Tonight will be the first of a journey that will tell if that feeling is justified.

The RailHawks are a new expansion team of the United Soccer Leagues, which has teams all over the country. The men debut at 7:30 tonight against the Minnesota Thunder at Cary's SAS Soccer Park.

"We've come worlds from an idea two and a half years ago to the first game," managing partner Chris Economides said. "It's the whole gamut of emotions. Anxiety, pride, nervousness, fear.

"Opening day is always very, very special, but the first day in franchise history makes it all the more special and exciting. We're just thrilled to finally open up, and everything points to a great night."

Other than hockey and minor league baseball, professional sports leagues have struggled to survive in the Triangle. SAS Soccer Park's last tenant was the Carolina Courage women's team, which had some success but folded with the WUSA in 2004.

USL started in 1986; the WUSA lasted just three seasons. There are 12 teams in the USL's First Division, including the RailHawks, that cover the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The only step up is Major League Soccer.

Economides used to run the Rochester Raging Rhinos, one of the First Division's success stories.

At the Rhinos, Economides got to know Scott Schweitzer, a tough defender. When Economides needed a coach for the franchise, he asked Schweitzer even though Schweitzer has never coached before.

Schweitzer, like the rest of the RailHawks, has never been involved with an expansion team, so the team has been learning as it goes.

"That's what soccer is," Schweitzer said. "Every single day you learn and you get a little bit better and get a little more understanding from the game. So, we just have to do it at a much quicker rate. I knew when I took over as a coach, I would do it based on how I played and how I liked. For me, I've played 13 years and I have six championships."

Schweitzer said the RailHawks will have to play a zone defense because of the large field at SAS Soccer Park.

The RailHawks were 0-5 in preseason, but they think some late roster additions and a strong team chemistry will help.

"We're finally are ready to play some real games," Schweitzer said. "We had a tough preseason, but not one of us is discouraged by it. We're getting better every time and games just didn't go our way. We'll take all the bad luck you want to throw at us in the preseason. It's not the season that matters."

Schweitzer, who played for N.C. State, is one of many RailHawks with a local tie. Four players went to State (midfielder Eric Kaufman, midfielder Mark Jonas, midfielder Santiago Fusilier, midfielder Dario Brose) and three went to North Carolina (defender David Stokes, midfielder Chris Carrieri, defender Caleb Norkus).

Fusilier is still in school at State and scheduled to graduate in December.

"It's like a dream to be studying and finishing my degree, and playing professionally," Fusilier said. "At first I thought it wasn't going to work, but I got help from [N.C. State men's soccer coach George Tarantini] and Scotty. Everything worked out and so it's like living a dream."

That's how Norkus described this experience, albeit for different reasons. Norkus, a defender who played for the USL's Puerto Rico franchise last season, is from Raleigh.

Norkus believes the Triangle will turn out to support the franchise.

"I think they're behind us -- I really, really hope that they are," Norkus said. "I coach a couple programs in the area and the kids seemed to be really excited about it from the get-go."

Economides said the team hopes to draw an average of 4,000 to 5,000 fans during the inaugural season. Tonight's game will be treated like an event with fireworks, kid zones and other fan entertainment -- extras that Economides said will be part of the RailHawks' experience.

The RailHawks know that winning will go a long way in helping bring soccer fans to their gate. Tonight, the RailHawks will set how much work is left to be done to create a winner.

"Our team has gotten better every week, gotten closer," Norkus said. "We've grown a lot together. We've already been through some tough experiences, we've been learning and I think we're ready."