The Carolina RailHawks and the Vancouver Whitecaps announced Friday that they have come to an agreement concerning a player trade. Forward Joel Bailey will join the RailHawks while defender Sola Abolaji will go to the Whitecaps.
Sola Abolaji was the first pick in the USL-1 collegiate draft last winter and a native of Carbondale, Illinois. Prior to joining the RailHawks, Sola spent two successful seasons at the University of Buffalo. The defender played 18 games for the Bulls his senior year, scoring two goals and one assist, the helper coming on the game-winning goal in the Bulls' upset win over 19th-ranked Northern Illinois. In his junior year, Abolaji scored one goal and notched three assists in 15 games.
“I am grateful to the Carolina RailHawks for starting my professional career,” said Abolaji. “I look forward to going to Vancouver and continue playing and possibly coming back to North Carolina someday.”
Joel Bailey, a native of Trinidad and Tobago played 14 games with the Whitecaps this year after being acquired from the Montreal Impact in the off-season. He recorded one assist and 11 shots in the 600 minutes he played.
“It was a tough decision to let Sola go,” said RailHawks head coach Scott Schweitzer. “He has a bright future in this league but we needed to look at the immediate future and make a serious run at the playoffs. Joel is a skillful player that has proven himself in this league. He’s a fast forward that can score goals and we are very excited to have him.”
Joel Bailey is expected to arrive in the North Carolina this weekend and possibly make his debut on Wednesday August 1st in Montreal against the Impact.
“I had seen Sola at the USL combine,” said Vancouver head coach Bob Lilley, “he has the physical tools to strengthen our defense and I hope he’ll adapt well here. We had to make a sacrifice in acquiring him by losing Joel who is a very talented player.”