Triangle Offense, Indy Week

Shake-up unfolding in NASL front office staff, per internal league memo

Neil Morris — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:30:00 -0400

A shake-up in the front office of the North American Soccer League (NASL) is currently taking place, with at least three full-time staffers and a contract employee leaving the league by the end of this month.

According to an internal league memorandum from NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson obtained by INDY Week, Chief Operating Officer Darren McCartney, Communications Director Kartik Krishnaiyer and graphic artist Derek Reese are leaving their positions with the league.…

Mudcats' woes get worse with late Salem comeback

Mike Potter — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:41:00 -0400

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Back again with the Carolina Mudcats, who are desperately needing to mix in a win.

The Carolina League’s last-place team will take a five-game overall losing streak and eight-game overall losing streak into tonight’s contest with the Salem Red Sox.…

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup potential third round matches announced, including possible return visit by L.A. Galaxy to Cary to face RailHawks

Neil Morris — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:49:00 -0400

A visit from the defending Major League Soccer champion awaits the winner of the Carolina RailHawks and Carolina Dynamo match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup next Tuesday, May 21 in Cary.

This is but one of the potential U.S. Open Cup third round pairings and venues announced Wednesday by U.S. Soccer.…

Carolina Dynamo advance to 2nd round of U.S. Open Cup after shootout thriller over Chattanooga FC

Neil Morris — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:43:00 -0400

MACPHERSON STADIUM/ ONLINE—The spirit of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was splendiferous at Macpherson Stadium in Browns Summit, N.C. as the Carolina Dynamo defeated the NPSL’s Chattanooga FC 4-1 in a PK shootout (4-4 draw) to advance to the second round of the Open Cup.

In front of 1,221 partisans, the hometown Dynamo struck first in the 22nd minute when N.C. State rising senior Alex Martinez scored from atop the box as his older brother, Real Salt Lake midfielder and current Carolina Railhawks loanee Enzo Martinez, looked on from the grandstands.…

Mudcats suffer rare sweep at home, stay double digits out of first

Mike Potter — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:47:00 -0400

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats will finish their series with the Lynchburg Hillcats on an unseasonably cold evening.

And right now it’s about turning around the momentum.…

Carolina RailHawks stings San Antonio Scorpions 5-2, sits alone atop NASL standings

Neil Morris — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400

WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/CARY—"Whereof what's past is prologue." The Tempest (2.1.253-54)

Late in the unbeaten Carolina RailHawks’ 5-2 win over the San Antonio Scorpions Saturday evening, Carolina manager Colin Clarke was exhorting his team to continue attacking in search of goals.…

Wil Myers suffers tummy upset, but Bulls wave off Chiefs, win 4-2

Jonathan Stout — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:08:00 -0400

On a perfect night for baseball, with temperatures in the mid 60s, the Durham Bulls defeated the Syracuse Chiefs, 4-2, in its only win of the four-game home stand.

The crowd on hand, 8,227, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park was electric all night and even sustained “the wave” for almost the entirety of the eighth inning.…

Bulls lose to Chiefs, twice

Jonathan Stout — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:44:00 -0400

I’m a new intern with INDY Week with a primary focus of covering the Durham Bulls over the summer. Next fall I’ll be a senior at N.C. State and the sports editor at N.C. State's campus paper, the Technician.…

Late golazo by Enzo Martinez gives Carolina RailHawks 2-2 draw with Minnesota United FC despite brace from Etienne Barbara

Neil Morris — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:48:00 -0400

MINNEAPOLIS/ WEBCAST—The last time Etienne Barbara and Pablo Campos appeared in the same starting XI was October 15, 2011 as the potent striking tandem for the 2011 Carolina RailHawks. That night, the RailHawks were eliminated from the NASL playoffs in an epic shootout loss to the NSC Minnesota Stars.…

Clutch hitting Keys Frederick victory over host Mudcats

Mike Potter — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:19:00 -0400

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Back to the Carolina Mudcats on an unseasonably cool, cloudy May evening, and they have some work to do.

The Carolina League plays two 70-game halves, and 28 games into the race they’re in last place and five games out of first in the Southern Division.…

Carolina RailHawks acquire Enzo Martinez on loan from Real Salt Lake, other player arrivals imminent

Neil Morris — Fri, 03 May 2013 01:38:00 -0400

The Carolina RailHawks are currently sitting atop the North American Soccer League standings. But that doesn’t mean they’re standing pat with their roster.…

One big swing derails Mudcats as Nats recover with 2-0 win

Mike Potter — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:27:00 -0400

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Checking in on the Carolina Mudcats, who happen to be in last place in the Carolina League.

All of that doesn’t mean much, as through 18 games the league’s hottest teams are a scant two games ahead of the coldest.…

Caliente Carolina RailHawks storm the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for 3-1 win

Neil Morris — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0400

WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/CARY—The last time the Carolina RailHawks defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers during the NASL regular season was August 20, 2011, a span of five matches. [The RailHawks did oust the Strikers in the quarterfinals of last season’s playoffs, but such nitpicking doesn’t make for a punchy lede.]…

Nesting RailHawks: Carolina prevails 2-1 over FC Edmonton in NASL home opener

Neil Morris — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0400

WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/CARY—After a preseason that included friendlies against MLS and Liga MX competition—the latter setting a new club attendance record—it seemed a bit anticlimactic for the Carolina RailHawks to host a ribbon-cutting Saturday night christening the New WakeMed Soccer Park™ prior to the team’s NASL home opener against FC Edmonton. But, with a transition from the past (both recent and distant) the distinct backdrop of the evening, the RailHawks downed FC Edmonton 2-1 for Carolina’s first win of the 2013 regular season.…

Duke, UNC women's hoops fly high; big changes leave Wolfpack a mystery

Mike Potter — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:25:00 -0400

So the college women’s basketball season is now behind us, and now that all the shouting was over Connecticut is once again the champion — taking out two future ACC members by impressive margins in the Final Four.

Don’t worry.…

Canes battle but fall to Penguins, 5-3

Chris Vitiello — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:36:00 -0400

PNC ARENA—The Canes were able to say that they accomplished all the points of their game plan Tuesday night. They got goals from the bottom two lines and from their defense.…

Mr. Wuf: Wes Moore takes reins as State women's hoop coach

Mike Potter — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:42:00 -0400

CARTER-FINLEY STADIUM/RALEIGH N.C. State held its press conference to introduce Wes Moore as its new head women’s basketball coach on Monday.

Moore, 55, is the first male head women’s basketball coach at an ACC school in the Triangle.…

Break out the brooms: Muddies complete Winston-Salem sweep

Mike Potter — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:03:00 -0400

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON It’s the finale of the Carolina Mudcats’ season-opening three-game set, and they’re looking to do something they did only three times all last season.

They’ve won the first two of the series against the Winston-Salem Dash — the first in a rout and the second with an eighth-inning comeback — and will look for the sweep on a proverbial perfect spring afternoon for baseball.…

Fragile Canes drop seventh straight home game

Chris Vitiello — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0400

PNC ARENA—In the space of 31 seconds Saturday night, the Carolina Hurricanes' season officially ended.

Left so wide open he could have paused to write a journal entry about it before he shot the puck, Derek Stepan beat Dan Ellis from the slot on an early second-period New York Rangers power play.…

Carolina RailHawks open 2013 season with 0-0 draw at Tampa Bay Rowdies

Neil Morris — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:12:00 -0400

WEBCAST—The Carolina RailHawks entered their opening match of the 2013 NASL regular season full of vigor on offense and anxiety on defense. However, the opposite proved true against the Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday night at “Progress Energy Park, home of Al Lang Field” in St. Petersburg, Fla. As the RailHawks’ midfield struggled all evening against a spry Rowdies side, it fell to Carolina’s back line and goalkeeper to preserve a 0-0 road draw in front of 4,232 rowdy Rowdies partisans.…

Phenoms lead opening attack as Mudcats crush Winston-Salem

Mike Potter — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:00:12 -0400

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Boys of Summer have taken the field in the Triangle, and for the Carolina League opener they’ve at least brought the spring weather with them.

At least for April, there aren’t much better nights for baseball around here, as the rain is gone and there is no wind and it’s 62 degrees at first pitch.…

Code Name Continuity: Carolina RailHawks hope to soar into 2013 NASL season

Neil Morris — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:48:00 -0400

Following an off-season of upheaval for several teams around the North American Soccer League, the buzzword around the Carolina RailHawks entering their 2013 campaign is continuity. For the first time in five years, the club did not change its owner, president or head coach during the off-season, allowing the front office to sharpen its focus on the sort of connection building that team president Curt Johnson is so fond of foisting.…

Final Four thoughts

Thad Williamson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:29:00 -0400

Fooled you—these are NOT thoughts about the Final Four this weekend in Atlanta.

Rather, these are my final four thoughts about the state of ACC and college basketball as the curtain closes on the 2012-13 season of basketball and basketball blogging for Triangle Offense.…

Seasons change: Mudcats host Winston-Salem in Friday opener

Mike Potter — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:49:00 -0400

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Play ball!

The Carolina Mudcats hope to make a run at their first Mills Cup starting Friday night at 7:15, when they host the Winston-Salem Dash in the first pro baseball game in the Triangle this season.

The Mudcats will boast a pair of fresh-faced first-round draft picks and a young new manager when Cody Anderson (4-7, 3.20 at Lake County last season) takes the hill against Bryan Blough (2-0, 3.93) in the first of their three-game set against the Chicago White Sox affiliates.…

Duke fights hard, but Diggins leads Irish to big second half in 11-point win

Mike Potter — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:27:00 -0400

CONSTANT CENTER/NORFOLK, Va. It’s Go Time for Duke in women’s basketball.

For the fourth time in as many years the Blue Devils are playing for an NCAA Regional title, and although they’ll be underdogs against Notre Dame the odds aren’t prohibitive.…