Carolina RailHawks News Release - www.carolinarailhawks.com
Monday, March 17, 2008
CARY, NC -- The Carolina RailHawks have signed Uruguayan forward Martin Nuñez to a one year deal for the 2008 season, adding some South American flare to the roster. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, Nuñez moved to the United States when he was nine years old. He left Georgia Perimeter College after one year to pursue a professional career and was drafted by Miami FC in the second round of the 2007 USL College Player Draft but never signed a contract. In 2008 Nuñez was offered a Major League Soccer contract with the New York Red Bulls but opted to play for the RailHawks instead.
“Martin is a dynamic offensive player,” said RailHawks Head Coach Scott Schweitzer. “He is virtually unstoppable one on one and has the ability to attack on the flanks or centrally. His ability to finish the ball is uncanny.”
In his freshman year, Nuñez, a National Junior College All-American, topped the nation with 30 goals scored, placing him second at Georgia Perimeter in the number of goals scored in a single season. He will now finally begin his professional career with the Carolina RailHawks.
“I am very excited to join the Carolina RailHawks and begin my professional career,” Said Nuñez. “I have seen the beautiful facility and can’t wait to score some goals inside WakeMed Stadium.”
Carrieri Retires...
It was a bittersweet orientation on Sunday afternoon as most of the Carolina RailHawks descended on WakeMed Soccer Park to kick off their sophomore season. President and General Manager Chris Economides, alongside Coach Schweitzer and his staff, illustrated the plans for the 2008 season and the word Championship was uttered numerous times. Among the RailHawks in attendance was midfielder Chris Carrieri who announced to his team mates that he would be retiring from professional soccer to pursue a career in IT development.
“Last year was a very special year for me professionally,” said Chris Carrieri. “I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside a great team in a great facility with a great staff. It definitely gives me some peace of mind to leave the game on such a good note.”
Carrieri had a stellar seven year career that brought him many accolades and professional satisfaction. While at UNC – Chapel Hill he was named ACC Rookie of the Year. He was then drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 as the first overall pick but was traded to the Colorado Rapids right away. While at Colorado, he set a rookie record by scoring 14 points in 14 games and the following year he finished in a first-place tie for the leading goal-scorer with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points. In 2002, he scored a hat trick in the second half of a match against the Chicago Fire, coming off the bench.
In 2004, he went to the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division and, in 2005, moved to Richmond where he helped the Kickers win the 2006 USL-2 Championship by scoring the winning goal in the championship match.
Carrieri was one of the first players to sign with the Carolina RailHawks in late 2006. An integral piece of Scott Schweitzer’s inaugural squad, he was one of only two RailHawks to play in every game of the team’s 2007 season, recording three assists and 27 shots.
“It’s very sad to lose a player of the caliber and character of Chris Carrieri,” said RailHawks Head Coach Scott Schweitzer. “He is an important part of what we’ve built here so far and will always be a member of our family. We will be playing every game for him as we do for all our family members.”
Chris Carrieri did not completely close the door behind him as he promised his team mates that he would come out to train with them from time to time and would be at every game to cheer and support his extended family. The rest of the team will begin training camp Monday in preparation for their match against the New York Red Bulls on March 28th and their 2008 campaign for the USL-1 Championship, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the Southern Derby Cup.
The Carolina RailHawks men’s professional team kicks off its 2008 campaign at WakeMed Soccer Park with a highly-anticipated pre-season match against Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls on March 28th at 7:30 PM. The men’s team home opener at WakeMed Soccer Park is on April 26th at 7:30 PM against the Charleston Battery. The newly-formed Carolina RailHawks women’s professional team will have its home debut on May 16th at 7:30 pm against the Atlanta Silverbacks.
For information on tickets for the March 28 game against the New York Red Bulls and the RailHawks men’s and women’s 2008 schedules, please visit www.carolinarailhawks.com or call the LGFCU Box Office at 919-859-5425.
