The RailHawks found themselves behind the eight ball early. In the 6th minute, Milton Blanco played a ball ahead to an officially onsides Rubén Luna. Luna rounded goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald, then delivered an angled shot that deflected off defender Paul Hamilton positioned goalmouth and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Matters worsened for Carolina when Hamilton was forced to leave the game in the 16th minute. According to Jarrett Campbell, who was among a contingent of RailHawks supporters who made the trip to Atlanta for the match, Hamilton said postgame that he suffered a concussion.

Nevertheless, Carolina was the more aggressive and dangerous side for the remainder of the first half but was unable to convert their chances. Meanwhile, their frustration mounted with referee Jonathan Weiner over a number of curious calls, including a yellow card issued to RailHawks defender Julius James in the 23rd after James was taken down by Luna. Later, a two-footed, studs-up challenge by Atlanta’s Pedro Mendes earned the forward merely a foul but no booking.

When asked on the Silverbacks’ webcast at halftime what changes he might make for the second half, RailHawks manager Colin Clarke shot back, “I hope the referee has a better second half. I thought he was awful.”

Unfortunately, the RailHawks’ frustration with Atlanta's gamesmanship boiled over at the outset of the second stanza, culminating with a reckless challenge by Floyd Franks that drew a straight red card from Weiner. Franks will be suspended the RailHawks’ game at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on June 1.

Once a man down, the RailHawks never got the opportunity to figure out a fast, aggressive Silverbacks midfield and a defense that earned its second consecutive clean sheet. The result was made inevitable in the 76th minute when Martyn Lancaster converted a leaping, point-blank header off a cross from Danny Barrera to account for the final margin.

The RailHawks lone bright spot was, per usual, the goalkeeping of Fitzgerald, who added to his league-leading saves total with a number of fingertip deflections and punchouts.

Carolina (3-2-1, 11 pts.) enters the midway point of the NASL Spring season tied with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, each with 11 points. However, the RailHawks remains atop the table based on goal differential.

The RailHawks has a quick turnaround as it returns to Cary to face the USL PDL’s Carolina Dynamo Tuesday in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The winner will host the L.A. Galaxy, defending MLS champions, in the third round the following Wednesday, May 29.

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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. Should the RailHawks defeat the Dynamo next Tuesday, they will host the L.A Galaxy the following Wednesday, May 29 at WakeMed Soccer Park. It would be the second consecutive year the RailHawks and Galaxy will have faced each other for the Open Cup in Cary—last year, the RailHawks upset the Galaxy in the third round of the Open Cup. If the Dynamo downs the RailHawks, the Galaxy will visit Macpherson Stadium in Browns Summit, N.C. on May 29.

Of course, every NASL, USL Pro and other lower division participant remaining in the tournament must still handle the business of advancing beyond next Tuesday’s second round. However, several other intriguing MLS matchups await the winners.

A victory over the USL PDL’s Laredo Heat means the Fort Lauderdale Strikers hosts FC Dallas. The San Antonio Scorpions stands to earn a return visit from the Houston Dynamo, which the Scorpions defeated in last year’s tournament. With a win over VSI Tampa next week, the Tampa Bay Rowdies would host the Seattle Sounders, the three-time U.S. Open Cup champions from 2009-11. Minnesota United FC would visit Sporting KC in the third round, and the Atlanta Silverbacks travels to Utah to face Real Salt Lake.

On the USL Pro side, if the Charlotte Eagles defeat the Seattle Sounders U23s next week, Charlotte will host the Chicago Fire the following week. Other possible USL Pro third round matches include D.C. United at Richmond Kickers, New England Revolution at Rochester Rhinos, Philadelphia Union at Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Colorado Rapids at Orlando City SC, and San Jose Earthquakes at Charleston Battery.

The RailHawks and Dynamo take the field next Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park.

• Rob Kinnan
• Zack Schilawski celebrates his first goal of the season during the Carolina RailHawks' 5-2 win over the San Antonio Scorpions in Cary

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. His presumed purpose was that while Carolina’s back line has improved dramatically from last season, the RailHawks’ best defense remains their potent offense.

But, there may have been another motivation at play.

“[We still had] a bit of a horrible taste in our mouth from last year when we got beat down in San Antonio, so that was still in the back of our mind,” Clarke said. “I’d have loved to stuff a few more in, but five’s pretty good.”

• www.railhawks.com
• Enzo Martinez celebrates his equalizer during the Carolina RailHawks' 2-2 draw at Minnesota United

Etienne and Campos finally reunited Saturday night in Minneapolis, this time as members of Minnesota United FC against the RailHawks. But a star by any other name still shines just a bright, and Etienne was just that, notching a brace for his first goals since returning to the NASL. However, a late golazo by newest RailHawk Enzo Martinez gave Carolina a 2-2 draw with Minnesota and an important road point against the consensus NASL preseason favorites.

• Photo by Jeff Camarati/ UNC Athletic Communications
• Enzo Martinez during his Tar Heel days

As previously reported earlier this week, Carolina’s Director of Operations David Vaught confirmed that Enzo Martinez has joined the RailHawks on loan from Real Salt Lake. Martinez arrived in RailHawks’ camp on Wednesday and could be eligible for this weekend’s road match against Minnesota United FC, one of three teams tied atop the NASL table.

The 22-year-old Martinez was a first-round pick by Real Salt Lake in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft after leaving UNC-Chapel Hill after his junior season to sign a Generation adidas professional contract. Since arriving in Utah, however, Martinez has yet to make his first-team MLS debut. He has appeared in seven reserve games this year, mostly as a defensive midfielder.

Martinez was a member of the Tar Heels’ 2011 men’s soccer national championship squad. However, there are a couple of other connections behind this loan. While in college, Martinez played for the RailHawks U-23s team that won the 2011 USASA U-23 National Cup. The RailHawks U-23s’ coach is Dewan Bader, who remains assistant coach for the RailHawks’ senior squad. In addition, RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis played two seasons in 2003-04 for the Dallas Burn (later FC Dallas) under then-head coach Colin Clarke, who is now the RailHawks’ gaffer.

Although the Martinez deal has been reported as a short-term loan, Vaught said the arrangement could lengthen depending on circumstances and performance.

Vaught also confirmed the imminent arrival of Kevin Rutkiewicz, a 32-year-old Scottish defender who just completed his season with Greenock Morton in the Scottish First Division. Rutkiewicz is expected to arrive in RailHawks camp next week and feature at center back, further bolstering Carolina’s back line.

Also, the RailHawks are working to ink a contract with striker César Elizondo, who has been training in Carolina for several weeks. The 25-year-old Elizondo has played for Saprissa in his native Costa Rica since 2007. He also has 10 caps for the Costa Rican senior national team.

Vaught says the RailHawks must finalize their request for Elizondo’s International Clearance Process (ITC) before the international transfer window closes Monday evening in order to sign him.

• Rob Kinnan
• Floyd Franks approaches his first-half PK during the Carolina RailHawks' 3-1 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in Cary, N.C.

It was also the fourth straight, and fifth out of the last six, games between Carolina and Fort Lauderdale at WakeMed Park that a Railhawk notched a brace. Coming on Latin Fest night, it’s oddly coincidental that Brian Shriver, the only Spanish-speaking RailHawk who took the field, scored those two goals. Of course, the fact that that lone Spanish speaker is also Anglo bespeaks the bedeviling conundrum of trying to attract soccer-mad Hispanics (legal status utterly irrelevant and insulting, Internet trolling notwithstanding) to lower-division American games. Yes, the RailHawks set a club attendance record last month when Pumas de la UNAM came to Cary and Latino fans came out in droves, mostly to cheer the visiting Liga MX club. Of course, one would expect the same fervor from Americans in Paris if, say, the Los Angeles Lakers came to scrimmage Paris-Levallois Basket.

• Rob Kinnan
• Austin da Luz and his RailHawks teammates celebrate his goal during Carolina's 2-1 victory over FC Edmonton in Cary, N.C.

Coming off a lackluster performance during a road draw against Tampa Bay last weekend, the RailHawks was clearly looking forward to the roomy, well-manicured confines of home. Ty Shipalane made his 2013 return to the starting XI, and the attention he drew opened up the rest of the field for his teammates.

• File photo by Chris Baird
• Carolina RailHawks' Akira Fitzgerald

After unveiling their 2012 NASL Championship placard and with former NASL Best XI goalkeeper Jeff Attinella (now with Real Salt Lake) in attendance, the Rowdies totally controlled play throughout the game, outshooting the RailHawks 17-6. An apparent Jay Needham goal in the 16th minute was nullified due to offsides. An on-target free kick by Luke Mulholland in the 30th minute was saved by a leaping Akira Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald proved solid in goal for Carolina throughout the game and earned seven saves, including a diving fingertip deflection of an Amani Walker header in the 38th minute.

The RailHawks opened the match with a midfield of Floyd Franks, Austin Da Luz and Nick Millington, leaving Ty Shipalane on the bench until he came on in the 72nd minute. Shipalane got loose in the box in the 84th minute, but he was knocked off the ball before unleashing a shot.

Along with Fitzgerald, the most impressive RailHawks performance was defender Paul Hamilton in his club debut. Hamilton made a terrific slide tackle from behind to save of a goal-scoring opportunity in the 26th minute and was a force in the air throughout. However, two yellow cards in the final 10 minutes sent off the 25-year-old Canadian, who will now be unavailable for next Saturday’s home opener against FC Edmonton, Hamilton’s former team.

While the RailHawks’ performance was subpar, the team nevertheless earned a point during their lone visit to St. Petersburg during the league’s Spring Season. With the other two NASL opening weekend games also ending in draws, every team will enter the second weekend’s competition on equal footing.

“After a slow start in the first half, I thought we responded well in the second and worked hard for the point,” said RailHawks head coach Colin Clarke in a team statement. “To come away with a point on the road moves us forward and our defense was a big part of that tonight. Akira (Fitzgerald) and Paul (Hamilton) had great performances in the back for us tonight.”

The RailHawks hosts FC Edmonton next Saturday, April 13 at WakeMed Soccer Park. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

• Photo by Jeremy M. Lange
• Colin Clarke speaks to his charges during a training session Thursday.

Even before the kickoff of the RailHawks’ 2013 NASL regular season, the club has already set a new single-game home attendance record of 8,054 for the March 20 friendly against Pumas da la UNAM. It announced a significant collaboration and sponsorship arrangement with Capital Area Soccer League in which the CASL boys’ USSF Development Academy and Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) girls’ teams will compete under the name “Capital Area RailHawks.” In conjunction with the expansion of WakeMed Soccer Park, the club has constructed open-air party decks that will feature, among other libationary amenities, after-match entertainment by musicians arranged through ReverbNation, a music social networking website. Musical groups will also accompany several pre-game events planned throughout the season.

And, oh, there are soccer games going on, too. The RailHawks return at least 15 players from last season’s roster, including the bulk of an attacking corps that scored the second-most goals in the league.

• NASL.com
• Paul Hamilton

Speaking with Hamilton today after his first day of training camp in Cary, the 25-year-old Calgary, Alberta, native says his path to Carolina came to fruition rather suddenly.

“There had been talks the previous week with [RailHawks’ manager] Colin [Clarke] and my agent,” Hamilton says. “And then all of a sudden [Clarke] asked, ‘Hey, can you get down here? We’ll book you a flight.’ So I found out probably 5 o’clock Thursday night and was on a plane at 7 a.m. Friday morning.”

Hamilton played the last three years with NASL rival FC Edmonton, beginning with the club’s 2010 exhibition season. Since 2011, he appeared in 51 matches and scored two goals. “Hammy” led the Eddies last season with 2,024 minutes played and was named team MVP by the Edmonton Supporters Group. Moreover, he was selected to the 2012 NASL Best XI team by the league’s coaches.