Bethesda Internationals

20 Nov. '05. Inter's home Bethesda Soccer Club hosted the 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Tournament event with the U14 boys playing out at the nice bermuda-turf Freeman Fields at the Olney Community Park in Olney, MD. The 1st day of the event found early morning frost on the fields -- more so on some than others, and it was more so on one side of the field on which Inter played the first match against its NCSL/D1 friends, Freestate Titans (MD), at 7:45AM. The frost eventually burned off later in the morning -- although the day remained on the cool side with low 50's temps and breezy winds. The first half was a lackluster performance by Inter, as they unable to break through the Titans' defenders for any shots on goal, but managed just a single corner kick while committing 3 fouls (2 offsides). The Titans were able to penetrate thru Inter's defense and setup 2 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful, and committed 4 fouls (1 offsides). Players from both teams were occasionally slipping/falling on the frosty sideline. In the 2nd half, the Titans stepped up its offensive attack, shooting 4 times on goal and 1 corner kick with 2 fouls. Nat made two brilliant saves on 2 hard shots taken by the Titans. Inter was able to penetrate the Titans defense to setup just two shots on goal and 1 corner kick which resulted in Inter's only score. At about the 14 minute mark, Skylar launched a perfectly placed CK from the right corner into the center of the goal mouth near the goal line where Mati timed his jump up to strike in the header goal. But, just 4 minutes later, the Titans scored the equalizer goal off of a free kick from about 30 yards out to the right and caught Inter's defenders off guard as a barrage of Titans players ran through towards the goal line and one Titans player was able to strike the ball in the net past Nat. End of match, 1-1. In the second match on the adjacent field at 12:45PM, Inter faced its old friends and rivals from NCSL/D1, RFC91 (VA), now playing in the VCCL. It was a classic match between the two teams with both sides pushing the ball well against the other and backed up with strong defense. RFC setup 3 shots on goal and 1 corner kick opportunity with 3 fouls, while Inter could manage just 2 shots on goal with 2 fouls. At about the 10 minute mark, RFC countered with a long through-ball to KC up top, and it was foot race towards the goal with Nicky tightly contesting the speedy KC, trying to tackle the ball away, but alas, KC broke through as Nat came out and sent a strike into the net for RFC's only game-winning goal. In the second half, Inter's defenders shut down RFC and held them to no shots on goal or corners while RFC committed just one foul. Inter stepped up its offense and fired 8 shots on goal with 2 corner kicks but to no avail as all went awry or were stopped. End of match, 1-0, RFC91. The 3rd match on the next sunny/warmer and pleasant day found Inter matched up against the strong Lower Merion Velez (PAE), whom Inter last played at the Jimmy Dilenno Kickoff at Kirkwood, DE, Labor Day 2002. Velez edged Inter in that match, 3-2, but both teams have undergone significant changes to its roster since then. In the first half, both Velez and Inter took 4 shots on goal with Inter managing 2 corner kicks. Velez committed 7 fouls while Inter committed 5 fouls. At abouit the 15 minute mark after a foul by Velez, Skylar launched a nice freek kick into the goal mouth from about 35 yards out to the right, where Nicholas timed his jump up to head in a strike to the back of the net past the GK. In the second half, both teams attacked and counter-attacked, back and forth but Velez could only manage just 1 shot on goal, albeit an effective game-tieing shot -- and 2 corner kicks, while Inter shot just twice on goal with 1 corner kick. Both teams played physically and committed 4 fouls each. With about 3 minutes left to play, Inter missed an attempt to clear out a ball from around 18 yards out to the left and a Velez player collected the ball, dribbled towards the goal line and then sent a nice pass across the goal mouth to a Velez teammate near the right side of the goal mouth about 2-3 yards out and kicked in the easy goal past Nat. End of game, 1-1, tie.

13 Nov. '06. Inter trekked down to Raleigh, NC, this past weekend for its 2nd consecutive participation in the highly competitive CASL Shootout. The weather was great with mild temps in the upper 60's and sunny/partly cloudy skies, but the overplayed fields at the WRAL Soccer Center were poor with many sand-filled depressions and some fields looking like beach soccer pitches! After playing well in its first foray into this premier event last year but losing all (3) tight matches to First Coast Kyx (FL), 0-1, Concord Fire Elite, 0-1 (GA) and North Meck Storm, 1-2, Inter came expecting to once again play some very competitive teams and improve its showing from last year -- and, was not disappointed. With some minor changes to its roster up front including the addition of Vitalis A. and the loan of two guest players, Denzel P./U15 (up) DCST Eagles & Glen V./U14 Potomac Plague, to fill in for two injured players, Marcus B. & Cameron K., Inter faced its new friends from New Jersey, SSC Munich, this year's NJ champs, whom it prevailed over in the recent Washington Fall Classic during Labor Day weekend, 1-0. The match unfolded in eirily similar fashion as the Fall Classic event, with Inter possessing/controlling the ball for the first half of the 1st half, but then momentum shifted to SSC for the remainder of the first half. Inter attempted 4 shots on goal, created 3 corner kick opportunities and committed 5 fouls while SSC Munich shot 3 times on goal & committed 3 fouls, and the match was scoreless at half-time. In the second half, both teams moved the ball against the other and took 3 shots on goal each. Inter created 2 corner kick situations while committing 2 fouls, and SSC created 1 corner kick but committed 5 fouls. Nat saved a hard shot from SSC at about the 8-10 minute into the second half, but was not seriously threatened for the remainder. After a foul by SSC at about the 26 minute mark, Skylar launched a nice free kick from about 25-30 yards out to the center and it dropped into the box 2-3 yards near the goal line where Mati timed his leap and headed in the winning goal past the keeper. End of match in favor of Inter, 1-0. The second match found Inter playing the strong Vardar Red team from Michigan, this year's State Finalist and last year's Champ. Vardar is big and fast up front and worked harder/more determined to come to and possess the ball quicker than Inter. Vardar took just 2 shots on goal in the 1st half, created 2 corner kick opportunities and committed 8 fouls, limiting Inter to just 1 shot on goal; and, Inter, too, committed 8 fouls. At about the 5 minute mark, Vardar sent a ball upfield to a quick forward on the left who collected the ball about 35 yards out and streaked in towards the goal as Inter's defenders were unable to get back into position quick enough and the hard shot was rifled into the net to the right of Nat's outstretched arms. At about the 14 minute mark, Vitalis received a nice pass from (?) upfield on the left side around 30+ yards out and similar to the Vardar goal, Vitalis raced up, turned in towards the goal and on the run fired a hard left-footed shot past the GK into the net for the equalizer goal. In the second half, Vardar kept up its physcial and aggressive play, but managed only 2 shots on goal and 1 corner kick opportunity, and again committed 8 fouls with yellow cards being awarded to 2 of its players, #3 for a hard foul on Mati (who could not play the 3rd match the next day due to a swollen knee) and #7 for running into the GK/Nat. Inter played the Vardar team evenly in the intense second half, and managed 3 shots on goal (2 DK's/headers) and 1 corner kick, but could not convert, while committing 2 fouls. With about 2 mintues left to play in the match, Vardar countered an Inter attack and moved the ball upfield to the left side but Inter was unable to challenge/tackle the ball away in time as another Vardar player recieved a short pass and dribbled towards the center of the goal mouth, evading Inter defenders and then turned to fire in a strike past Nat from about 18+ yards out to the center. End of match, 2-1, Vardar. In the 3rd match, Inter played the Littleton United White team from Colorado, this year's Semi-Finalist. Nat came out to play in the field and Ben took over as GK. The United White team were pretty tall, worked hard but not quite as physical/strong as the Vardar Red team, however, but they played aggressively and determinedly. In the 1st half, Inter took 4 shots on goal with 2 corner kicks while committing 6 fouls. The United White was limited to just 2 shots on goal with 1 corner kick while committing 5 fouls. At about the 10 minute mark, after a foul, Skylar sent a left-footed free kick into the goal mouth about 6 yards out where Tomiwa timed his leap and headed in a strike past the GK. But, just 5 minutes later, the United White managed the equalizer goal and the half ended in a 1-1 tie. In the second half, the physicality picked up with both teams committing 10 fouls each. Ben made a nice stop/save on a nice 40 yard free kick by United White. Inter shot 3 times on goal and could not manage any corner kick opportunities, while the United White took just 2 shots on goal and setup 2 corner kick situations. At about the 20 minute mark, an United White defender passed back the ball to the GK after the defender was being pressured but the GK whiffed the attempted boot away and the ball rolled towards the goal line. Glen and the GK raced back towards the goal line and Glen was able to beat the GK to slide/tap in the ball over the goal line for the leaing goal, 2-1. However, 5 minutes latger, the United White managed a corner kick situation and perfectly lofted the ball high into the goal mouth near the goal line and Ben stretched up his hands/fingers to stop or flick the ball away but it found its way into the net for the tieing goal. End of match, 2-2.

06 Nov. '05. On a mostly cloudy day with strong winds once again but with warm temps at the MD Soccer Plex, Inter battled the always tough FCH Premier AC 91W team for the 2nd time in two months. After losing to Inter, 1-4, in the Champ match of the Washington Fall Classic during Labor Day weekend, the FCH Premier team appeared to be inspired to avenge that loss and to solidify its 3rd Place standing with a victory over Inter. After losing the coin toss, Inter kicked off into the wind but the FCH Premier worked hard with its defenders challenging/pressuring Inter, counter-attacking and setting up 3 shots on goal with 1 corner kick in the first half while committing 5 fouls. Inter managed 5 shots on goal which did not find the net and created 3 corner kick opportunities while committing no fouls but could not finish. At about the 18 minute mark, a ball in the air around mid-center to the right was challenged simultaneoulsy by Inter and FCH Premier and, unluckily, it was flicked/headed forward towards Inter's goal mouth area about 25 yards to the right where it landed at the feet of Torian who quickly turned and blasted in a left-footed strike into the left side of the net past Nat who had no chance to stop the rocket shot with the wind. Inter had the wind at their backs in the second half, but the FCH Premier defenders allowed just 3 shots on goal -- although Inter created 3 corner kick opportunties, the magical header goals delivered in previous matches didn't find the net today. Inter committed 3 fouls while FCH Premier committed 6 fouls, and made 3 hard shots on goal. Nat made two brilliant saves, one on a high hard shot towards the upper center net and punched/deflected it over the crossbar, and stopped another a hard shot dead on goal. Nat also alertly came out of the box to challenge/kick away a ball that was sent long over the defense for a potential break-away 1v1 attempt. Congratulations to FCH Premier for up-ending Inter and earning 3rd Place in D1 behind Inter, and Congratulations to the RRs who regained the lead and D1 Championship after Inter's short-lived lead after last week's results.

2 Nov. '05. Brackets were posted today with (8) premier teams in the Potomac division and (12) top teams set for the Chesapeake: Potomac/Blue Group: - Reston FC 91 (VA Champs) - Freestate Titans (MD Champs) - Inter Bethesda (MD Finalist) - Lower Merion Velez (PAE Semi-Finalist) Potomac/Green Group: - Bethesda Roadrunners (MD Semi-Finalist) - South Central Premier Storm (CT Champs) - FC Delco U14 (PAE Finalist) - FCH Premier AC 91W (VA Semi-Finalist) Sat., 11/19: 9:00AM, v. Freestate Titans, Olney #6 12:45PM, v. RFC 91, Olney #5 Sun., 11/20: 10:15AM, v. Lower Merion Velez, Olney #6 2:30PM, 1st Blue v. 1st Green, Olney #4 Chesapeake/Black: - Hota Academy 91 (NYE) - Potomac Cougars 92 (MD) - Lehigh Valley United (PAE) Chesapeake/Blue: - MSC United (MD) - Albertson 91 Academy (NYE) - SAC United Premier (MD) Chesapeake/Green: - LDC United Rocks (PAE) - Baltimore Bays 92 (MD) - ABGC Red Devils (Va) Chesapeake/Red: - Far Post U14 (VT) - Bethesda Ajax (MD) - Westchester United Knights (PAE)

30 Oct. '05. After yesterday's fiercely windy match at Muldoon's farm against the McLean Thunder, Inter traveled to play our friends and MD State Champs 2005, the Freestate Titans, at Andy Brown field in Bowie. Playing the Titans has become a rivalry of late with the Titans prevailing last Spring 2005 league play (U14/D1), 1-0, and in the MD State Cup Championship 2005, 1-0, as well as nipping Inter, 1-0, on a cumulative corner kick ruling in the Bethesda Thanksgiving 2004 semi-final after a scoreless match and 2 scoreless OT periods. Previously, Inter prevailed in the Fall 2004 league play (U13/D1), 1-0, after tieing in the Spring 2004 league play (U12/D1), 1-1, and prevailed at the Columbus Day 2003 tournament in Virginia Beach, 3-1, as well as Spring 2003 league play (U11/D1), 3-1. Today, the weather was fabulous with sunny skies and temps in the upper 60's, but the Andy Brown field was far from fabulous and was very narrow (about 60 yards) & quite long (about 130 yards) -- and certainly was not an ideal width for movement of the ball into space and Inter's style of play. The fist half was a hotly contested match with both teams moving the ball upfield into each other's side, but each team's strong defense was able to stop most of the attacks and turn them into counter-attacks -- back and forth. Inter's defenders limited the Titans to just 1 shot on goal & 1 corner kick and the Titans committed 6 fouls. Inter also committed 6 fouls but took 4 shots on goal that went wide or were stopped by their fine keeper. At about the 27 minute mark, the Titans cleared a long ball upfield into Inter's goal mouth and it took a weird bounce up and as Ben tried to chest it away, the ball hit his upper arm in the box and the Titans were awarded a PK. The Titans player, Eric, taking the PK appeared to move to his right and then shoot to the left side of goal but Nat guessed correctly and moved to his left to stop the hard shot and batted the ball away from goal which was then cleared out by Philip. The 1st half ended scoreless. Inter seemed to be energized from Nat's great PK save and played with much more confidence and determination in the second half, taking 4 shots on goal and creating 3 corner kick opportunities and committing just 3 fouls. And, the Titans played as true champions, valiantly battling Inter back and forth, shooting 4 times on goal which went wide or high of goal, and created 1 corner kick while committing 5 fouls. But, the tide turned at about the 7 minute mark when Sam collected a cleared out ball from the Titans around 22 yards and flicked it forward into the goal area about 8-10 yards out to the left where Vitalis collected the ball, turned and fired in a hard, low shot to the goal. The keeper momentarily stopped the ball but the shot was too strong and it passed through his fingers into the net for the 1st goal. Just 2 minutes later at about the 9 minute mark, Skylar launched a perfectly placed corner kick into the center of the goal mouth about 4-5 yards out and Ben timed his jump up to head in a beautiful strike into the net for the 2nd goal. At about the 18 minute mark, on another counter-attack, Nicholas received a pass upfield to the right, dribbled forward to about 30 yards out and launched a perfect serve into the goal mouth about 6 yards out where Ebo collected the ball, turned and fired in the 3rd goal. The Titans broke through the defense on several occasions and fired some hard shots on goal which went wide. Inter's defenders were outstanding in their strong play in limiting the Titans from taking any easy shots and effectively clearing the ball out to initiate the many counter-attacks by Inter. End of match, 3-0, Inter.