Bethesda Internationals

24 May '08. Back out at the MD SoccerPlex on another splendid, warm and sunny day with moderately breezy crosswinds on the new turf field #18, the Internationals faced its friends COSA Express from OHS whom it tied in last year’s event, 0-0. The Express worked hard, applied good defensive pressure but Inter was even more stalwart in its defense holding the Express to no shots or corners. The Express committed 6 fouls, including a YC shown to #21 for hard foul on Vitalis and a tough RC on #18 for USB/language disputing a call at the 20 minute mark. With COSA playing a man down, the Internationals broke through the Express’ defense on a number of occasions shooting 5 times on goal and setup 2 corner kicks while committing 2 fouls. At about the 31st minute, Vitalis served a nice cross from near the left end line which sailed over the goal mouth to the far post where Roque volley-headed the ball back into the goal mouth and Brian was in perfect position to clean up the go-ahead goal, and the half ended several minutes later, 1-0, Internationals. In the 2nd half, COSA played valiantly, managed 2 shots on goal and setup 3 corners but all were unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides). The Internationals launched a fusillade of shots on goal, all total 10 including 5 corners but all sailed either high or wide of goal or were grabbed by the GK while committing 3 fouls, and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.

23 May '08. On a splendid, warm and sunny late afternoon out at the MD SoccerPlex Stadium, the Internationals were matched up in 1st round preliminary play with their old friends from VA, the McLean MPS Premier (formerly FCH Premier AC 91W). Conspicuously absent was their dangerous striker of seasons past, Torian, which would turn out to be fortuitous for Inter as the Premier would not seriously threaten to score except for a tense PK attempt. In the first half, the Premier played very physical and aggressively, committing eight fouls (including 1 handball & 1 high kick). The Premier took 4 shots on goal and setup 3 corner kicks which all were unsuccessful, including an attempt off of a strong throw-in near the end line followed by a well-timed head strike which sent the ball sailing towards the upper right corner but Seth reacted quickly and layed out to grab the ball in its path. The Internationals stayed focused, making mostly good passes and moved the ball well setting up 6 shots on goal and 2 corner kick opportunities while committing 5 fouls, including a potentially goal-saving foul from behind by Ben N. on an MPS player near 25 yards center which resulted in a free kick by MPS that fortunately was unsuccessful. At the about 22 minute mark, Ebo collected a ball in the center around 18-20 yards, passed it outward and over/back to Fabio around 25 yards on the left where he launched a strong left-footed blast which sailed high through defenders to the upper right corner of the post that just slipped off the fingertips of GK into the net for the go-ahead goal. With just 2 minutes left in the half, Nathaniel rcvd a ball (from Ben N?) near 20-22 yards center, dribbled 1 or 2 steps to create an open lane and fired a hard shot past the GK into the net for the 2nd goal, and the half ended, 2-0, Internationals. In the 2nd half, both defenses stiffened and the Premier held Inter to 2 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks which all were unsuccessful while committing just 2 fouls, including a foul in the box after a dangerous long ball near 18-20 yards was mis-kicked/deflected backwards into the box as Fabio scurried back to make what appeared to be a clean tackle on the ball– but drew the whistle and resultant PK attempt. Seth was large on the goal line waving his arms, jumping up and down with his tall 6’3” frame as the errant shot hit the side bar to the left of Seth and bounced back out to the kicker who slammed it into the net in frustration as the 2nd attempt was not allowed. The PK would be the Premier’s only shot attempt and no corner kicks while committing 4 fouls, and the match ended, 2-0, Internationals.

18 May. '08. The Internationals were invited by the Arsenal for a friendly pre-Memorial Day scrimmage on the turf field at the MD SoccerPlex.  Inter controlled play for much of the match with strong goals coming off a 30 yard left-footed blast from Ebo, a nifty  right-footed strike from the normally left-footed Vitalis, and another nice goal from the right 15-18 yards out by Ben F. on an overlapping run from the back, and in the end the Internationals prevailed, 3-0.

 

30 Apr. '08. The brackets have been set and numerous quality Region I-II teams will be in attendance at this year's event despite many top/elite teams which have joined the USSF Academy system and will be participating in a Spring Showcase at Rockford, Il, during the same Memorial Day weekend. There will be (3) divisions with (16) teams in the Potomac, (12) teams in the Chesapeake and (12) teams in the Colonial.

The Internationals have been seeded in the Potomac division as follows:

Black:

Eagles SC (OHS)

NVSC Heat Premier 91 (VA)

MSC Revolution (MD)

Commack SC Premier (NYE)

 

Gold:

Freestate Titans (MD)

GFA 91 Premier (VA)

Metro FC Rapids (OHS)

Black Watch Griffins (NYE)

 

Red:

YMS Xplosioin (PAE)

South Jersey Barons (NJ)

Seacoast United (NH)

GFA 91 Crew (VA)

 

White:

Potomac Internationals (MD)

McLean MPS Premier (VA)

COSA Express (OHS)

Coastal Thunder (ME)

The Internationals are looking forward to some very competitive and enjoyable matches with the strong teams in its Group as no doubt all teams will be challenged in their Group play. Good luck to all!

26 Apr. ’08. Unlike past years where the Semi-Final matches were customarily held at the nearby SoccerPlex, this year’s Semi’s would be held at Harford County Polo Grounds – another 150 mile round trip for players/families for the 3rd time during the State cup event. And, instead of the forecasted cloudy skies and temps in the low-70’s, the weather was warm with mostly sunny skies and temps in the low-80’s. In the 1st half, Inter’s vaunted defense held the Bays team to just one corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing three fouls (including 2 handballs). Inter created many scoring opportunities including a nice feed from Nat into the goal mouth where Ben’s header missed wide, and, after Vitalis rcvd a nice pass up field and broke through the last defender 1v1 with the GK, V's shot was deflected by the GK and bounced out to Nate who fired on goal but the GK made a good save. Inter would take a total of (9) shots on goal with all missing their target wide/high except the GK save, and also (1) corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing (9) fouls (including 2 handballs and 2 offsides), and the half ended precariously scoreless. The 2nd half was much of the same with the Internationals controlling most of the play, although the Bays managed (2) shots on goal including a dangerous close-in shot near the left side post which Seth ably smothered and the other missed its mark wide. The Bays also created two corner kick situations but were unsuccessful while committing (3) fouls. Inter kept up its offensive attack, shooting (7) times on goal and creating (2) corner kick opportunities while committing just (1) foul. At about the (26) minute mark, Ebo launched a CK from the left corner into the box about 16 yards out center where Nate headed the ball closer into the goal mouth where Nat chest-trapped the ball to the ground and slammed in the first goal as the Bays coach was yelling for a handball by Inter in the box which did not appear to have occurred and was not called by the Center Ref. Vitalis served a nice ball from the left about 22 yards out into the box near the far post where Skylar made a lunging header attempt but it just missed over the cross bar. At about the (32) minute mark, Skylar sent a nice cross from near the right sideline about 22-25 yards out into the box around 18 yards center where Pat headed the ball over to Ebo near the center of the goal mouth who chest-trapped the ball to the ground and fired a left-footed shot past the GK, and the match ended several minutes later, 2-0, Internationals. Inter will advance to the Final on 31 May where it will face its friends from PG County, Freestate Titans, who bested the Bethesda Ajax, 3-0, in the other Semi-Final action.