May 27, 2007 | 16:42
The Cary RailHawks U23s moved to the top of both the Southeast Division and the Southern Conference of the USL Premier Development League with an emphatic 4-0 win over the Atlanta Silverbacks U23s today at SAS Soccer Park.
The 3-1-2 RailHawks U23s avenged their only previous loss of the season, a 2-1 result in Atlanta, by taking the game to the Silverbacks, who were certainly weary from their US Open Cup qualifier less than 24 hours earlier in Greensboro, straight from the opening whistle. Within 3 minutes, Michael Callahan sprung Zack Schilawski through the Atlanta backline. Although Silverbacks keeper Patrick Mitrovich saved that first effort, it foreshadowed the onslaught that he was about to face. Before the day was finished, Schilawski had completed a brace, both provided by service from Joe Germanese. The two tallies from the rising Wake Forest sophmore bookended goals from Sean Sassano and Michael Walters, both from Appalachian State, to give the RailHawks the 4 goal win. RailHawks U23s keeper Aaron Weant was rarely challenged but did make an excellent save near fulltime to preserve his 3rd clean sheet in 5 starts and drive his goals against average to a mere 0.4 goals allowed per game.
The RailHawks U23s, which started the season slow with a loss and a pair of draws, has now found its stride, taking a full nine points from their last three fixtures. The win moves Cary one point clear of Southeast Division rival Carolina Dynamo and even on points with El Paso who leads the Mid South Division. The Southern Conference lead currently goes to the RailHawks U23s on goal differential and puts them in pole position for the playoffs as the team moves towards the midway point of the 2007 season. (Note: The top two teams from each division make the playoffs in PDL)
The RailHawks U23s will face the Silverbacks again in their next match, a double-header with the senior RailHawks squad. The U23s kickoff against at Atlanta at 4:30p on Friday, June 8th at SAS Soccer Park with the senior squad facing the Rochester Raging Rhinos at 7:30pm that same evening.
>> Photos from today's match are available on Flickr.
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