Bethesda Internationals

13 May '07. On Mothers Day, once again out at the MD SoccerPlex on a sunny but very windy and chilly day, and after a ton of shots taken against BAC yesterday but finishing just twice, the Internationals were hoping to play strong and finish well against the Ajax today. But, the Internationals would not finish strong much in part due to its inconsistent play. In the first half, with the wind behind them, the Internationals' strong defense held the Ajax to no shots taken on goal and 1 unsuccessful corner kick while committing 10 fouls (including 1 handball) -- and a YC shown to #14 for a hard foul on Vitalis from behind. The Internationals would shoot 4 times on goal and setup 2 corner kick opportunities, but would finish just once while committing 7 fouls (including 3 handballs). At about the 22 minute mark, Skylar crossed a ball from around 25 yards out to the right and into the goal mouth 3-4 yards out where Vitalis was in position to collect the ball and strike in the lone goal of the match. Just 1 minute later, a foul by the Ajax occurred in the box and Vitalis fired a hard PK shot which hit the cross bar, bounced straight down and up to the GK, not crossing the goal line, and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. In the 2nd half, the Internationals had the wind at their backs, but would manage just 2 shots on goal which went awry and 1 unsuccessful corner kick while committing 7 fouls (including 2 offsides and 2 handballs). The Ajax played much more physically and aggressively, committing 8 fouls (including 1 handball), and two YC's shown to #2 and #3 for hard fouls. The Ajax penetrated deep into the Internationals' back line several times, and would take 2 shots on goal and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful, and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.

12 May '07. On a partly sunny and very warm day at the MD SoccerPlex, the Internationals faced a new friend from VA, the BAC Bombers, who have had a rough outing in their first season in D1 -- but the Internationals would not let their guard down, and controlled play in both halves of the contest. In the first half, with a slight cross-wind at their backs, the Bombers could manage only 1 unsuccessful shot against Inter's strong defense while committing 5 fouls (including 1 handball). The Internationals went to work quickly and at the 2 minute mark, Gerald sent a crisp pass from about 30 yards out to a streaking Scott near left-center of the 18 yard line where he deftly dribbled towards goal to fire in Inter's first goal. Inter would take 8 shots on goal and setup 2 corner kick situations while committing 3 fouls (including 1 costly offsides). At about the 18 minute mark, Martin took control of the ball on a counter attack and dribbled upfield hear the Bombers' 35 yard line and launched a shot towards goal but it was deflected to Gerald who was in an offsides position and struck in what appeared to be Inter's second goal, but it was negated due to the offsides call made on Gerald, and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. Kudos to the Bombers' GK for making two good stops/saves off of a couple of hard blasts from the Internationals. In the second half, the Internationals held the Bombers to just 3 shots on goal, including a 35 yard free-kick that sailed high over the cross bar, and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 8 fouls (including 1 offsides and 2 handballs). With the slight cross-wind at their backs, the Internationals would launch 10 shots on goal and setup 4 corner kick opportunities but would only finish once. And, again, the Bombers' GK made two more good stops/saves off of two hard shots by the Internationals. At about the 12 minute mark, Skylar launched a corner kick from the right side which fell into the goal mouth about 3-6 yards out where Brian alertly tapped in the 2nd goal of the match. The Internationals committed 9 fouls, including 2 offsides and one of them negated another goal, and the match ended later, 2-0, Internationals.

6 May '07. Back out at the MD SoccerPlex on a sunny but fiercely windy and chilly day, the Internationals faced another old friend from VA, ABGC Red Devils, who played the Internationals (Inter Bethesda) in a hard fought scoreless draw last spring. In the first half, the Internationals had the wind at their backs but could not capitalize in finishing a goal. Inter's strong defense kept the Red Devils from setting up any shots on goal, although 1 corner kick was taken to no avail while committing 4 fouls (including 2 handballs). The Internationals would take 5 shots on goal, including a couple of hards shots which either went high over the cross-bar or blocked/cleared out while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides) and the half ended, 0-0. The Red Devils had the strong wind at their backs in the second half, but the Internationals defenders again kept the Red Devils from taking any shots on goal, although they managed 1 unsuccessful corner kick while committing 4 fouls (including a YC shown to #8 and YC to #18 for dissent). The Internationals would shoot 5 times on goal and setup 3 corner kicks while committing 6 fouls (including 1 handball). At about the 21 minute mark off of a CK situation, Skylar made a short pass to Vitalis who passed back to Skylar who then launched a service into the box and after a flurry of activity to control the ball by both teams, Gerald was able to find and strike the ball into the net for the Internationals' 1st goal. At about the 32 minute mark, Brian rcvd a pass in the middle around 35 yards out center, dribbled forward to about the 18 yard line and was looking to pass off but finding no one open, turned and fired a left-footed hard blast high over the defenders and the GK's outstretched hands into the upper net for Inter's 2nd goal, and the match ended several minutes later, 2-0, Internationals.

5 May '07. On a cloudy and breezy day at the MD SoccerPlex, the Internationals played its other good friends from VA, GFA 91 Crew. Most contests in the past between the Crew and Internationals (Inter Bethesda) were usually played tight and intense, and today's match was right on par. In the first half, the Internationals had the slight wind at their backs and would control play for most of the half. Inter's strong defense held the Crew to just two shots on goal and one corner kick which all were unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls (including 1 handball). The Internationals managed 5 shots on goal and no corners while committing 6 fouls (including 1 handball and a couple of questionable offsides). At about the 8 minute mark, on a counter attack, Vitalis rcvd a pass on the right side near midfield and as 2-3 defenders quickly closed, he deftly dribbled out of harms way and streaked up to the Crew's goal area about 20 yards right of center and launched a hard shot at goal which was deflected backwards by a Crew defender towards goal where Gerald was in perfect position and alertly flicked in the only goal. In the second half, the wind picked up at the Crew's backs and their offensive intensity picked up as well, playing in Inter's side for much of the half. The Crew would take 7 shots on goal of which 6 went awry and 1 hard shot which Joe made a great stop/save, and 1 unsuccessful corner kick off of another questionable call on what appeared to be a good save by Joe in stopping a ball from rolling past the end line. The Crew's defense held the Internationals to just 3 shots on goal and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful while committing 10 fouls (including 3 offsides), and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.

30 Apr. '07. The brackets and schedule for the 2007 Memorial Day event have been set with the Potomac Division comprised of (12) top D1 teams from Region I-II, and the Chesapeake Division made up of (16) strong teams from D1-D2. The Internationals have been placed in the Potomac Division as follows: Black Group Falls Church Premier AC 91 White (VA) COSA Express (OH-S) HBC Flames (NY-E) Potomac Internationals (MD) Red Group Freestate Titans (MD) Samba TTP (CT) Richmond Strikers Elite (VA) Albertson 91 Academy (NY-E) White Group Metro FC Rapids 91 (OH-S) Potomac Cougars 92 (MD) LSTS FC (NJ) BRYC '91 (VA)