Hurricane Matthew Forces Date Change For RailHawks-Strikers Match

Photo credit: Jon van Woerden/Fort Lauderdale Strikers

The NASL announced today that the match between the Carolina RailHawks and Fort Lauderdale Strikers, which was originally scheduled for Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park, has been moved to Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Weather concerns related to Hurricane Matthew forced the change, as the Strikers will be making their way up to Cary, N.C., from South Florida, where the hurricane is expected to have an impact. 

“After consulting with the League and Fort Lauderdale, we agreed that rescheduling the game to Sunday was the safest option for all involved,” RailHawks President and General Manager Curt Johnson said. “We expect a good competitive game on Sunday and look forward to the game as we make a push for the playoffs.”

The matchup between the RailHawks and Strikers is the second Week 15 clash to be postponed because of weather concerns stemming from Hurricane Matthew. Jacksonville Armada FC and Indy Eleven will play at a later date after having their Saturday encounter moved.

“At the end of the day, the safety of our stakeholders – players, coaches, staff, and fans – is our top priority,” NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work through this situation.”

The league does not expect the weather concerns associated with Hurricane Matthew to affect any additional weekend matches.