Bethesda Internationals

24 Jul. ’07. After a light continental breakfast at the Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center where the team/families have been staying since Friday, everyone checked out of the hotel at 7:45AM and headed out on the 45 minute drive to Bryan Park for the USCS National Cup VI Championship match at 10:00AM versus 91 Carolina Goldstar Select. The weather at the hotel was cloudy with light rain/drizzle but by the time everyone reached the field the weather cooperated with partly cloudy skies, no precipitation and temps in the low 80’s. The quality of the fields seemed to progressively worsen with each game as the first match versus Irvine Strikers was played on a superb putting-green-like field but today’s match would be played on a very narrow field no more than 65 yards wide with scattered areas of brown grass/dirt and divits from previous play the past several days. Patrick M. was still rehabbing his foot injury sustained in practice two weeks ago, and Nathaniel was still nursing his hamstring pull sustained at St. Margaret’s camp last week. But, Martin, who had stayed home to convalesce a reaggrivated back injury, recuperated well enough and came down for the Championship match today. The Internationals controlled play for most of the first half and held the Goldstar Select team to just two shots on goal and one corner kick while committing seven fouls (including 1 handball). The Goldstar Select team had a chance to knock in the first goal after a foul by Skylar at the (9) minute mark about 18 yards out center, but the free kick sailed harmlessly wide of goal; however, the Goldstar team would find the back of the net several minutes later. At about the (20) minute mark, a ball appeared to be rolling out of bounds on the right side and Ben held up pursuit while a Goldstar select player continued his run towards the end line. As no out of bounds call was made by the side official, another Goldstar player ran onto the ball and sent a pass upfield to his teammate in the far right corner who quickly crossed a well-placed ball into the goal mouth where another Goldstar Select player kicked it in past Seth who was scrambling to position himself to defend against the cross to no avail, and the Goldstar Select took the lead, 1-0. The Internationals had its chances with four shots on goal, including a free kick and resultant weak header which sailed high and a close in miss to the right of goal, as well as two corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing three fouls, and the half ended, 1-0, Goldstar Select. In the 2nd half, the Internationals maintained their focus and played strong, shooting on goal six times and created three corner kicks while committing six fouls (including a YC shown to Nicholas for a hard foul from behind, and 1 handball). The Goldstar Select team would shoot five times on goal and setup two corner kicks while committing eight fouls (including aYC shown to #13 for a hard foul from behind on Ben F). After a foul by Goldstar Select at about (10) minutes into the second half, Skylar launched a free kick from about (35) yards out to the right into the box where Nicholas was able to control the ball off of a bounce and chested it past the GK into the net for the equalizer goal. Then, at about the (17) minute mark, Ebo rcvd a pass upfield on the right, dribbled a few yards inward towards goal, fired a hard shot but it deflected up in the air. Ebo charged towards the ball/defenders, repossessed the ball, kicked it towards goal but it again was deflected away. But, Ebo, not to be denied, again charge the ball, repossessed it and this time the quick released shot found it way into the lower right side of the net past the surprised GK, and the Internationals took the lead, 2-1. But, the lead would not last long. Just (3) minutes later, after a slide tackle, Ebo inadvertently touched the ball with his hand while on the ground and a resultant PK was called, and the Goldstar Select player kicked it into the net past Stefan who could not stop the well-placed shot, and the match was knotted up again, 2-2. At about the (35) minute mark, Nat was fouled around 26 yards out center. Usuually, Skylar might’ve taken the free kick to send a soft lob into the box for Nat and Ben to attempt to head strike a goal, but this time Nat elected to take the free kick and blasted a beauty over the wall, curving the ball into the upper left corner of the net for the go ahead and winning goal as the match ended several minutes later, 3-2, Internationals. Congratulations to the Goldstar Select team for its strong showing in the USCS National Cup VI Finals after being invited (as the Region A Finalist) when the Roadrunners pulled out at the last moment. Congratulations and Many Thanks to Coach Pete for his focus and determination through the years in developing our boys into top elite players in the region and for molding the team into a formidable contender to be reckoned with in any venue in which it will participate. Footnote: With the recent addition of several players including Nat, Nathaniel, Matt, Ben F., Seth and Stefan, the Internationals’ level of play has been greatly elevated with the depth and quality of talent on the roster now. The team has demonstrated at the Region E and National Cup VI Finals that it can compete with any other top team in the country as the Internationals’ normally strong defense has improved even stronger and its offense has been significantly boosted. While the hotel where families and players stayed was forty miles away from Bryan Park, in retrospect, it was a fortuitous circumstance since it required closer coordination between families and players to schedule meetings with coach in between dining in the W. End of Winston-Salem and with other activities (Celebration Station go-karts/putt-putt) and the one-game-per-day event over the course of four days. Fond memories can be recalled of the entire team and families walking from the Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center each evening several blocks away to dine together at several local restaurants such as My Cousin Vinnie’s where the boys gorged themselves with pasta on two occasions, Bistro 420 where the parents were entertained by a Kingston Trio look-alike/sound-alike band, Fourth Street Filling Station, Foothills Brewing Co. with its excellent micro beers, and Downtown Thai restaurants – all excellent destinations with superb food and ambiance, and, especially the Country Kitchen nearby Bryan Park where on two mornings after the 8AM contests, everyone joined in together for breakfast at this nice mom-and-pop restaurant. Also, the Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center itself was a pleasant experience with the courteous and efficient staff attending to every need uttered by families or players. It truly was an outstanding experience for everyone, and it is hoped that the future will be rock solid for players in the pursuit of their soccer dreams – and of parents’ hopes that many college doors will be soon opening!