But the rest of the North American Soccer League did. And now those teams are catching up to Carolina.

With a 2-0 loss to Puerto Rico on Saturday, the RailHawks' first-place lead is down to just six points.

While the Islanders are an example of a team gelling at the right time, the RailHawks have had to deal with the transfer of its top defender, Brad Rusin and the distraction of its coach landing a Major League Soccer job for next year.

Since Rusin's departure, the RailHawks are 0-3-1 on the road and 2-3-1 overall.

Carolina has been outscored 6-2 in those four road games.

It didn't help that Saturday's game at Puerto Rico was against the only NASL team to have beaten the RailHawks twice this year. Nor the fact that the Islanders are still unbeaten at home.

Puerto Rico scored first when forward David Foley converted a penalty in the 37th minute after the referee awarded a foul in the box.

Petter Villegas effectively clinched the match for the Islanders in the 87th minute when he hammered in a shot in the box as the RailHawks back line was caught out of place.

The Islanders are 11-5-5 overall and in second place.

RailHawks defender Devon McKenney suffered an ankle injury in the second minute and limped his way through the remainder of the half.

He was subbed out shortly after halftime.

Also in the game's first five minutes, Islanders defender Scott Jones was forced to exit the match after an apparent concussion.

Coach Martin Rennie used a different lineup in this game, with Etienne Barbara playing the lone striker.

Midfielder Tony McManus, in his first game with Carolina, was given a start in place of forward Pablo Campos.

There were four yellow cards and 25 fouls in the physical contest.

The RailHawks were held responsible for most of it, as Carolina was called for 13 fouls and the trio of John Krause, Jonny Steele and Cory Miller received one yellow card apiece.