CASL Elite was founded in 2009 by members of the Raleigh-based Capital Area Soccer League, and was originally intended to be a loose group which would train with and play against the upper level Capital Area Soccer League youth teams, including the club’s CASL Chelsea teams that play in the US Soccer Federation Development Academy.[1] However, when it became apparent that the wealth of talent playing for the team could compete on a more professional level, the team decided to enter the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2010
CASL Elite qualified for the 2010 tournament at the first attempt, winning their regional qualification group (which also featured NPSL teams FC Tulsa and Atlanta FC) before falling 4–2 to USL Second Division pro side Charleston Battery in the first round of tournament proper.[2]
CASL Elite is closely associated with, but is not the same team as, the Raleigh CASL Elite amateur team which competed in the USL Premier Development League for many years, and was known as the Cary Clarets in its final competitive season in 2009.
Vinny Mangelli
