Carolina Railhawks makes late-season push

CARY -- If the USSF D-2 Pro League playoffs started tomorrow, the Carolina RailHawks would be seeded fifth in the eight-team bracket.

Only six league games remain for the RailHawks (9-8-7, 34 points), with the next one coming at home Friday (7 p.m., WakeMed Soccer Park) against Crystal Palace Baltimore (6-13-6).

Four of Carolina's final games are at home, but that may not necessarily offer an advantage.

The RailHawks are tied for the second-fewest home wins with a 3-5-3 record at WakeMed Soccer Park. On the other hand, they are tied for the most road wins (6-3-4) in the league.

Goalkeeper Nic Platter has started the last four games, with mixed results. Platter, who had started in just two of the previous 20 league contests, is 2-0-2 but has given up an average of two goals per game.

Carolina will take a break from league play this Sunday to host Pumas Morelos, a Mexican professional team. The RailHawks have said they will play 41-year-old Claudio Suarez, a recent signee who holds the FIFA record for most international appearances by a non-goalkeeper, in that game.