The North American Soccer League has released the complete 25-week schedule for the 2012 regular season.
The Carolina RailHawks will open the season in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome against the defending NASL champion Minnesota Stars. The RailHawks' first home game is April 14 against the Atlanta Silverbacks.
Like last year, the RailHawks will play 28 NASL games with 14 home and 14 away matches. Carolina will play all seven league opponents twice at home and twice away.
Other important dates to consider:
- Carolina hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer for a preseason friendly match on March 4. The Whitecaps are led by former RailHawks coach Martin Rennie, who will be making his return to Cary along with a former Carolina assistant coach and three former players.
- The RailHawks will have fireworks following the July 3rd home game against Atlanta.
- The 4th annual Taste of the Triangle will be held before the May 2 home game against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers.
- New RailHawks coach Colin Clarke will face his former club, the Puerto Rico Islanders, for the first time on April 21 in Puerto Rico.
- Carolina will be participating in this year's U.S. Open Cup after a one-year hiatus imposed by the United States Soccer Federation on all NASL teams. The RailHawks' first game in the tournament will be on May 22. The opponent and venue are TBD.
- The season finale is Sept. 22 against Tampa Bay. This was the RailHawks' most highly-attended regular season game of last year, where attendance rose steadily thoughout the season.
For more information on RailHawks tickets and game information call the Cruizers box office at 919-459-8144 or e-mail tickets@carolinarailhawks.com.
Carolina RailHawks' 2012 North American Soccer League schedule
| Sat 4/07 | 8:30 pm | at Minnesota Stars FC (in Metrodome) | |||
| Sat 4/14 | 7:00 pm | vs Atlanta Silverbacks | |||
| Wed 4/18 | 7:30 pm | at Tampa Bay Rowdies | |||
| Sat 4/21 | 7:30 pm | at Puerto Rico Islanders | |||
| Sat 4/28 | 7:00 pm | vs San Antonio Scorpions | |||
| Wed 5/02 | 7:00 pm | vs Ft. Lauderdale Strikers | |||
| Sun 5/06 | 4:05 pm | at FC Edmonton | |||
| Sat 5/12 | 8:30 pm | at Minnesota Stars FC | |||
| Sat 5/19 | 7:00 pm | vs Puerto Rico Islanders | |||
| Sat 6/02 | 7:00 pm | vs Puerto Rico Islanders | |||
| Sat 6/09 | 7:00 pm | vs Minnesota Stars FC | |||
| Sat 6/16 | 7:30 pm | at Atlanta Silverbacks | |||
| Sat 6/23 | 7:00 pm | vs FC Edmonton | |||
| Sat 6/30 | 7:30 pm | at Ft. Lauderdale Strikers | |||
| Tue 7/03 | 7:00 pm | vs Atlanta Silverbacks | |||
| Sat 7/07 | 7:00 pm | vs Ft. Launderdale Strikers | |||
| Sat 7/21 | 7:00 pm | vs Minnesota Stars FC | |||
| Sat 7/28 | 8:30 pm | at San Antonio Scorpions | |||
| Sat 8/04 | 7:00 pm | vs Tampa Bay Rowdies | |||
| Sat 8/11 | 7:30 pm | at Ft. Lauderdale Strikers | |||
| Sat 8/18 | 7:00 pm | vs FC Edmonton | |||
| Sat 8/25 | 7:30 pm | at Atlanta Silverbacks | |||
| Sat 9/01 | 7:30 pm | at Puerto Rico Islanders | |||
| Sat 9/08 | 7:00 pm | vs San Antonio Scorpions | |||
| Wed 9/12 | 9:05 pm | at FC Edmonton | |||
| Sun 9/16 | 7:00 pm | at San Antonio Scorpions | |||
| Wed 9/19 | 7:30 pm | at Tampa Bay Rowdies | |||
| Sat 9/22 | 7:00 pm | vs Tampa Bay Rowdies |
