RailHawks conquer Aztex

CARY -- Carolina RailHawks owner Selby Wellman walked up to coach Martin Rennie beaming ear-to-ear after the home team knocked off the league-leading Austin Aztex 3-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

He shook the coach's hand and said: "I think we've got it."

The RailHawks entered Friday's match tied for the NASL Conference lead with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Vancouver is set to play its final regular-season game today at Portland.

Vancouver can tie the RailHawks for the conference lead with a win, but must win by three to overcome Carolina's two-goal edge in scoring differential (RailHawks plus 12, Vancouver plus 10).

If Vancouver matches with a two-goal win, the next tiebreaker is goals scored, which the RailHawks hold a whopping 13-goal lead. Wellman's confidence is justified.

If Vancouver doesn't win by three today, the RailHawks will have their first championship as a franchise.

"This is exactly where they need to be," coach Martin Rennie said of his team's improved play. "When you're coaching going into the playoffs you want to have that 'feel-good' factor, that confidence, and I think it's there right now."

The RailHawks scored the winning goal in the 84th minute, as second-half sub Etienne Barbara buried the ball into the net after a cross from Matt Watson on a 2-on-1 breakaway.

Barbara, the RailHawks' leading goal scorer this season who has missed several games with injury, may have scored the most important goal in franchise history to this point.

Carolina piled on one more goal in stoppage time, as Tom Heinemann's blast was mishandled by Austin goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.

In the 43rd minute, a Daniel Paladini free kick from 35 yards away went streaming towards the goal. An Austin player leapt to defend the shot, but the ball grazed off his head and went into the net for the first RailHawks tally.

The RailHawks stayed on top for about two minutes, however, as Austin countered quickly. In first-half stoppage time, The Aztex's Lance Watson found Max Griffin near the back post, and Griffin pounded in the equalizer for his 10th goal of the season.

The RailHawks will know their playoff opponent and seed after the Vancouver-Portland game today. And perhaps, they'll have a championship to bring home as well.