Short-handed Battery stumbles

RailHawks 1, Battery 0

CARY, N.C. — After their first two games ended in ties, the Charleston Battery lost to the Carolina RailHawks, 1-0, on Saturday night at Wake Med Stadium in front of 5,141 fans.

Forward Conally Edozien scored the lone goal for the RailHawks, blasting a shot past Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock in the 32nd minute.

The first chance of the game fell to the Battery in the 8th minute as midfielder Ozzie Alonso picked the ball up just inside the Carolina half. He took a touch forward, then hit a hard shot, forcing the keeper to make a blocking save.

Edozien scored the breakthrough goal by dribbling through three Battery players and cooly putting the ball in the net.

After halftime, Charleston was reduced to 10 players when John Wilson was ejected for a heavy challenge on midfielder Martin Nunez.

Despite playing a man down, Charleston pushed forward and, with time running out, almost evened the score. Substitute forward Aaron King whipped in a cross from wide on the left. The ball flashed across the goal but striker Lester Moore's lunging attempt to touch it home was a bit too late.

The Battery returns to Blackbaud Stadium on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. game against the Rochester Raging Rhinos.