The Carolina RailHawks’ scoring deficiencies were well-chronicled throughout their inaugural season, and they made a big step toward ensuring that problem doesn’t carry over to the 2008 season this week.

The RailHawks have signed 6-foot-3-inch forward Daniel Antoniuk to a one-year deal, the club announced Thursday.

“We’re extremely excited to have Dan Antoniuk join the RailHawks family,” Carolina coach Scott Schweitzer said in a statement. “He’s a proven goal scorer, an intelligent soccer player and will help us tremendously in the upcoming season.”

Antoniuk, who played for Atlanta last season, led the USL First Division in points (23) and assists (nine), and his seven goals ranked him tied for seventh in 2007. He finished as the runner-up to Seattle forward Sebastien Le Toux for the league MVP.

“I like how they play, I like the area, and I wanted to go somewhere new and try and help the team win a championship,” Antoniuk said when reached by phone Thursday in Newark, N.J., where he is playing for the New Jersey Ironmen of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

The RailHawks will undoubtedly rely on Antoniuk to spice up what was a vanilla attack in 2007. Carolina’s 24 goals in 28 games ranked the team second-to-last in the 12-team league. Antoniuk said he’s not at all worried about the pressure both the club and fans will heap upon him to produce up top.

"Those thoughts don’t cross my mind,” he said. “I go out there and cause as many problems as I can for the other team. Whether it's me scoring goals or setting up someone to score, I do what I need to do for us to win. This last year, I led [the league] in assists, I don’t know what place I came in at in goals. I don't really feel any pressure to come in and say I've got to be a goal scorer. That's what I want to do. That's what I expect my role to be [but] I think everyone will be happy if we're winning.”

Joining the RailHawks for 2008 marks the fifth team in four years for the Philadelphia native. He played in Portland from 2003 to 2005, went to Vancouver for 2006 but was traded to Montreal before the season began, and he spent last season in Atlanta.

With Portland, Antoniuk led the Timbers in scoring in 2005, with 28 points, and was named to the All-League Second Team. He was limited by injury during his one season in Montreal, when he scored three goals.

In two trips to Cary with Atlanta last season, the RailHawks held Antoniuk pointless, as both games ended in scoreless draws. But looking back on those games, Antoniuk said he was impressed with the atmosphere at SAS Soccer Park and looks forward to playing there full time in 2008.

“It was nice. I liked it. I liked the stadium, the fans. I don't think we did too well up there, so the games were tough,” he said. “The coach knows the league. He knows what it takes and his familiarity with the league and what you need to do to win is appealing. I liked everything about the place.”