The 2008 CASL/Raleigh Shootout Showcase opened on Friday, December 5th under cloudy skies with temperatures in the lower forties. Despite the cool weather, the Commack Blasters put up a very solid, hard-playing effort in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Storm North Copa.

Colorado opened the scoring in the tenth minute as a backwards skip from a Blasters midfielder managed to find a single Colorado forward who was late in clearing the attacking zone. The resulting break-away shot was low to the right post and gave Colorado a 1-0 lead. Nicky's shot just two minutes later inside the box was hard but saved. Saulty leveled the scoring in the thirty-eighth minute as some ping-pong inside the six yard box resulted in a left-footed goal to level the score at 1-1 heading into the half. Stephanie made four saves in the first half as the defensive group including Campy, Liz, LB, Jen, Meghan, and Brooke kept the bigger Colorado team in check.

Commack controlled the tempo in the second half. In the fifteenth minute, a corner launched by Katie found Ashley in the box whose far post shot deflected off a goal line defender after beating the keeper into the back of the net for a 2-1 Commack lead. Meghan executed a perfect volley in minute twenty-nine as her hard shot from thirty yards was under the crossbar for a 3-1 lead. The assist went to Meredith on the well executed throw-in. Colorado brought the game back to 3-2 in the thirty-fifth minute as a long ball was picked up on the left flank and driven to the upper far ninety over Caroline's head. Tori's shot in the thirty-sixth minute was hard but handled. In the final minute, a last push from Colorado struck the post but was cleared by Liz to close the game at 3-2.

Coaches attending the opening match at the 2008 CASL/Raleigh Shootout included Barry University, Baylor, Bucknell, Case Western Reserve, Charleston-Southern, Colorado College, Denver College, Central Connecticut, Duquesne University, Georgia State, Gonzaga, Liberty, Libscomb, Limestone College, Long Island University/Brooklyn Campus, Monmouth, Northern Colorado, Purdue, Regis University, Sacred Heart, Saint Bonaventure, St. Lawrence, SUNY/Binghamton, SUNY/Albany, South Carolina State, South Eastern Louisiana, Towson, Union, Air Force, Navy, New Hampshire, UNC/Asheville, Vermont, Utah State, Wagner, Washington State, Wingate, Wyoming, and William and Mary.

Date: December 5, 2008     Venue: WRAL Soccer Complex - Raleigh NC