NSC Minnesota Stars would even take a tie

Saturday's semifinal playoff game at Carolina is not a must-win for the NSC Minnesota Stars soccer team, it's a must-not-lose.

Defeating Carolina 1-0 in last Saturday's first game of a two-game, two-goal series means the NSC Stars need only maintain their overall lead. If the teams are tied after regulation time Saturday, the Stars win and advance to Minnesota's first soccer finals since 2003, when the team was called the Thunder.

Any one-goal Carolina lead would force overtime. A RailHawks victory of two or more goals ends the Stars' season.

The Stars closed out the regular season with a 2-1 victory at Carolina's WakeMed Soccer Park and grabbed the sixth and final postseason seed. They have posted a 3-0-2 overall record against the North American Soccer League champion and top-seeded RailHawks. Still, Stars coach Manny Lagos is not counting Carolina out.

"At this point we have to embrace our slight advantage going in, but at the same time we have to be realistic about having to play well again," Lagos said.

Though mired in a five-game losing streak that includes four shutouts, Carolina has shown resiliency in tough playoff situations. Last season, Carolina erased Montreal's 1-0 series lead with a 2-0 victory at home. The RailHawks are 11-2-1 at home this season.

"They probably feel pretty good being down just 1-0 at home," Lagos said.

A Stars victory would mean they would play host to the first leg of the finals at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine against the winner of Puerto Rico vs. Fort Lauderdale.