The Commack Blasters opened the 2009 USYSA Eastern New York State Cup with a road trip to Saratoga Springs, New York for a match with the Shenentaha Lady Mad Dogs. This match, played at Gavin Park, was a three hour drive from our previous day's Massachusetts based Region One Premier League games. Two forty five minute periods and two fifteen minute overtimes were not enough to decide this contest. After two full hours of play under very warm conditions, the Commack Blasters prevailed, 2-1, with a 4-3 win in the penalty kick shootout.

Shenentaha won the coin toss and elected to have the wind at their backs for the first half and used this to their advantage. Steph D. made a strong save in the third minute pushing a Mad Dogs shot over the crossbar. The Blasters had no shortage of chances despite going into the wind with Carly going over the net in minute seven on a pass from Liz. Nicky fed Saulty on a nice through-ball that rebounded for Taylor to make a run on the keeper in minute eighteen. Kiersten's fine volley in minute thirty was saved. Ashley was forced wide on a break into the Shenentaha defensive end in minute fourty to send the game to the half with no score.

Second half action saw Caroline come onto the field between the pipes for Commack and a strong wind at the Blasters backs. Taylor created another great opportunity in minute nine that was saved while Nicky's shot in minute eleven could not be poked home by Ashley on the right side post. Caroline made a fine save in minute sixteen pushing a high shot wide. LB hit a crossbar flush in minute twenty and one minute later, Shenentaha returned the favor hitting the Commack crossbar. Despite holding possession, the regulation clock expired with no scoring on the board and a thirty minute overtime to follow.

The Blasters finally broke through in the third minute of the first overtime as Carly's shot was initially saved, but loose in the box and Ashley worked hard to body the ball home for a 1-0 lead. In the second overtime, Shenentaha evened the score at 1-1 as a Mad Dog forward slipped inside of Liz and slid a ball low and around Steph D.

In the penalty kick shootout, Commack's named five shooters included, in order, Nicky, Liz, Taylor, Katie, and Meghan. When Shenentaha's first kick was placed over the net, many on the sidelines were wondering if the Mad Dog parent beyond the goal to retrieve loose shots might have been a warning sign of things to come. Nicky scored in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 penalty kick shootout lead. Shenentaha hit their next three shots, all to the right side of the net, Steph's left side. For Commack, Liz and Taylor both placed their shots calmly into the netting. In the bottom of the fourth with the score at 3-3, Katie's shot was just inside the left post caroming across the back of the net for a 4-3 lead. Shenentaha's last shooter guessed to the right side yet again, but Steph got down to block the shot to give the Blasters an opening round 2009 State Cup victory.

The win capped a gut-wrenching effort that included two hours of soccer after three hours of hard play just a day earlier. Brooke and Meghan were excellent on the defensive end with Taryn playing multiple positions throughout the day. Carly, Meredith, and Katie were all active in their outside midfield roles during the match. With the win, the Blasters roll into the quarterfinal round with a home match against the Albertson 90 Fury scheduled for the second weekend of May.

Date: April 26, 2009     Venue: Gavin Park - Saratoga Springs NY