Announcement
28 Nov. ’08. The Internationals trekked up to Zarepath, NJ, for its first-time participation in the highly-acclaimed PDA Boys Showcase. It was a cold, mostly cloudy day, and in the first match, Inter faced its recent rival and nemesis, YMS Xplosion, who has had Inter’s number in the last several matches, including a thrilling, double-OT/PK Final at the Potomac Memorial 2008 which Inter fell to YMS in PK’s, and an earlier strong win by YMS in Region I Premier, 3-0. The originally scheduled large pitch was changed to a lower, smaller field due to overnight rain/drainage of the big field. With about 1-2 mins. before kick-off, the previously calm winds kicked up and were gusting strongly throughout the match. The first half of play was mostly even with both sides penetrating deep into the back line, serving or crossing dangerous balls into the box but both defenses cleared away as well as both YMS/GK and Seth each making a good save. At the end of the scoreless half, both YMS and Inter each would manage just 1 shot on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful. YMS committed 11 fouls while Inter committed 7 fouls (including 1 offsides).
In the 2nd half, Inter’s vaunted defense held YMS to just a single shot on goal which went awry and no corners while committing 8 fouls (including 2 offsides). Inter controlled most of the play, serving several balls into the box, firing 6 times on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which all but one were unsuccessful while committing 8 fouls (including 1 handball & 1 offsides). At the 18 min. mark, Schillo collected a ball upfield, juked a last defender and sent a hard shot into the net past the GK to put Inter up 1-0. With about 1 min. left in the match, Inter again launched an attack deep into YMS’ side. A YMS defender passed-back a ball to the GK but eerily reminiscent of Seth slipping to the turf in the Region I game (allowing what could have been an easily-clutched ball to bounce and roll lazily into the net), the YMS GK attempted to kick the ball on the run and missed it, resulting in the ball easily rolling into the open net for a goal and the match ended several seconds later, 2-0, Inter.
Later in the afternoon, Inter's 2nd match on a now well-drained large full-size field, was against a team it has not faced before, the Massapequa Aces, NY-E Champs 2008. The sun came out now and then but the clouds and strong winds prevailed for the mostof the match. The first-half of this match was pretty much even with the Aces taking 2 shots on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing 5 fouls. Inter took 3 shots on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which were also unsuccessful while committing 6 fouls (including YC's shown to Pat and Skylar for fouls from behind), and the half ended scoreless.
In the 2nd half, the Aces managed 3 shots on goal including a hard shot on goal which Seth stopped and the ball rolled precariously across the goal mouth but Philip rushed over to save/kick it away. The Aces also setup 1 unsuccessful corner kick while committing 4 fouls. Inter would take 5 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks while committing 8 fouls (including 2 handballs). At about the 26 min. mark, Erik sent a ball from the middle upfield to Chris around 35 yds. on the left who dribbledto around 15-20 yds. and struck a hard shot while sailed past the GK into the net to put Inter up 1-0. Due to darkness setting in and no lights, the match was truncated and ended after about 35 min.
