LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Night

The Carolina RailHawks picked up their first victory with coach Colin Clarke downing his former club, Puerto Rico Islanders. The result allowed the Minnesota Stars to move into a tie for first in a meeting of the league's two hottest teams, finishing in a scoreless draw with San Antonio. In another first, the Strikers picked up their first win against rival Tampa Bay.

Two of the top three clubs in USL Pro suffered losses on the night, including the previously unbeaten defending champion Orlando City. Charleston's victory, meanwhile, allowed them to jump up into second.

NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE

Carolina RailHawks 2:1 Puerto Rico Islanders - The hosts suffered a setback in the first half with the loss of Gale Agbossoumonde to a red card, but overcame the handicap in the second half. A free kick took some fortunate deflections for an own goal to give Carolina the lead in the 52nd minute. The Islanders equalized in the 79th when Jonathan Fana found defender Jay Needham for a tap-in. With the matched headed to a draw, late sub and Open Cup hero Ty Shipalane put away a long ball from goalkeeper Ray Burse with two minutes remaining. - MORE

Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3:1 Tampa Bay Rowdies - The visitors took the initial lead with Luke Mulholland finishing a long cross from Shane Hill 33 minutes in. The second half was all Strikers though. Abe Thompson converted a penalty seven minutes in after Aly Hassan was taken down. A nice short-corner play allowed Mark Anderson to fire a nice shot past Jeff Attinella two minutes later and Walter Restrepo drove past Attinella and a Rowdies defender to wrap the night up in the final moments. - MORE

San Antonio Scorpions 0:0 Minnesota Stars - The Scorpions' xx streak continued and Minnesota's unbeaten status remained intact with a scoreless affair. Daryl Sattler needed only one save against Minnesota while Matthew VanOekel posted seven on the road. - MORE

USL PRO

Rochester Rhinos 0:1 Richmond Kickers - A night after picking up a 1-1 draw in Harrisburg, the Kickers rolled into Rochester and came away with a victory to grab the lead in the second tier of clubs in the table. A 20-yard Nozomi Hiroyama crack off the crossbar finished by Luke Vercollone five minutes in and 10 saves from veteran Ronnie Pascale made the single tally as the winner. - MORE

Wilmington Hammerheads 3:1 Orlando City - The trip north started well for Orlando City with a Dennis Chin tap-in at the 13 minute mark. Then it was all down hil as Corey Hertzog tallied two goals and an assist for the home side. In his second game on loan from the New York Red Bulls, the striker equalized off a Mark Briggs through ball in the 26th, beating a defender and keeper Miguel Gallardo. In the second half Hertzog returned the favor, finding Briggs on a with a lengthy throw-in in the 56th minute. He capped the night with a breakaway goal in stoppage time. - MORE

Dayton Dutch Lions 0:1 Charleston Battery - Gibson Bardsley's shot off the post in the 16th minute for Dayton allowed the Battery's lone goal in the second half to give Charleston the win. Dane Kelly's 70th minute cross was also put off the post by Jose Cuevas, but continued into the back of the net. - MORE