USSF D-II: Carolina aims to continue streak vs. Montreal

Posted Jul 14, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 14, 2010 at 12:38 PM

The USSF Division II has a four-game slate to open up Week 15 of the season with a NASL Conference clash between Montreal and Carolina headlining tonight’s games.

CAROLINA (5-2-6) AT MONTREAL (4-6-5): The RailHawks are on an eight-game undefeated streak and remain the only team yet to lose on the road in the league this season. They could see both streaks continue tonight as they travel to face a Montreal side that is mired in a five-game winless streak, including a 3-0 defeat to lowly St. Louis on Saturday night.

The Impact managed only five shots and forced only two saves from St. Louis goalkeeper Alex Dufty, and are still scoring less than a goal-a-game. They have also given up 10 goals in their last five games and are only 2-2-3 at home this season. In fact, Carolina has already won at the Stade Saputo this season, a 2-0 victory May 30 through goals by Etienne Barbara and Andriy Budnyy.

MIAMI (2-5-8) AT VANCOUVER (6-2-8): The Whitecaps are undefeated in their last eight games but only three of those results have been victories. That has allowed Carolina to creep within five points of Vancouver with three games in hand at the top of the NASL Conference.

The Whitecaps will be hoping to earn their first victory this month against the Blues, who have yet to win on the road this season, going 0-3-3. That includes a 2-0 defeat to Portland on Saturday in the opening game of their west-coast swing. Miami plays five games away from home this month, with only two of its next 10 games at Lockhart Stadium.

ROCHESTER (7-3-5) AT BALTIMORE (4-8-3): The Rhinos weren’t able to gain ground on USL Conference leaders Austin with a 0-0 draw against the Aztex, but they will look to extend their seven-game undefeated streak against a Baltimore side that had only one win in its last seven games.

This is the third meeting of the season between the two teams, and will be played at the third different stadium, the Eagles having moved the remainder of their home games to the Maryland Soccerplex. The last meeting between the teams was just over a month ago, when Issac Kissi scored twice to give the Rhinos a 2-1 victory at home.

ST. LOUIS (3-8-3) AT MINNESOTA (7-9-2): The Stars will be without defender Andres Arango, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Tampa Bay on Saturday. They will also be looking to break the pattern of their last five games, which has seen them alternate wins and losses.

Minnesota could be expected to achieve that against St. Louis, but the Saints have had the ability to surprise teams lately, earning back-to-back draws with Vancouver and stunning Montreal on Saturday with a 3-0 victory. St. Louis opens a four-game road trip tonight, but while the playoffs may be out of reach, they could still be a dangerous spoiler during the second half of the season.