Showing posts tagged “Cleveland City Stars”
David Fellerath ·
9 Aug 2009, 12:20 PM ·
2 Comments
Gregory Richardson on the move (photo by Rich Bostwick)
Joe Schwartz, the newest staff reporter at the Independent Weekly, attended Saturday night’s game and filed this report:
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/ CARY-I hate to admit it, but I’m one avid Triangle-based soccer loon who hadn’t made my way out to a Carolina RailHawks game until Saturday night. It seems I’ve spent more time monitoring the comings and goings of the Barclays English Premiership in the offseason than taking in United Soccer League action in my backyard.
So, when a colleague and I set sail for WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, I had a boatload of questions. Key among them was, “What’s the biggest difference between the quality of play at this level compared to the MLS or European football (yes, football)?”
“The finishing,” he responded. For about 80 minutes he couldn’t have been more spot on as the first-place RailHawks (15-3-5) and the last place Cleveland City Stars (2-13-7) created chances but scuffed and flubbed shots wide left and right, and even chipped one ball into the parking lot.
Enter former Chivas USA and Los Angeles Galaxy-man Daniel Paladini in the contest’s 62nd minute and all that changes. Moving the ball with pace and intent not seen until he took the field along with brother-in-law and new father Josh Gardner, Paladini gave life to the match and created the turning point when he was greeted with a strong tackle by midfielder Alioiune Gueye.
“When he hit me, it was just a clip, but I had so much momentum that I made it look bad,” said Paladini, whose theatrics earned Gueye a red card in the 76th minute. “I heard the ref blow the whistle so fast that I knew I made it look worse than it was. But that’s part of the game. You’ve got to do that sometimes.” Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Cleveland City Stars, Daniel Paladini, first place, Mark Schulte, Martin Rennie
David Fellerath ·
8 Aug 2009, 3:05 PM ·
Comment
In advance of tonight’s game against the Cleveland City Stars (7 p.m.; WakeMed Soccer Park) we decided to examine the standings and league schedule. We’ve been keeping an eye on the table all season, and now, two-thirds of the way through the season, four distinct groups have emerged:
There’s a three-way struggle for first place between teams that have been consistently strong all season; two teams safely in the playoffs jostling for fourth place; three teams vying for the last two playoff spots; and three teams far, far behind.
- Charleston 41 pts; 22 games; 1.86 ppg; +11 goals
- Portland 39; 20; 1.95 ppg; +19
- Carolina 39; 20; 1.95 ppg; +13
———————
- Puerto Rico 35; 22
- Rochester 29; 20
———————
- Vancouver 25; 20
- Miami 25; 19
- Montreal 23; 19
———————
- Minnesota 15; 18
- Austin (-2) 14; 21
- Cleveland 13; 21
Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Brad Rusin, Cleveland City Stars, first place, Martin Rennie
David Fellerath ·
30 May 2009, 3:13 AM ·
1 Comment
Daniel Paladini launches a projectile against the Cleveland fortifications. (photo courtesy of the Carolina RailHawks)
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/ CARY—Yep, I looked it up. Just as I suspected, the word “paladini” is the Italian plural for champion, for medieval hero, for defender of a cause.
RailHawks midfielder Daniel Paladini is in brilliant form right now, and when his team needed a goal tonight, he delivered it. In the 90th minute of a 0-0 stalemate against a courageous, if overmatched, Cleveland side, Paladini lined up for a free kick from 30 yards out and to the left of the goal. Prior to taking it, he told center back and team captain Mark Schulte that he would be aiming for the far post, and that Schulte and the others in the penalty box should be prepared for a rebound. As it happened, the only assistance Paladini needed on his shot was of the most passive kind. Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Cleveland City Stars, Daniel Paladini, Hamed Diallo, Hunter Gilstrap, Joseph Kabwe, Martin Rennie
David Fellerath ·
29 May 2009, 2:33 AM ·
9 Comments
Daniel Paladini (left) against the Cleveland City Stars on May 22 (photo courtesy of the Carolina RailHawks)
After two frustrating seasons, fans in WakeMed Soccer Park tonight will be excused for some hard-earned self-congratulation—and considering the woefulness of the opponent, the Cleveland City Stars, who are in 10th place with only two goals scored versus 12 allowed, they should expect to see three more points added to the Carolina RailHawks’ points column.
Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Andriy Budnyy, Cleveland City Stars, Daniel Paladini, Gavin Glinton, Jeremy Tolleson, John Cunliffe, Martin Rennie, Sallieu Bundu
David Fellerath ·
31 Mar 2009, 11:18 PM ·
1 Comment
Well, there are only four players listed on the RailHawks roster who remain from the 2008 edition—assuming that reports of Steven Curfman’s exit are accurate.
But that doesn’t mean life doesn’t go on for departed players.
Today, the USL-2 powerhouse Charlotte Eagles announced the signings of Chris Lemons and Jacob Coggins. Lemons, a midfielder, appeared in 21 games for the ’Hawks last year, while forward Coggins scored once in 10 league appearances (but only 208 minutes).
Both players are returning to a program where they achieved great success. Coggins was a two-time USL-2 MVP with the Eagles and won the league scoring title three years out of four. Last Friday, March 27, the Eagles began their preseason schedule with a 3:1 victory over the Cleveland City Stars; Coggins opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
In addition to a three-year stint with the Eagles, we notice that Chris Lemons’ career peregrinations include playing in 19 games for Martin Rennie’s Cleveland City Stars in 2007 before signing with the RailHawks in 2008.
The Charlotte Eagles announcement is here.
And, Triangle Offense contacted Santiago Fusilier, who parted ways with the RailHawks last week. He reports that he’s been training these past few days with the Charleston Battery, a team that’s the new home of former RailHawks captain Frankie Sanfilippo.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Charlotte Eagles, Chris Lemons, Cleveland City Stars, Jacob Coggins, Santiago Fusilier
David Fellerath ·
19 Feb 2009, 3:30 PM ·
Comment
Sallieu Bundu, as seen in training camp recently
The Carolina RailHawks signed yet another of Martin Rennie’s old Cleveland City Stars. Officials announced today that Sallieu Bundu, a 2nd-team All-USL-2 selection in 2008, had agreed to terms with the Cary-based team.
The Sierra Leone native is a striker and scored 11 goals last season for the Stars in league and non-league play. In August, he scored the winning goal in the USL-2 championship game.
The signing of Bundu, who had already been training with the team, means the RailHawks will have a deadly African duo up top—the other is Hamed Diallo of Ivory Coast, who returns to Cary after a fine half-season last year. The third forward on the roster, as it happens, is African-American: Aaron King.
Still no news of forward Dan Antoniuk, the major remaining question mark from last year’s squad.
The 25-year-old Bundu comes to Cary with a compelling back story: When he was 15, his family was forced to flee its home when civil war broke out. He, his siblings and his mother made it to Guinea; his father was murdered. Several years ago, Bundu received a green card and settled in Twinsburg, Ohio. After trying out with the Columbus Crew, he caught Martin Rennie’s eye at Cleveland.
The complete announcement comes after the jump: Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Aaron King, Cleveland City Stars, Hamed Diallo, Martin Rennie, Sallieu Bundu
David Fellerath ·
13 Feb 2009, 2:54 PM ·
3 Comments
The signing news out of Cary has largely concerned midfielders and forwards, but as Sir Alex Ferguson and Edwin van der Sar can attest, there’s no more indispensable component of a winning soccer team than a first-rate back four.
The signings have been slow—and the one announced defensive newcomer, Mark Schulte, had not arrived in camp when we were there Wednesday (although we did see 2008 holdover David Stokes, who is on the roster).
Today the RailHawks announced the signings of defenders Jack Stewart and Jeremy Tolleson, both of whom have been training in Cary this week while awaiting clearance on their contracts from relevant supervising parties. The former is a veteran of the MLS and Norway’s first division. The latter was the linchpin of last season’s Cleveland City Stars defense, and is the latest in a string of players who’ve followed Martin Rennie down from C-Town.
Here’s the text of the team’s announcement: Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Cleveland City Stars, David Stokes, Jack Stewart, Jeremy Tolleson, Mark Schulte, Martin Rennie, training camp
David Fellerath ·
16 Jan 2009, 12:40 PM ·
1 Comment
But can he coach?
Ratcheting up expectations for 2009 just a little bit more, RailHawks coach Martin Rennie was named USL-2 coach of the year for his work with his former employer, the Cleveland City Stars.
Actually, Rennie didn’t get the official league award (although he won it in 2007 and could credibly have won again this year). Instead, today’s honor is given by an artificial turf manufacturer, FieldTurf Tarkett, which also bestowed similar honors for Major League Soccer on down to high school.
The awards are being presented today in St. Louis, at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s annual convention, where several thousand coaches at all levels are camping out in the spirit of continuing education, networking and boisterious fellowship.
Our correspondent Chris Gaffney is there, too, so maybe we’ll hear from him. In November, when Rennie was named to replace Scott Schweitzer, Chris filed this insightful report to Triangle Offense.
(Chris, by the way, will appear at Bull’s Head Bookshop on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus at 3:30 pm, Wednesday, Jan. 28, to discuss his recently published book, Temple of the Earthbound Gods: Stadiums in the Cultural Landscapes of Rio de Janiero and Buenos Aires.)
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Cleveland City Stars, Martin Rennie
