Bethesda Internationals

15 Jun. '08. Brackets have been set for the prestigous Surf Cup in San Diego, 2-4 Aug., and the Internationals have been placed in Super Division D Group with some top teams from California and a NY-E team:

 

Group A:

Texas 91/92 Red (TX-S)

Eastside FC (WA) -- Inter prevailed in 2006, 1-0

Legends FC/Stampede FC (CA-S)

HSC Bulls 92 (HI) -- Inter prevailed in 2006, 1-0

 

Group B:

Arsenal FC (CA-S)

Concorde Fire Elite (GA)

Real So Cal Blue (CA-S)

CISCO 92 Black (AZ)

 

Group C:

Santa Clara Sporting (CA-N)

Massapequa Aces (NY-E)

SD Surf White (CA-S)

Snohomish United Black (WA)

 

Group D:

Santa Rosa United Gold (CA-S)

CZ Elite (CA-S) -- formelry FC Barcelona, lost 0-5 in 2006

Potomac Internationals (MD)

Black Watch Griffins (NY-E)

 

It should be another exciting and competiive, fun-filled event at the fabulous San Diego Polo Club grass fields in Del Mar nearby the Pacific ocean.

1 Jun. '08. After waiting out a passing thunderstorm yesterday which halted play on all fields, MSYSA officials canceled all other matches except those which were in play and halted earlier. Unluckily, Inter's match with Freestate was rescheduled to the same time today which was in direct conflict with Coach Mehlert's older son's graduation at 1pm as well as Nick A's scheduled flight back to Costa Rica at 3pm; however, Nick was able to reschedule his flight home to tomorrow at extra expense as well as missing another day of school, but, unfortunately, after a touch deliberation and discussion with family, Coach Mehlert missed his son's graduation ceremonies to remain at the helm of today's match with Freestate at the SoccerPlex on a warm, humid, sunny and breezy day. This was the 2nd meeting between Inter and Freestate in the State Cup Final -- Freestate (Titans) prevailed in the 1st meeting in 2005, 1-0. Inter kicked off in the 1st half with breezy cross wind left to right. In the 1st minute of play, Inter took the play into Elite's box where it appeared that Nate was fouled in the box but no call made. Just 1 minute later, on a counter attack by Elite, Inter was called for a foul just outside the 18 yard line and the DK with resultant header attempt sailed over the cross bar. The Elite's strong defense held Inter to just 2 shots on goal inclulding a shot by Nate on the right side about 25-28 yards out which was unsuccessful. Both teams played with great intensity and aggressiveness with Inter commiting 8 fouls while the Elite committed 11 fouls (including 1 offsides penalty). Freestate controlled most of the play shooting 4 times on goal and setting up 4 corner kick situations which all went awry -- except for one. At about the 23 minute mark, a ball was deflected backwards on Inter's right side and rolled towards the end line where Ben attempted to shield the ball as it appeared it would roll beyond the end line but an Elite player (Brian?) was able to tackle the ball away from in between Ben's legs before it rolled out and then managed a nice sharp-angled shot which sailed across the goal mouth past Seth, bending inwards into the far corner of the net, and the half ended, 1-0, Elite.  In the 2nd half, Inter stepped up its offensive attack, setting up several scoring opportunites including a nice shot by Vitalis 1v1 which missed wide, and another shot by on the left side 1v1 which missed wide right as well as several corner kicks launched by Ebo and Skylar which were unsuccessful.  All total, Inter would take 3 shots on goal and 3 corners but could not finish while committing 4 fouls.  Inter's defense held tight and Elite's 2 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks were all unsuccessful while committing 7 fouls, and the match ended, 1-0, Elite.  Congratuations to Freestate  Elite who earned a trip to the Region I Regionals in Maine at the end of the month.

26 May '08. On another splendid sunny day out at the MD SoccerPlex, for its 5th match of this event, the Internationals would face its friends and nemesis from PAE-E, the YMS Xplosion, who have had the upper hand in match play with the Internationals over the course of several seasons, winning 3 times while falling only once to Inter with 1 tie. In the 1st half, like Coastal, YMS were physical, strong and sent its forwards running onto long ball after long ball but all were unsuccessful including a free kick from about 22 yards out and 2 header attempts. YMS committed just 4 fouls (including 1 offsides) while Inter also committed 4 fouls, including a YC shown to Jamie for a blocking foul around 22 yards out center. Inter would manage 4 shots on goal including a nice, hard shot by Patrick about 25 yards out on the left which sailed just left of goal, and the half ended, 0-0. Both defenses held their ground in the 2nd half, with the Xplosion limiting Inter to just 2 shots on goal with 1 setup on a nice service by Skylar from about 35 yards on the left which sailed into the box and the ensuing header attempt by (?) was unsuccessful. YMS setup 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing 8 fouls, including a YC shown to #13 for a hard foul on Nathaniel. Inter would commit 2 fouls, including 1 offsides penalty and YC shown to Fabio after trying to tackle the ball away from a YMS player who collected an uncleared ball, dribbled towards goal before being fouled with the resultant PK awarded to YMS at about the 18 minute mark. Oddly, the center official appeared to have allowed an advantage after the foul as the YMS player continued to dribble towards goal before launching a a shot which missed, and then the official made the delayed PK call. But, Seth was again large on the goal line with his 6’3” frame, jumping up and down, waving his arms, and when the YMS player sent the well struck, high shot towards goal, Seth reached up high and made a great finger-tip save to deflect the ball over the cross bar, and the match ended later in regulation time, 0-0. In the 1st 10 minute OT, YMS would setup only 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 1 offsides penalty, and held Inter to no shots/corners and no fouls committed. Much of the same in the 2nd 10 minute OT, with YMS again setting up 1 corner which was unsuccessful while committing 2 fouls and held Inter to no shots/corners while committing 1 offsides penalty, and the match went into PK’s. In this shootout, Inter drew the first PK attempt with Nat sending it home true. YMS’ 1st attempt also was true, but Nicholas’ 2nd attempt sailed high and right while YMS made its 2nd. Skylar’s PK made found its way to the back of the net and so did YMS’ 3rd attempt. The 4th PK attempt by Ebo was unfortunately grabbed by the GK and YMS made its 4th attempt to win the Championship match on PK’s, 4-2. Congratulations to YMS for its well-deserved Championship! It was a very entertaining and highly competitive match and tournament as a whole - can’t ever recall a tournament with 2 Semi's and Final all decided by PK’s.

25 May '08. Later in the afternoon, the Internationals faced another tough, tenacious team from Ohio in the Semi-Final, Eagles SC. The Eagles SC played aggressively and managed 3 shots on goal which went awry while committing 8 fouls (including a YC shown to #2 for USB & 1 offsides). A slight, breezy wind was with Inter in the 1st half and at about the 10 minute mark a ball was lofted into the box by (?) and Ben’s header attempt was deflected out fortunately right where Nat was in position to head-strike in the go-ahead goal. Inter had its chances to notch 1-2 more goals on a couple of dangerous balls sent across the goal mouth but could not finish another goal and the half ended, 1-0, Inter. Just 3 minutes into the 2nd half, the left back collapsed into the center towards the action on the right side and the Eagles SC switched a ball over to an unmarked player who 1v1 on Seth was able to deftly strike in the equalizer goal for its only shot attempt of the 2nd half, while committing 8 fouls. The Eagles SC held Inter to just 2 shots on goal which went awry and no corners while committing 5 fouls (including 1 handball, 1 offsides and 1 high kick), and the match ended, 1-1, and would go into 2 x 5 minute overtime periods. In the 1st OT, Inter’s defense stymied the Eagles SC from any shots on goal while the Eagles SC committed 2 fouls. Vitalis was out with a cramp and Inter would manage just two shots on goal (including a free kick) but could not finish while committing 1 high kick foul. In the 2nd OT, Vitalis returned to action but neither team managed any shots or committed any fouls and match would be decided by PK’s. The Eagles SC first attempt missed wide right while Nat notched his shot. The Eagle’s second attempt was successful while Nicholas also made his shot. The Eagles SC 3rd attempt missed wide left while Skylar sent his home true. Incredibly, the Eagles SC 4th attempt also missed wide left and Inter earned a trip to the Final after prevailing over the Eagles SC, 3-1 in PK's. 

 

Footnote:  Remarkably, YMS Xplosion and Metro FC Rapids were playing their Semi-Final game adjacent to Inter's Semi-Final with the Egales SC, and it too, ended in a tie (2-2), went into 2 x 5 minute OT's and was decided by PK's with YMS edging the Raipds.  Inter will meet the Xplosion in the Championship match tomorrow.

25 May '08. Returning to the MD SoccerPlex on another fabulous, bright, sunny day for an early morning 8:30am match with Coastal Thunder, 2008 Maine State Champs, the Internationals found themselves in an another familiar scenario where both teams had won their previous 2 preliminary matches, and the victor would advance to play -on in the Semi-Final later that day. But, this time around, Inter needed to just tie or win to advance where the Thunder needed to win due to Inter had the better goal differential (unlike when it did not have the goal differential edge at CASL 2007 vs. GSA Phoenix & Jefferson Cup 2008 vs. Team Ohio – both events/both teams had identical 2-0 records but Phoenix and Team Ohio had the better goal differential – and the Internationals played both teams to a scoreless draw and did not advance). The contest proved to be one heckuva dogfight with both defenses holding their ground and allowing just a single shot by each team that did not find the net while Inter set up 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful. Skylar launched a nice corner kick from the left side which sailed dangerously into the goal mouth and Nicholas’ header attempt went just wide of the far post. The Thunder were big, strong, fast and very physical, committing 8 fouls (including 1 handball) while the Internationals committed 5 fouls (including 2 high kicks). In the 2nd half, Coastal’s long ball assault manufactured 5 shots on goal, including a couple of 35-40 yarders with Seth grabbing one up high near the cross bar and making another great finger-tip save from a blast about 22 yards out. The Thunder also setup 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 10 fouls. Vitalis launched a hard shot on the run on the right side about 30 yards which sailed wide/left of net. Inter setup two corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing 7 fouls (including 1 offsides), and the matched ended scoreless, 0-0, and Inter would advance to play a Semi-Final against another Ohio team, Eagles SC (OH-S).