Sunday is a rare black moon, the colloquial term for a second new moon in a single calendar month. Some pagan sects consider the black moon a time of great blessings, when rituals and spells are especially potent.

The looming black moon over Bayamón, Puerto Rico proved particularly potent for the hometown Puerto Rico FC, which hosted the Carolina RailHawks to close the 2016 NASL regular season for both clubs. The first half saw all the scoring, as two Puerto Rico goals paced a 2-1 win over the RailHawks.

Puerto Rico enjoyed the better play over the match’s early stages, finding a goal in just the 6th minute. Forward Sidney Rivera cut around RailHawks fullback Steven Miller in the six-yard box to get a flick on Kyle Culbertson’s left-footed free kick. Rivera’s deflection found the far netting for an early 1-0 advantage.

The RailHawks settled down and equalized in the 32nd minute. Miller put some air under a cross off the right wing, finding the head of Kareem Moses charging to the far post. Moses’ noggin was true, knotting the score at 1-1.

But Puerto Rico retook the lead in the 42nd minute. Forward Hector Ramos, onside and splitting RailHawks’ center backs, poked a long ball from Ramón Soria past RailHawks goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald, who was caught rushing 10 yards beyond his area. Ramos then maneuvered around Fitzgerald and deposited the Under Armour orb into the open goal for a 2-1 lead at intermission. It’s Ramos’ team-leading eighth goal this year.

From there, it was only left for Puerto Rico FC, which surrendered less than a goal per match on average over their 22-game fall season, to grind out only their third victory this year.

Saturday’s loss ensures that the RailHawks (11-7-14, 40 points) will end the regular season no better than eighth in the 12-team NASL. They will slip to ninth if the Tampa Bay Rowdies earn a point Sunday against the Jacksonville Armada. Either way, Carolina completes their 10th anniversary season with their worst league finish since 2008.

Carolina is left to ponder the properties of the waxing moon, the time between the new and full moons. According to legend, it’s a period that brings positive change, good luck and growth; it’s a time for new beginnings, to both invoke and conceptualize new ideas.

The RailHawks’ players, coaches, front office and ownership have a plethora of issues to address over the off-season. Some are perennial problems like player retention and acquisition. The rest currently occupy the space of informed conjecture: coaching staff; club branding; league upheaval; and the ongoing NWSL expansion effort. The silly season will see changes for the Carolina RailHawks—it’s only matter of degree.

BOX SCORE

LINEUPS

CAR: Fitzgerald, Miller, Tobin, Daly, Moses, Shipalane, Albadawi, Watson, da Luz (Ceballos, 18’), Shriver (Bravo, 63’), Fondy (Schuler, 78’)

​PRFC: Spangenberg, Dias, Dawson, Soria, Nurse (Botero, 76’), Paulo Mendes (Bement, 85’), Del Campo, Rudy, Culbertson, Ramos, Rivera (Marrero, 57’)

GOALS

CAR: Moses, 32’ (Miller)

​PRFC: Rivera, 6’ (Culbertson); Ramos, 42’

CAUTIONS

CAR: Bravo, 76’; Watson, 90 + 3’

​PRFC: ---

EJECTIONS

CAR: ---

​PRFC: ---

ATTENDANCE: 6,137