Bethesda Internationals

31 Oct. '08.  The Internationals have been accepted into the VCCL Boys Showcase with mostly VA teams and a couple of NC teams for a two game format over the weekend of 1-2 Dec.  The Internationals will face the formidable Roanoke Star Elite whom it last played to a 1-1 tie at the CASL Shootout 2006, and who recently lost a hard VA State Cup Championship match to GFA 91 Crew, 1-0, OT.  The second match will be against the Beach FC from VA Beach.  College coaches from the region will be in attendance to evaluate players for 

27 Sep. After a 1-year absence due to participation in the CASL Shootout in 2006, the Internationals (formerly Inter Bethesda) have been accepted in the highly regarded Bethesda (Pre) Thanksgiving tournament.  Although the new Development Academy elite teams will not participate in this event due to a mandatory rest period for this date, the Internationals are still looking forward to competing with some very strong non-DA teams from primarily Regions I and III.

 

22 Sep. '07. The Internationals were invited by the much vaunted DC United Development Academy team to a Friendly at the RFK Auxillary Field today. After the recent announcement of the Development Academy program by US Soccer earlier in the summer, many top players from various quality teams in the area joined the DC United Development Academy team including several elite players from the top team in Maryland and Region I, Bethesda Roadrunners, as well as several elite players from Freestate Titans, another strong club team and MD State Champion in 2005. Both teams were respected advesarial opponents of the Internationals in league, tournament and MD State Cup play during the past 6-7 years. Interestingly, no players from the Internationals opted to tryout for the DC United Development Adademy team or the other local Potomac SA Development Academy team, and instead declared to stay intact as a top club team to compete in premier college showcase tournaments where exposure to college coaches/scouts will be maximized. It was a sunny, hot & humid afternoon at kickoff and both teams moved the ball well up and down the field but the strong defenses on both sides were quick to shut the door on any quality shots finding the net except for a PK by the Internationals after a foul in the box on Stephen Ho at about the 43 minute. Vitalis stepped up to take the PK and fired in a hard shot past Stefan and the Internationals took the lead at halftime, 1-0. The DC United DA managed four shots on goal and (3) corner kick opportunities while committing (7) fouls inlcuding 1 offsides, while the Internationals were held to just two shots on goal (including the PK) and two corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing six fouls. In the second half, DC United DA found the equalizer goal around the 23 minute mark after breaking through the back line and sending in an easy score. At about the 31 minute mark, Julio fouled Nathaniel in the box setting up another PK which was taken by Skylar who struck a hard high shot to the upper corner past a diving Stefan. Alex took over GK duties from Seth and made a couple of great saves as did Stefan make a nice stop on a hard shot by Vitalis. But, the DC United DA would once again find the equalizer goal off of a counter attack and Alex was unable to retrieve the ball sent arcing into the box before it was struck into the net at about the 41 minute mark. The DC United Da would take (8) shots on goal and setup (6) corner kicks while committing (8) fouls (including 1 handball), while the Internationlas would also shoot (8) times (including the PK) and setup (4) corner kicks while committing four fouls (including 1 offsides), and the very entertaining friendly ended in a draw, 2-2.

 

13 Sep. '07.  The Internationals have been accepted in the CASL Boys College Showcase, 14-16 Dec.  The Internationals have participated in the CASL Shootout for several years in the past, but this will be the first College Showcase as a U16 team during the usually very competitive CASL event.  The Internationals are looking forward to facing some top teams in Regions I-III, including both Development Academy and non-DA club teams.

9 Aug. '07.  The Internationals have been accepted into the top premier tournament in the country for the 2nd straight year and hope to be seeded in the top Showcase Divisioin also for the 2nd straight year, particularly in light of its recent US Club Soccer National Cup VI Championship and Finalist in the MD State Cup for the 3rd straight year as well as Champion of NCSL/D1 for the 2nd straight Spring season.   The Internationals are hoping to improve upon its modest performace last year, 1-1-1, particularly in light of the recent addition of 5 strong players who helped propel the team to its USCS Region E and USCS National Cup VI Championshps over the summer.   Disney officials indicated that there be no change in the format of the event and both USSF Development Academy teams and non-DA club teams will compete in their respective divisions as had been the case normally in past events.