NSC Stars Draw First Playoff Game with Carolina RailHawks
Stars defender Scott Lorenz managed to get a shot off despite being held. Lorenz had the best chance of the evening for the Stars but fired high over the net. - All photos by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net
The score line of last night’s 0-0 draw between the Carolina RailHawks and the NSC Minnesota Stars certainly didn’t tell the whole story. There was plenty of attacking soccer on both sides, but there was also excellent defense displayed by both teams. Really, it was a reflection of the two regular season games the teams have played this year. The Stars won both of those contests by a score of 1-0. Again the two teams seemed to be evenly matched. The RailHawks have scored a league high 44 goals this season but Minnesota has totally shut down the RailHawks attack this year without allowing a single goal.
“We’ve yet to score against Minnesota this season and we’ve yet to win against them,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie after Wednesday evening’s draw. “It’s all to be done in the next game isn’t it? We’re glad to be home for it, but it’s still all to be played for, that’s for sure.”
Shirt pulling contest between the RailHawks' Devon McKenney and Stars' Devin Del Do.
Rennie says he fancies his chances with both teams even and traveling home for the second leg of the quarterfinal playoff series: “In the end we’ve come away from a playoff game away from home with a tie and we have to take confidence from that.”
Stars coach Manny Lagos took a different track on last night’s game and emphasized that things are even up going into North Carolina this weekend. “Obviously it would be nice to have a couple of goals going into this road trip,” said Lagos. “But for real soccer fans you have to love this playoff series. It’s halftime! How many times do you have a game where it’s halftime and you have to fly half way across the country to finish the second half. It adds a lot of intrigue and I think it’s really great. We have to recover, they have to recover and both teams have to travel to Raleigh (NC) to play again Saturday night.”
Lagos says he thought his team “had the top three chances of the game. Scott Lorenz had a great opportunity – perhaps the best opportunity of the game,” said the Stars head coach. “Danny Wasson also had a couple of great chances. Also, our two forwards (Devin Del Do and Simone Bracalello) were dangerous again, had some really good chances. It’s tough not to have scored on those but that’s what playoff soccer is all about. The guys played well and I think they’re in a position to take the series on Saturday.”
Simone Bracalello was again active and an important presence over the entire pitch.
The RailHawks went into last night’s game with a playoff-like game already in their pocket. They played and defeated the Austin Aztex last Friday night, a game which ultimately won them the NASL Conference title. On the other hand, Minnesota had not played a competitive game since their 3-1 win over the hapless Tampa Bay Rowdies who were already out of the playoffs. That game took place on September 24th, 12 days prior to the playoff game. But Lagos says he wasn’t worried about his team being flat but did have concerns about his younger players. “I was more concerned about some of the younger guys who have never experienced the professional playoff intensity which is much different than the regular season. They obviously exceeded my expectations tonight.”
The return leg of this quarterfinal game will be streamed live on NSCMinnesota.org beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday evening, September 9th.
For a full game report please see NSC Minnesota Stars’ website.
Comments are closed.
Excellent game, but the shirt-pulling picture in this story is representative of what the referee was allowing.
The Stars did not get some direct free kicks they should have.
Maybe I overlooked but I want to know what would happen after the 1st round of playoffs.
Are the teams reseeded based in the amount of points, or the brackets are already defined even if a team upset a higher ranked team?
Here you go. Seeding will hold with first choice in weekend or weekday games.
Thanks, Brian
I had a great time at the match. I did not think that the officiating was the best as there were some huge non-calls. However, I would of had it that way than a ref that feels compelled to blow his whistle everytime someone gets touched. By definition, soccer is a full contact sport.
I am sad that I cannot make it down to the Sweety for the match Saturday. I think the Stars have some edge as they have not conceeded a goal to Carolina in three matches this season, and they seem to play as well on the road as they do in home.
Come on you Stars!
Soocer Boy,
I agree with you only a to a point about the ref calls. I agree “this ain’t Sunday School” but at the same time some of his no calls were obvious blatant fowls. The pictures above tell a 100o words. The no calls changed the game. Most imporatntly the no calls were not balanced and strongly in favor of the Railhawks. Some of the calls the ref charged the Stars with were so minor it was laughable. I’d like to see a balanced yet physical game.
Go Stars
Looks like the top photo is pretty balanced — both guys have a handful of the other’s jersey.
People need to stop blaming the referee and get their team to score more than 32 goals in 31 games. If you’re the only home team that can’t score a playoff goal, you don’t deserve any calls.
I have to say the Stars have really come very far this season. I really felt that the Stars could and should of had at least one goal during this game given that in my opinion they were the better team overall. Hopefully tomorrow night the Stars can win so we can get at least one more playoff game.
Also… the view sitting down at pitch side is amazing. I highly recommend everyone to at least spend the $30 and sit at pitch side at least once. Its quite the experience. *wink wink*
It was one heck of a season. Hope the Stars continue on and play next year.
I’ve got to hand it to the NSC and the Stars; for going from zero to starting the season in just a couple months’ time, they did an amazing job and had a fine run.
It’s all over now, until next season, but I hope those players left WakeMed Stadium with their heads held high. They’ve got a lot to be proud of.