The Carolina RailHawks started the 2011 season as the North American Soccer League's best all-around team, showing almost no weaknesses in its 12-1-1 record through the first half of the year.

But in the latter half of the season, the team is sputtering down the stretch - particularly on the road.

A Sunday loss at Montreal moves the RailHawks to 1-5-1 in their last six away games. The only win was at the last-place Atlanta Silverbacks.

The last time Carolina defeated a league opponent on the road that wasn't Atlanta? A June 10 win at FC Edmonton.

Even more alarming in Sunday's loss, coach Martin Rennie played most of his usual starters after saying he was tempted to give some of them a rest after locking up the NASL regular-season title.

Instead, his team came up short playing three games in eight days - going 1-2 in that span.

And while defensive mishaps have been scrutinized given the addition of two new defenders - Tyler Lassiter and Gareth Evans - and the number of games missed by John Krause (yellow cards) and Devon McKenney (injury), the offense has had the most trouble.

In back-to-back losses, the RailHawks have forced a combined six shots.

With two of the league's top three goal scorers, Carolina (17-6-3) has been more used to six or more shots in a half.

While Carolina knows it will be playing in the NASL semifinals in three weeks, its Sunday opponent Montreal is still fighting to get in.

The seventh-place Impact (7-8-11) scored their only goal in controversial fashion - which is par for the course in the two's rivalry dating back to last season.

Former RailHawk Luke Kreamalmeyer hit a shot in the 40th minute that appeared to be saved by a twisting Brad Knighton, who lost control of the shot as he hit the ground but the ball bounced just shy of the goal line.

Play continued, but a few seconds later, officials conferred and decided that the ball did cross the line while the Carolina goalkeeper was in midair.

Montreal went up 1-0 as Kreamalmeyer's shot counted.

"We have to perform better and find a way to overcome bad decisions," said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie in a statement. "Away from home, in a big game like that, a decision like that affected us, and in the end, it cost us. But we've got lots of room for improvement. We'll start the playoff push now, and we're really looking forward to that."

Carolina will play their final road match of the regular season Saturday at second-place Puerto Rico before returning home for the season finale against the NSC Minnesota Stars on Sept. 24.