Through nine games, Carolina forward Connally Edozien took 18 shots on goal and scored just once.

In the Carolina RailHawks’ 10th game of the season Friday at SAS Soccer Park, Edozien tripled his season scoring total by finding the net on both shots he took in the first half against Rochester.

“We expect big things from Connally,” said Anthony Maher, who set up Edozien’s second goal. “We think Rochester may have made a mistake letting him slip away. Everyone was talking about how he was going to respond with Rochester coming in here. He responded well. I just wish some of us could’ve responded the way he did.”

Edozien spent last year in Rochester, where he clashed with coach Laurie Calloway. After his first goal, an 11th-minute header, Edozien seemed to point at the Rochester bench as he jogged back to midfield.

“He had something to play for tonight,” said Carolina coach Scott Schweitzer. “He’s been playing great all year. He just hasn’t found the back of the net. He had seven good looks on goal, finished two and probably should’ve had three. He did his part. I’m happy for him. I’m very happy for him.”

Holt impressed

USL Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Holt was on hand Friday to take in his first RailHawks match, and he was impressed with the night.

“In all aspects, in terms of the team on the field, game-day operations, the event, it looks like they’ve been doing it for five, six years, not five, six weeks. I’m very excited,” Holt said. “The expectations were high because of the ownership, the management, the venue, the market, all those things were in place.

“We had a high level of confidence they were going to execute, so I’d say it’s met our expectations. And our expectations were that it was going to be done in a first-class, professional manner. And it has been.”

Holt had seen competition in Cary twice before. He was in attendance for the Rochester-D.C. United match in July 2005 and the USL All-Star Game last summer.

Maher's mug gauzed

Forward Anthony Maher had a gash opened on the right side of his shaved head after a collision with Rochester’s Kevin Novak in the third minute. Maher stepped off the pitch for two minutes and returned with his head wrapped in gauze.

“It happens,” Maher said. “We weren’t hoping it would happen the first play of the game, but when two guys go up battling for a ball, and both are known to be good players in the air, eventually you’re going to catch somebody’s elbow. I don’t think there was anything intentional about it.”

One streak ends, another lives on

The RailHawks surrendered more goals in Friday’s first half than they had in their previous four games combined at SAS Soccer Park.

Through their first four matches, Carolina allowed one goal at home. Rochester scored twice in the first 45 minutes Friday. Mike Ambersley’s 37th-minute goal snapped a 337-minute scoreless streak for a USL-1 visitors in Cary. The RailHawks did keep their unbeaten streak at home alive. Carolina improved to 1-0-4 at SAS Soccer Park this season.

High scoring

The four goals scored Friday between Carolina and Rochester made it the highest scoring game the RailHawks have been apart of this year. There were three goals scored in their 2-1 win in Atlanta on May 12.

Next up: Seattle

After Tuesday’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match in Cary against RWB Adria, the RailHawks return to SAS Soccer Park and USL play Friday against Seattle (4-4-4, 16 points).

The Sounders beat Carolina 1-0 on May 23 in their only meeting to date. Kickoff Friday is at 8 p.m.