News and Announcements
20 Nov. '04. On the heels of 3 well-played games against Region III opponents at the Raleigh Shootout the previous weekend, Inter faced its old friends from the VCCL, Richmond Strikers Orange on Sat., 11/20. At last year's BSC 2003, Inter prevailed over the Orange, 3-1, in the preliminary round but the RSK Orange advanced to the final on points -- and were bested by the now defunct Spirit United Kixx (reformed as FC Delco U13 Demons). At the opening whistle, Inter came out of the starting gate and launched a furious assault, shooting on goal 7 times (2 corners) compared to RSK Orange's single shot -- but effective -- and 1 CK. After a foul by RSK at about the 2-3 minute mark, Roque sent a nicely placed ball into the goal mouth from about 25 yards out to the right where Ben was well positioned and jumped up to head in a great strike to the net. Towards the end of the 1st half, RSK sent a long ball beyond the defense, and Nat cleared the ball out but not far enough away while nearby Inter defenders hesitated slightly in further clearing the ball away as a charging RSK player managed to win the ball and put in the tieing goal. In the 2nd half, RSK stepped up its attack and managed 3 shots on goal and 4 CK's but could not finish, while Inter managed 5 shots on goal without finding the back of the net.
In the 2nd match against its first encounter with LDC United Rocks, Inter battled this very good team from PA-E fairly even in the first half until about the 21st minute when Roque sent a ball into the goal mouth and found Nicky who kicked in Inter's only goal. In the 2nd half, LDC played much more physcially and with greater determination, taking 3 shots on goal while Inter took 2 shots on goal. At about the 13 minute mark of the 2nd half, LDC sent a long ball past Inter defenders who were pressing up a bit too much and a LDC player managed to collect the ball and make a nice shot to the right of Nat into the net to tie the match, 1-1.
On Sun., 11/21, as there was a 3-way tie between Inter, LDC and RSK, Inter advanced to the Semi-Final match based upon least cards (none) compared to 2 for LDC and 1 for RSK in the previous preliminary matches. Inter faced its friends from NCSL/D1, the Freestate Titans, whom Inter prevailed over in regular season play, 1-0. The Titans had just returned from Raleigh the weekend before as a Finalist in the Champion-B group, losing to North Meck Storm. The Titans controlled the 1st half shooting 5 times on goal and took 5 corner kicks with 3 fouls while Inter managed just 1 shot on goal, 1 CK and also committed 3 fouls. In the 2nd half, Inter took 3 shots on goal while the Titans took just 1 shot on goal, and the match was scoreless at the end of regulation. After 2 x 5 minute OT periods, the match remained scoreless, although Inter played more intensely in the 2nd 5 minute OT period, shooting 5 times on goal but could not finish -- while the Titans took just 1 SOG. The Titans were awarded the victory based upon the greater number of CK's (5) compared to Inter (2). The Titans would face MSC United in the Championship match, and played the mighty Green Machine well only to lose, 0-1, on a nicley placed DK by Martine from about 35+ yards out early in the 2nd half.
14 Nov. '04. On its first entrance into the prestigious Raleigh Shootout in Cary, NC, Inter families first battled heavy rain all the way down from DC to NC. Fortunately, the rain ended in the early morning of the 1st day of the tournament, and the games on Sat., 11/13, were shortened to 2 x 25 minute halves. The Inter players battled 3 tough teams from Region III.
In its first match of the Champion B division on poorly sloped fields marked with hard-to-see blue lines, Inter faced the formidable First Coast KYX (2nd/FL) team who won their previous 8 leauge matches by 73:6, or 9 goals average per match. And, it certainly appeared that the KYX would work towards achieving that average against Inter, as at about the 4 minute mark, 1 of the KYX's two swift/skillful forwards managed to move the ball thru Inter's defenders and strike a hard shot into the net past Nat at about the 4' minute mark. However, several minutes later, the same player fouled Inter (Pablo?), and since he didn't move far enough away fast enough, the official promptly awarded him a yellow followed by another yellow moments later since the player again would not move away fast enough, and was ejected from the game for unsportsmanship? It should've been a non-call and most unfortunate for the talented KYX player.
Then, just before the shortened first half, another foul was called on the KYX and as Skylar sent the ball flying high into the net over the GK's finger tips, the official blew the whistle for halftime. When asked at halftime why the goal was not allowed, the official said he told Skylar that there was no time left, and to shoot the ball. But, just as Skylar kicked the ball, the official blew his whistle and stated afterwards that Skylar did not kick the ball within 6 seconds. Incredibly bizarre!?
With a player down, Inter played the KYX even in the first half, shooting 3 shots on goal while the KYX managed just 3 shots on goal as well but with one in the net. The KYX commited 5 fouls while Inter committed 6, and both teams did not manage any corner kicks. In the 2nd half, Inter appeared to play more strongly and made 5 attempts on goal and CK's but could not finish, and committed while the KYX shot 4 times and 1 CK with just 1 foul, and the matched ended, 0-1, in favor of the KYX.
In the second match on an even more severely sloped field, Inter faced the Concorde Fire Elite (3rd/GA). This team had a large and fast forward who collected a long ball sent upfield into the teeth of Inter's defenders, and simply blew by Inter's defense to strike in an easy goal past Nat at about 2-1/2 minutes into the match. But, Inter clearly was the more dominant team, shooting 5 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks compared to the Fire's single shot on goal, but effective. The Fire committed 5 fouls while Inter committed just 3. In the 2nd half, Inter again dominated the match, shooting 4 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks, but simply could not finish -- whilte the Fire could only manage a single direct kick/shot on goal and 2 CK's. The Fire committed 5 fouls while Inter committed just 4.
The 3rd match found Inter matched up with last year's winner of the Champion A division, North Meck Storm (3rd/NC). The first half was contested well by Inter and both teams moved the ball up and down the field with fierce counter-attacking and strong defense. After a foul by a Storm player at about the 23 minute mark, Skylar sent a DK shot from 20 yards out into the goal mouth where Roque collected the ball and struck in the 1st and only goal for Inter. About 5 minutes later, the Storm broke through Inter's defense and sent a hard shot to the goal and Nat was able to punch it out, however, it landed in an open area in the goal mouth not near to any Inter player and another nearby Storm player tapped it in to tie up the match, 1-1. Inter managed a total of 3 shots on goal and no CK's with 4 fouls, while North Meck shot twice on goal with 2 CK's and 4 fouls. In the 2nd half, North Meck tightened up its defense and allowed Inter just 1 shot on goal and no CK's with 2 fouls. At about the 23 minute mark of the 2nd half, North Meck sent a long ball to their fast forward who broke thru to score the 2nd and winning goal for the Storm. There were more than 10 fouls called on North Meck while Inter committed just 2, and the Storm's coach was tossed with red card for dissent/arguing a call around the 28 minute mark. Congratulations to the North Meck Storm, who ousted Inter's NCSL/D1 friends the very talented Freestate Titans for the Championship match, 4-1.
7 Nov. '04. On another splendid, sun-filled and warm day at the nice MD Soccer Plex fields, Inter dashed the hopes of the Potomac Cougars to stay alive in D1 by besting them 1-0. Inter controlled the tempo/pace of the 1st half from beginning, and at about the 4 minute mark, Nicholas sent a nice cross to Cameron about 4 yards out to the right of the goal, where he sent in a nice short/strong shot past the Cougars' excellent keeper into the net. Inter could manage only 3 shots on goal, while the Cougars made 2 attempts. Inter committed 3 fouls while the Cougars committed 6. The Cougars stepped up the intensity in the 2nd half but could manage only 3 shots on goal while Inter made 4 attempts -- 2 of which were sure goal situations but could not execute the finish successfully. Both teams commited 5 fouls each, and in the final 5 minutes, the Cougars launched successive counter-attacks and manufactured several corner kicks in the waning minutes (5 total in the 2nd half to Inter's single corner kick). Nat made two brilliant saves/punch outs of almost certain goals form the CK's. The Cougars are a hard-working, never-give-up team and had some hard luck befall them this season, and it is certain that they will be back to D1 next Fall 2005.
31 Oct. '04. On a bright, sunny and warm Halloween afternoon at Mitchellville Field in Bowie, Inter battled our good friends the Freestate Titans. From the opening bell/whistle, it was a heavyweight bout with both teams throwing punches and attacking/counter-attacking up and down the field. Inter shut down the Titans potent offense in the first half and did not allow any shots on goal, while Inter managed to take 8 shots (although the Titans managed 2 corner kicks to Inter's single CK). It was very physical with 8 fouls called on the Titans and 6 against Inter, and the match remained scoreless at the half. In the 2nd half, the Titans stepped up its attack and sent 4 balls towards Inter's goal along with 1 corner kick. Again, the 2nd half was plagued with fouls with 8 awarded to the Titans and 6 to Inter. At about the 33-34 minute mark, Nicky tackled the ball away from a Titan player on the attack and sent it forward to mid-field where Ebo collected the ball and dribbled straight/forward into the goal mouth about 10-12 yards and sent a nice short pass to Nicholas to the right of the goal about 5 yards out, where he quickly turned and fired in a laser shot on the ground past the GK to his right and into the net. A very nice goal with just 1-2 minutes left in the match. Hats off to the Titans -- an excellently coached team which Inter always enjoys playing!
27 Oct. '04. Inter has been placed in the Champion B Division/Group B and will play some very formdiable teams from Region III:
Group A Group B
FREE Titans (MD Inter Bethesda (MD)
Ann Arbor Arsenal (MI) North Meck Storm (NC)
Richmond Strikers Orange (VA) KYX (FL)
