Bethesda Internationals

25 Mar. '07. Due to apparently more rainfall in the Howard County/Baltimore area than further south in the DC area on Friday which closed the fields on Saturday, the U15 Premier division was relegated from the much anticipated new Bermuda grass pitch at Howard County CC to a bumpy/clumpy, short-field of a cow pasture at the North Point Government Center in Dundalk, MD, although the skies were clear and sunny but with strong winds. In the first match, the Internationals faced the Montgomery Premier United Panthers (PA-E), and controlled play for most of the match with the wind at their backs. Inter's strong defense limited the Panthers to just two shots on goal which went awry while committing two fouls and a yellow card shown to #33 for USB. Inter would shoot 8 times on goal and created 4 corner kick opportunities while committing 3 fouls. At the 4 minute mark, Skylar sent a nice corner kick into the box about 4-5 yards out center where Nicholas timed his jump and headed in a strike into the net for the 1st goal. At about the 7 minute mark, Skylar crossed another good ball into the box and Nicholas again timed his leap to head the ball but it banged off the cross bar back to Nicholas who then headed it in directly at the GK who deflected it out to Ben who alertly headed in the 2nd goal. Around the 14 minute mark, Ben sent a ball upfield which was missed by the center back and about to roll left of goal and beyond the end line, when Scott streaked up to collect ball and deftly made a soft, short pass to Skylar who was racing to the goal and tapped in the 3rd goal of the half. In the second half, Inter completely stymied the Panthers, holding them to no shots or corners while committing 3 fouls, including a hard foul from behind on Vitalis who was dirbbling towards goal and a YC was shown to #4. Credit the Panthers for keeping up the pressure and holding Inter to just two shots on goal which went awry and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful, while committing 2 fouls. End of match, 3-nil, Inter. In the second match, Inter played the Hockessin Clash (DE) -- old Concord (DE 2006 Finalist?). Again, with the wind at their backs at kickoff, Inter would control play for most of the match. Inter's strong D also stymied the Clash and held them to no shots or corners while committing 4 fouls, and a YC was shown to #22 for USB. Inter would shoot 6 times on goal and create 1 corner kick opportunity while committing 3 fouls (including 1 offsides). At about the 20 minute mark, Patrick sent a nice long ball upfield into the box where Nicholas once again timed a perfectly struck header ball into the net for Inter's only score of the match. In the second half, the Clash would manage 1 shot on goal and 1 corner kick which were unsuccessful while committing 2 fouls. The Clash would keep up the pressure and held Inter to just two shots on goal and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful, while committing 6 fouls, and the match ended, 1-0, Inter.