Bethesda Internationals

1 Apr. '07. With 5 key players absent for today's 1st game of the NCSL Spring 2007 season, including the GK, and 3 starting defenders and 1 center-mid due to ODP and school rugby trips to Argentina, school band trip to Atlanta and family trip to Florida, Ebo valiantly filled in as GK on the cloudy, windy and chilly day at the MD SoccerPlex. Despite the absence of the 5 players, the Internationals controlled the first half of play into the wind, and the defense stymied the Predators holding them to just 2 shots on goal which went awry while committing 4 fouls, including a YC shown to #6 for a hard foul on Marcus. The Internationals would fire 4 times on goal and create 3 corner kick opportunities but would finish only once while committing 8 fouls. At the 27 minute mark, Skylar passed a ball from the mid-center area over to Gerald on the right at about 30-35 yards out, who dribbled 1-2 steps to his left in open space and launched a hard, high shot over the GK's outstretched hands into the upper net and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. The 2nd half belonged to the Predators, who intensified their play, pressuring and moving quicker to the ball, shooting 7 times on goal while committing 7 fouls. The Predators managed to break through the right side of the back line and scored twice at the 7 minute and 24 minute marks. Just two minutes later, a nice pass upfield into the center of the Internationals side around 20-25 yards out was collected by Sam who deftly maneuvered around the defenders into open space and struck a high, arcing ball past Ebo into the right side of the net for the Predators' 3rd goal. The Internationals would manage 6 shots and 2 corner kick opportunities but could only finish once more while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides which was incredulously called during a throw-in by the Internationals, but in retrospect may have been a belated call from the center ref acknowledging the AR for an earlier infraction seconds earlier). At the 28 minute mark, on a counter attack, Martin pushed upfield, rcvd a pass and sent the ball into the goal mouth where Ben was in good position to tap in an easy goal, but the Internationals were unable to realize the equalizer goal during the next 12 minutes and the match ended, 3-2, Predators. Congratulations, MSC Predators!

25 Mar. '07. Due to apparently more rainfall in the Howard County/Baltimore area than further south in the DC area on Friday which closed the fields on Saturday, the U15 Premier division was relegated from the much anticipated new Bermuda grass pitch at Howard County CC to a bumpy/clumpy, short-field of a cow pasture at the North Point Government Center in Dundalk, MD, although the skies were clear and sunny but with strong winds. In the first match, the Internationals faced the Montgomery Premier United Panthers (PA-E), and controlled play for most of the match with the wind at their backs. Inter's strong defense limited the Panthers to just two shots on goal which went awry while committing two fouls and a yellow card shown to #33 for USB. Inter would shoot 8 times on goal and created 4 corner kick opportunities while committing 3 fouls. At the 4 minute mark, Skylar sent a nice corner kick into the box about 4-5 yards out center where Nicholas timed his jump and headed in a strike into the net for the 1st goal. At about the 7 minute mark, Skylar crossed another good ball into the box and Nicholas again timed his leap to head the ball but it banged off the cross bar back to Nicholas who then headed it in directly at the GK who deflected it out to Ben who alertly headed in the 2nd goal. Around the 14 minute mark, Ben sent a ball upfield which was missed by the center back and about to roll left of goal and beyond the end line, when Scott streaked up to collect ball and deftly made a soft, short pass to Skylar who was racing to the goal and tapped in the 3rd goal of the half. In the second half, Inter completely stymied the Panthers, holding them to no shots or corners while committing 3 fouls, including a hard foul from behind on Vitalis who was dirbbling towards goal and a YC was shown to #4. Credit the Panthers for keeping up the pressure and holding Inter to just two shots on goal which went awry and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful, while committing 2 fouls. End of match, 3-nil, Inter. In the second match, Inter played the Hockessin Clash (DE) -- old Concord (DE 2006 Finalist?). Again, with the wind at their backs at kickoff, Inter would control play for most of the match. Inter's strong D also stymied the Clash and held them to no shots or corners while committing 4 fouls, and a YC was shown to #22 for USB. Inter would shoot 6 times on goal and create 1 corner kick opportunity while committing 3 fouls (including 1 offsides). At about the 20 minute mark, Patrick sent a nice long ball upfield into the box where Nicholas once again timed a perfectly struck header ball into the net for Inter's only score of the match. In the second half, the Clash would manage 1 shot on goal and 1 corner kick which were unsuccessful while committing 2 fouls. The Clash would keep up the pressure and held Inter to just two shots on goal and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful, while committing 6 fouls, and the match ended, 1-0, Inter.

24 Mar. '07. On the heels of The Jefferson Cup being canceled last weekend, Mother Nature again played havoc with the Madness tournament and dumped enough rain during the night to form standing water on the poorly drained fields, including the new bermuda grass fields at Howard County Community College. Two shortened games of 50 minutes will be played within each group tomorrow at North Point Government Center in Dundalk, MD.

17 Mar. '07. Several families endured an almost 4hr. drive down to Richmond in mostly snail-paced, bumper-to-bumper traffic in moderate rain, while others waited to travel later at night hoping for lighter traffic and less precipitation. During check-in/Registration at 6:00pm, the tournament officials could not advise any details on whether the tournament would be truncated or canceled, but just 1 hour later while some were attempting to check in at their hotels around 7pm, it was learned that the tournament was in fact canceled for several age groups except U17, U16, U14 and U10. The Internationals and no doubt every other team, including teams from Texas and Canada, are very disappointed in not being able to play in this prestigious tournament but look forward to returning next year and hope that mother nature will be more cooperative...

1 Mar. '07. After registering as an US Club Soccer team, the Internationals applied and were accepted into its first US Club Soccer tournament event, the National Cup VI Regionals E in VA Beach, 30 Jun. - 3 Jul. The team is looking forward to some strong competition from those other top US Club Soccer teams participating which it may have not faced in previous USYSA tournaments (unless they also registered as an USYSA team for eligibility to participate).