was able to keep the score even until the half.

The second half started with the RailHawks controlling much of the play as Atlanta’s goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh was engaged in a series of saves, five shots on goal were recorded by the RailHawks in the second 45 minutes of the match. Carolina was able to capitalize only once with Jamil Walker getting his foot on a free kick from Kupono Low to put the RailHawks up by one in the 84th minute. Atlanta responded immediately with David Hayes taking advantage of a defensive error and put the ball past McClellan in the 85th minute preventing the RailHawks from gaining positions atop the League Table.

“We were spread a little thin injury wise,” said Silverbacks Head Coach Jason Smith. “Our goal was not to take too many risks and at least get a point.”

Next the Carolina RailHawks organization will make history when the Carolina RailHawks Women bring back competitive soccer to the Triangle as they host the Atlanta Silverbacks Women on Friday, May 16th at 7:30 PM at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Carolina RailHawks Men host the Minnesota Thunder next Sunday, May 18th 2008 at WakeMed Soccer Park at 6:00 PM. Tickets for these events are available by visiting www.carolinarailhawks.com or by calling the LGFCU Box Office at 919-859-KICK (859-5425).

Box Score:
Atlanta Silverbacks: Ryan McIntosh, Justin Moore (Josh Bolton 86th), David Hayes, Matt Bobo, Martyn Lancaster (Zach Kirby 74th), Scott Buete, Rodrigo Rios (Blake Camp 81st) , Tony McManus, Jason McLaughlin, Nathan Knox (Jerson Monteiro 64th), Ansu Toure (Greg Chevalier 90th)

Carolina RailHawks: Chris McClellan, Chris Lemons, David Stokes, Mauricio Segovia, Frankie Sanfilippo, Phillip Long, Kupono Low, Matthew Watson, Steven Curfman, Connally Edozien (Jamil Walker 67th), Dan Antoniuk

RailHawks                          2

Atlanta                                2

Goals: McLaughlin (ATL Toure 17th), Antoniuk (CAR Curfman 29th), Walker (CAR Low 84th), Hayes (ATL 85th)

Cautions: McManus (ATL 41st), Toure (ATL 62nd), Stokes (CAR 70th), Kirby (ATL 83rd)

Attendance: 4,552