Bethesda Internationals

4 July '08. At the new BB&T Soccer Park outside of Winston-Salem on a hot, mid-80's holiday morning, Inter faced its friends from southwest VA, Roanoke Star Elite, whom it last played in the VCCL in early Dec. '07, dropping a slugfest contest, 4-6. Four U16 teams, Inter, Star,Triangle United Gold and GFA 91 Crew, were all placed in the U17 division with one other U17 team, Charlotte United 90 Gold. The winner of Region E will advance to the USCS National Cup VII as a U16 team unless Charlotte advances, then it would be placed in the U17 division. Inter looked sluggish and unfocused in most of the 1st half while the Star controlled the better part of the play. The Star's strong defense held Inter to just 3 shots on goal which included a nice cross from Skylar into the box where Vitalis fired but the quick shot sailed high over the cross bar. Also, another opportunity fizzled off of a nice pass from Nate to newcomer Chris on the left about 12-15 yards out but Chris' hard left-footed blast sailed wide left. Inter also had (1) corner kick opportunity but it too was unsuccessful. Inter committed (9) fouls including 1 handball and a YC shown to Vitalis for a cleats up tackle and a YC shown to Fabio for a hard foul from behind. Inter's normally strong defense held the Star to just (3) shots on goal in the first 30 minutes and (1) corner kick which were unsuccessful while committing (11) fouls (including 1 handball and 1 offsides), but after Ben N. stopped a dangerous through pass outside the 18 yard line on the right but was unable to maintain possession, a Star player possessed the ball, and dished it off to his teammate on the right who then switched it to a wide open unmarked player on the left who easily struck the winning goal at the 36 minute mark on the far post before Seth could recover from the other post. In the second half, Inter played with more intensity & focus and did not commit any fouls. Inter's defense held the Star to (3) shots on goal which were unsuccessful while committing (6) fouls including 1 offsides. Inter had a couple more chances to notch the equalizer after Chris dribbled upfield into the left corner and worked hard to maintain possession of the ball under defensive pressure and crossed a good ball from the corner into the box where Skylar timed his leap to head strike the ball but it went over the cross bar. Chris took a free kick late in the half but it went wide right, and the match ended, 1-0, Star.

In other action, Triangle United Gold defeated the U17 Charlotte United Gold, 5-0, and, later in the afternoon, GFA 91 Crew defeated the U17 Charlotte team, 5-1.