Bethesda Internationals

1 Apr. '07. With 5 key players absent for today's 1st game of the NCSL Spring 2007 season, including the GK, and 3 starting defenders and 1 center-mid due to ODP and school rugby trips to Argentina, school band trip to Atlanta and family trip to Florida, Ebo valiantly filled in as GK on the cloudy, windy and chilly day at the MD SoccerPlex. Despite the absence of the 5 players, the Internationals controlled the first half of play into the wind, and the defense stymied the Predators holding them to just 2 shots on goal which went awry while committing 4 fouls, including a YC shown to #6 for a hard foul on Marcus. The Internationals would fire 4 times on goal and create 3 corner kick opportunities but would finish only once while committing 8 fouls. At the 27 minute mark, Skylar passed a ball from the mid-center area over to Gerald on the right at about 30-35 yards out, who dribbled 1-2 steps to his left in open space and launched a hard, high shot over the GK's outstretched hands into the upper net and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. The 2nd half belonged to the Predators, who intensified their play, pressuring and moving quicker to the ball, shooting 7 times on goal while committing 7 fouls. The Predators managed to break through the right side of the back line and scored twice at the 7 minute and 24 minute marks. Just two minutes later, a nice pass upfield into the center of the Internationals side around 20-25 yards out was collected by Sam who deftly maneuvered around the defenders into open space and struck a high, arcing ball past Ebo into the right side of the net for the Predators' 3rd goal. The Internationals would manage 6 shots and 2 corner kick opportunities but could only finish once more while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides which was incredulously called during a throw-in by the Internationals, but in retrospect may have been a belated call from the center ref acknowledging the AR for an earlier infraction seconds earlier). At the 28 minute mark, on a counter attack, Martin pushed upfield, rcvd a pass and sent the ball into the goal mouth where Ben was in good position to tap in an easy goal, but the Internationals were unable to realize the equalizer goal during the next 12 minutes and the match ended, 3-2, Predators. Congratulations, MSC Predators!