GREG MINTEL -
Carolina RailHawks Goal Keeper Brad Knighton (1) looks on after the Minnesota Stars scored on the fifth Penalty kick.
CARY -- The last bit of instruction Martin Rennie gave as coach of the Carolina RailHawks was to his goalkeeper Brad Knighton.
With the season in Knighton's hands, Rennie gave encouraging words to his player before the RailHawks began a penalty kick shootout with the Minnesota Stars. In the end, the disappointment, the anguish, the frustration was all that remained after the Stars won the shootout 5-3 in the North American Soccer League semifinal series.
That's how a night full of emotion ended at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The loss ended the RailHawks season after both teams played to a 4-4 tie after a combined 210 minutes between the two playoff matches.
"I think over the course of the two games, we easily could have had things go our way," said Martin, who will leave the RailHawks to coach the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS next season. "It just didn't."
In order for the RailHawks (17-4-8) to push the Stars (10-9-10) to penalty kicks, they had to come back from numerous deficits.
For Rennie, he knew the RailHawks were attempting an almost impossible feat for the way the NASL has its playoff series formatted.
Carolina was down 1-0 on aggregate to begin Saturday's match. Plus, the RailHawks fell behind twice against the Stars. And even though forward Pablo Campos scored three goals - his final in the final minute of stoppage time in the second half - the RailHawks had to play with just 10 players in extra time after defender Devon McKeeney was sent off for a red card.
"I think being down to 10 men for so long made it even harder," Rennie said.
What made matters worse was Campos started cramping up during the second half. After playing every minute of Saturday's match, Campos said he wasn't healthy enough to take one of the five penalty kicks.
"For me, soccer is everything and I gave it everything I could for this match," Campos said. "I want to always win and tonight I was really looking forward to advancing to the finals so we could lift the trophy."
Before the shootout, Knighton kept the RailHawks in the match with four saves. Knighton did score on his penalty kick to keep the RailHawks close in the shootout, but like every chance he had during the season to stop an opponent on a penalty kick, Knighton came up short.
"Brad could have been the hero, but he didn't really have any chances with those penalty kicks," Rennie said of the quality of shots Minnesota took in the shootout.
Although the RailHawks won Saturday's match 4-3 - which forced the shootout - the biggest problem Rennie saw was his defense giving up three goals. The RailHawks hadn't allowed that all season.
After leading his team to the championship series last year, Martin understands he leaves his team knowing they took a step backwards this season.
"My guys know that when they have been at their best they have been the best team in the league," Rennie said. "We fully expected to win the championship. I can't think of too many more painful (losses) than this one."
