Minnesota aims for repeat of 2011 run
- by Soccer America , Sep 27, 2012
[TALE OF THE TAPE: NASL Playoffs] The 2012 playoffs begin with the single-game quarterfinals this weekend when the Carolina RailHawks host the Ft. Lauderdale
Strikers on Saturday and the Puerto Rico Islanders welcome the defending champion Minnesota Stars on Sunday. For a look at the matchups ...
The RailHawks, the 2011 regular-season
champions, went winless in their first nine games to open the 2012 season but are 10-4-5 since then. The Strikers tied Carolina 3-3 twice at WakeMed Soccer Park and won 1-0 and 2-1 at home against the
RailHawks.
Saturday: Carolina-Ft. Lauderdale, 7 pm ET
| Carolina | Ft. Lauderdale | |
| 2012 Record | 10-8-10 | 9-10-9 |
| Season Series | 0-2-2 | 2-0-2 |
| Last Five Games | 1-3-1 | 1-2-2 |
| Goals Leader | Nick Zimmerman (15) | Mark Anderson (11) |
| Assists Leader | Mike Palacio (6) | Walter Restrepo (8) |
Minnesota begins in
the same position -- at the bottom seed -- as it did last season when it won the NASL title. The Islanders are coming off a Concacaf Champions League match against Isidro Metapan on Thursday.
Sunday: Puerto Rico, 6 pm ET
| Puerto Rico | Minnesota | |
| 2012 Record | 11-9-8 | 8-9-11 |
| Season Series | 2-2-0 | 2-2-0 |
| Last Five Games | 1-2-2 | 1-1-3 |
| Goals Leader | Nicholas Addlery (9) | Amani Walker (7) |
| Assists Leader | Jonathan Fana (5) | Amani Walker (5) |
