SOUNDERS PLAY CAROLINA RAILHAWKS SUNDAY AT STARFIRE

(Seattle, Wa)- The Seattle Sounders (8-8-9) continue their quest for the postseason against the Carolina RailHawks (6-9-9) Sunday, August 24 at Starfire. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.

On Wednesday, the Sounders earned a 0-0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Chris Eylander's seven saves helped earn Seattle their first point since defeating the rival Portland Timbers 1-0 on August 7. Next up are the Carolina RailHawks who will be making their first and only visit to Seattle this season.

The RailHawks and Sounders are 1-0-1 this season. Carolina defeated Seattle 2-1 on May 28. Forwards Connally Edozien and Sebastien Le Toux scored offsetting goals in the first 15 minutes of the match. At the 18' mark, Zach Scott, who will miss Sunday's match due to a two game league-mandated suspension for yellow card accumulation, received red and immediate ejection. Further mistakes cost the Sounders the match, as an own goal in the 45th proved to be the difference. The two sides drew 2-2 on July 3. A Kenji Treschuk goal in the 69th to break a 1-1 tie wasn't enough for the three points, as David Stokes scored the equalizer in the 87th minute.

In their last match played Friday, Carolina defeated Minnesota 2-1 and moved into a tie with the Thunder for eighth in the USL-1 with 27 points. The win was their second consecutive after defeating Miami 3-2 on August 15 and puts them just one point from playoff position behind Montreal and Portland (28 points). Likely to see action for the RailHawks in Sunday's match is newly signed Cuban midfielder Rey Angel Martinez. Martinez, who played the past three and a half seasons with the Rochester Rhinos, will be an offensive threat for Carolina as they make their final push for the playoffs.

PLAYOFF OUTLOOK:

The Sounders are in sole position of fourth place in USL-1 with 33 points. The remaining five games are at Starfire against: Carolina (August 25), Miami (September 6), Montreal September 10), Atlanta (September 13) and Vancouver (September 20). Puerto Rico (44 points), Vancouver (42) and Charleston (36) are standing one, two and three. With pivotal playoff implications on the line, Atlanta and Rochester, both sitting just one and two points back of Seattle, face off in back-to-back contests this Saturday in Rochester and next Saturday in Atlanta. Montreal and Portland are currently tied for the seventh and the final playoff spot (28 points), while Carolina's victory Sunday was enough to draw level with Minnesota for eighth (27 points). Miami currently is last (24 points), but with seven games remaining have hopes of climbing into playoff position.

CASCADIA CUP:

The Vancouver Whitecaps have moved into first place in the Cascadia Cup standings with ten points after defeating the Portland Timbers 2-1 Friday evening. The Sounders are currently in second with eight points, which means Seattle must defeat Vancouver on September 20 at Starfire in the final match of the season and of the storied rivalry to retain the Cascadia Cup.