Bethesda Internationals

29 Apr. '07. After a fierce contest with FCH AC 91W at the MD SoccerPlex yesterday, the Internationals were back in action the next day at the SoccerPlex on a mostly sunny but moderately windy day. The Internationals once again faced its sister team, Potomac Cougars 92, just one week after the MD State Cup Round 2 match, which the Internationals prevailed, 3-1, but the Cougars 92 were up for the challenge today to avenge the loss last weekend. With the cross wind at their backs in the 1st half, the Internationals would launch 4 shots on goal, including two hard blasts by Ebo that unluckily hit the cross-bar and deflected downward and outward from the net at about the 3 minute mark and another later in the half which was negated by an offsides call, and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 7 fouls (including 2 offsides and 2 handballs). The Internationals strong defense held the Cougars 92 to just a single shot on goal which sailed wide and no corners while committing 8 fouls, and the half ended scoreless. With the cross wind at their backs in the 2nd half, the Cougars 92 stepped up their attacking and would manage 3 shots on goal, one of which was a dangerous free kick opportunity after a trip/foul by Nicholas just outside the box near the 18 yard line; however, the Cougars 92 were unable to finish while committing 7 fouls (including a YC on Erik for USB/language). The Cougars 92 defenders played strong as well, limiting the Internationals to just two shots on goal, one of which went wide and another which was successful but then belatedly negated by an offsides call by the AR. At about the 20 minute mark, Vitalis rcvd a pass on the right side, dribbled upfield and passed to Roque on the right side of the box who then passed inside to Gerald near the 2-3 yard line who then tapped in the goal, but the side AR called offsides several moments later seemingly after much Cougars 92 parental protest was heard from the sidelines. The Internationals committed 8 fouls (including 2 offsides and 1 handball), and the match ended in a scoreless draw, 0-0.

28 Apr. '07. The last two matches of Round 2 were played at the Harford Polo Grounds with the Freestate Titans easily handling the HCSL Maryland Football Club, 7-0, and the Bethesda Roadrunners edging the Baltimore Bays92, 1-0. The Internationals will face the tough Titans on 19th May, while the Roadrunners will play the surging Westminster Black Wolves in its first entry into State Cup Semi's.

28 Apr. On a mostly cloudy day with a moderate cross-wind at the MD SoccerPlex, the Internationals played its good friends from Virginia, FCH Premier AC 91W. FCH's starting GK was out of action with a broken nose and another player likewise with a broken arm but several Inter defenders were also absent due to injury or other conflicts, including Ben due to a concussion at SFS lacrosse on Thursday, and Mati & Martin, due to high school rugby and lacrosse events, as well as Roque due to Confirmation of younger brother. No matter, the Internationals would play superb soccer today from start to end even though just finishing with one, winning goal. In the first half, the FCH AC 91W would manage just 2 shots on goal, including a free kick from 30+ yards out after a foul by Inter, which both went awry, while committing 6 fouls (including 1 handball). Inter quickly setup 5 shots on goal within the first 6 minutes, including a hard blast by V from about 25 yards out which went directly into the GK's chest and then to the turf but was quickly scooped up before Inter could clean up. The Internationals would shoot twice more and setup 1 corner kick opportunity but could not finish while committing 7 fouls (including 1 offsides and 2 handballs), and the half ended scoreless. In the second half, FCH AC 91W increased its attacking/counter-attacking, managing 4 shots on goal, including a header in the box which almost slipped past Joe into the net but went wide just outside the right post, and a missed opportunity by the normally hard-shooting and accurate Torian who rcvd a pass in the box, turned and squibbed a shot towards goal which luckily went wide. The FCH AC 91W committed 5 fouls (including 1 handball), with a hard foul by #14 (who was shown a resultant YC) from behind on Skylar who was dribbling towards goal near the 20 yard center area. The Internationals continued to play superb soccer, passing and moving the ball well upfield, setting up 9 shots on goal and 1 corner kick but would finish only once while committing 10 fouls (including 3 handballs, 1 offsides) and a YC on Brian for a hard foul as well as a YC on Joe/GK for USB in questioning official as to why Brian couldn't come back in after he went off injured with a couple of minutes left in the match. At about the 37 minute mark, Gerald rcvd a pass on the right and out-maneuvered the defenders all the way to the end line where he then crossed the ball from right to left into the box to Scott who easily tapped in the winning goal from 2-3 yards out, and the match ended several minutes later, 1-0, Internationals.

22 Apr. '07. On another fabulous, sunny day out at the Harford Polo Grounds, the Internationals faced the MSC Predators, another strong contender in NCSL/D1 who prevailed over MSC Revolution, 2-1, in Round 2 action the day before. In earlier NCSL spring play, the Internationals fell to the tough Predators, 2-3, but were determined not to incur the same results today. The Predators started play in the first half with a moderate cross-wind at their backs but the Internationals' strong defense held the Predators to no shots or corner kicks taken while committing 8 fouls. Although the Internationals created numerous scoring opportunities, including 5 shots on goal and 4 corner kicks while committing 5 fouls (including a YC shown to Patrick for a hard foul, 1 hand ball & 1 offsides), the Internationals were unable to find the back of the net, and the half ended, 0-0. In the second half, the wind shifted and was again at the backs of the Predators, but they were limited to just two shots on goal, no corners while committing 3 fouls; however, as was similarly eerie to yesterday's match with the Cougars 92, the opposing team would strike first on a long, high service into the box which Joe might've grabbed before a Predator was able to jump up and head strike the ball into the net at the 13 minute mark. The Internationals were unable to break through with an equalizer goal until about the 34 minute mark when Vitalis was fouled in the box. Although the GK gamely stopped the shot, it luckily ricocheted back out to Vitalis who easily tapped in the equalizer goal. Just two minutes later, off of a counter attack, Scott launched a perfectly placed long pass to a streaking Vitalis on the left about 25 yards from goal. Vitalis dribbled towards goal, beating the defenders and fired in the go-ahead goal about 6 yards out past the diving GK, and the match ended several minutes later, 2-1, Internationals. The Internationals advance to Semi-Final action on 19 May, and will play the winner of the Freestate Titans vs. HCSL Maryland Football Club. In other action, the Beth. Roadrunners bested its club team, Beth. Ajax, 2-1, and will play the Bal. Bays 92 (winner of that match will play the Westminster Black Wolves in the other Semi-Final game).

21 Apr. '07. Off of a BYE in Round 1 last week, the Internationals first State Cup play action in Round 2 pitted them against its sister team, Cougars 92, out at the Harford Polo Grounds in Jarretsville, MD, on a splendid, mild spring day flooded with bright sunshine. The Cougars 92 advanced from Round 1 action last week, besting the Chesapeake SC, 2-0, and recently won the MSC Madness tournament at the SoccerPlex this past March, and is a strong contender in NCSL D1. With a moderate cross-wind to their backs in the first half, the Cougars played hard committing 7 fouls but were limited to just one header shot on goal by Nat which was easily caught by Joe and a single corner kick which went awry. Erik rcvd a YC for a hard foul on Nicholas. Likewise, the Internationals played hard but committed just 4 fouls (including 1 offsides), but could only muster one strong shot by Vitalis which went straight to and caught by the Cougars' fine GK, Stephan, and the half ended, 0-0. The Internationals would have the slight advantage of the cross-wind in the second half, as well as playing against a depleted squad of 10 Cougars after after a 2nd YC and automatic RC/ejection to Erik for a hard foul from behind on Vitalis just 2 minutes into the 2nd half. However, the Cougars would strike the first goal at the 16 minute mark off of a good service by Freddis into the box against the wind which Joe might've grabbed but Nick jumped up to head the ball away and it was not cleared far enough away, dropping to the feet of a Cougar who easily tapped in the goal. The Cougars would also take one corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls. The Internationals would shoot 4 times on goal and created 1 corner kick opportunity, finishing 3 times while committing 7 fouls (including 3 offsides). At about the 28 minute mark, Ebo launched a long ball from about 35 yards out to the left and into the box where Ben chested/controlled the ball and passed over to Scott who was streaking in towards the left side of the goal and deftly struck in the equalizer goal. Just two minutes later, Scott assisted the 2nd goal with a nice pass up front to Vitalis who slammed the ball to the net to put the Internationals up, 2-1. At about the 36 minute mark, Ebo sent another long ball up top to a streaking Scott and the Cougars defender, Max, made a short pass-back ball to the GK but Scott raced to the ball and collected it before it got to the GK, and then juked around the GK to tap in the 3rd goal and the match ended, 3-1, Internationals. The Internationals will face the MSC Predators who bested the MSC Revolution, 2-1, in Round 3 action tomorrow.