Bethesda Internationals

20 Apr. '08. After two exhausting Region 1 matches yesterday and a long drive home from Kirkwood SC, the Internationals had a very early morning wake-up and another long drive up to Harford County Polo Grounds for Round 3 match play versus a tough Freestate Dragons, formerly Bowie Dragons, and now playing in D1 of NCSL. Unlike yesterday’s sunny skies, today’s weather turned ominous with cloudy, overcast skies and intermittent heavy rain in the local area of I495/I95 northbound, but ended just south of Baltimore. Although there were threatening, dark clouds at HCPG, the weather cooperated for Inter's match with the Dragons who displayed a very similar tenacious defense like the NJ Knights yesterday, constantly pressuring the ball and working extremely hard. After yesterday’s meltdown, Inter was determined/focused to keep the game in hand and its defense was in sync, holding the Dragons from any shots on goal except a DK. At about the (19) minute mark, Ben was called for fouling a Dragon’s player while heading the ball over the player’s back, and the ensuing DK from about (22) yards out failed as it deflected off Inter’ wall. The Dragons committed (5) fouls while Inter committed (6) fouls (including 1 offsides). Inter would take (4) shots on goal which were all unsuccessful while setting up (3) corner kick opportunities with one being successful. At about (20) minute mark, Skylar sent a cross from the Dragon’s left corner into the goal mouth where Nicholas timed his jump up and headed in a strike for Inter’s go-ahead goal, and the half ended later, 1-0, Internationals. The Dragons intensified their aggressiveness in the 2nd half, committing a whopping (15) fouls (including a YC #13/GK for crashing into an Inter player, and an unlucky YC on #21 for bleeding of the mouth and not requesting to leave the field, and 1 handball). Inter would take (3) shots on goal and (3) corner kicks while committing (8) fouls (including 1 offsides). At about the (8) minute mark, Nate H. rcvd a ball upfield from (Fabio?) and streaked past defenders into the Dragon’s goal area but was fouled in the box by a Dragons player in an attempt to tackle the ball, and a PK was awarded to Inter. Skylar sent the PK into the net to the left of the GK, and Inter held on to win, 2-0.