Sunday, Sep. 11, 2011

RailHawks win NASL regular-season title

There is only one thing left to accomplish in the numbered Martin Rennie era - a league championship.

The third-year Carolina RailHawks coach, who has agreed to coach the Vancouver Whitecaps next year in Major League Soccer, crossed off one more on the to-do list by locking up his first regular-season league title.

Although the RailHawks came up short with a 1-0 loss at Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, a first-place finish was assured when Puerto Rico tied with visiting Montreal 1-1 later that night.

"It's a huge achievement for all the players, staff and entire organization," Rennie said. "If you win the regular-season title, it means you've played well all season long."

Carolina (17-4-4) has smashed nearly every franchise record under Rennie's tenure, including this year's mark for wins in a season. The RailHawks have been in first place almost all season long.

Puerto Rico - fueled by a midseason 10-1-4 run - cut the RailHawks' lead to six points entering Labor Day weekend.

Today's game at Montreal will be the RailHawks' third in eight days. The team will then play two consecutive Saturdays before enjoying their first-round bye in the playoffs the following week.

"Because we've got three games in a week, we might change up some things a little bit," Rennie said. "Then after that we're going to try to play as strong of a team as we can - as long as they're no injuries - because there's a week between each (remaining) game and then there's a week off (before playoffs)."

Carolina is already in the NASL semifinals, which will consist of a home and away leg. The team with the most total goals at the end of the two games will advance.

"In the playoffs, a lot of things have to work in your favor," Rennie said. "A couple of years ago, Montreal barely got in (the playoffs) and then in every game they played they had [an opponent ejected], and everything just went for them and they went on to win the championship."

Rennie's hoping to end his time with the RailHawks on top.

"It's exciting to go in as a No. 1 seed, and it's up to us to get focused and finish strong," he said. "It's a season that has already been good, but ultimately the overall success of the season will be judged at the end, and we'll have to see where we are at that point."