Bethesda Internationals

24 Apr. '04. On a sunny and warm early morning, Inter faced the FESC Rangers in Round 2 of the MD State Cup Play at the Hagerstown Soccer Complex in Cearfoss, MD. Inter controlled the tempo of the match from the beginning, sending many balls up field and behind the defenders, enabling the forwards to make good runs and take numerous shots on goal. At about the 19th minute of the 1st half, Skylar passed a nice ball in between the defenders to Nick who received and then kicked the ball to the right of the keeper into the back of the net. With less than 30 seconds left in the 1st half, a penalty on the Rangers was called in the box and Patrick took a strong, low kick but unfortunately straight at the keeper who collected the ball for a nice save - end of 1st half, 1-0, Inter. In the 2nd half, Inter continued its control of the match, pushing the ball up field and behind the defenders. At about the 11th minute, Ben sent a great ball up field at about the 25 yards and center, where Nick collected the ball and fired in the 2nd goal to the left of the keeper. Several minutes later, Ben sent another great ball up field, about 20+ yards out and center, where Carsten collected the ball and fired in the 3rd goal to the left of the keeper. Inter's defenders played solid throughout the match and were able to stave off several good runs by the Rangers. End of match, 3-0, Inter. Credit the Rangers for a gallant effort, especially in not having their starting GK after suffering a leg fracture in the regular NCSL game against Inter on 17th Apr. Inter will face the Seneca Hawks in Round 3, Sun., 25th Apr., at Olney #3. The Hawks prevailed over the White Marsh SC Flames in their Round 2 match.

18 Apr. '04. On another sunny and June-like hot day with temps in the upper 80's, Inter travelled to Manassas to play the always tough MATT Crew. It was another hard fought match with both teams moving the ball up and down the field, launching shots on goal and creating corner kicks -- but ended up as missed opportunities for the most part for both teams, and the match was scoreless at the half. Much of the same play ensued in the second half and what looked like would be an eventual scoreless game at the end turned in Inter's favor with about 10 minutes left. A long ball was sent up over the Crew's defenders and while Nick was maing a break away run on the ball with two defenders in hot pursuit, the Crew's excellent keeper came out of the goal area to kick the ball away but unluckily for the Crew and luckily for Inter, he completely missed the ball, allowing Nick to collect the ball, dribble a few yards forward and then fire it into the empty net near the cross bar! A few minutes later, the Crew managed an attack that penetrated Inter's defenders on the right side and a Crew player sent a strong shot to the goal but Rob came out early to meet and stop the shot -- an outstanding save to secure the win for Inter!

17 Apr. '04. On a sunny, warm day with relatively calm winds out in the countryside of Frederick county at Carroll ES, Inter came to play, controlling the match from start to finish, firing off numerous shots on goal -- but unluckily sailing wide of goal or over the cross bar. Credit the Rangers for hanging tough, launching a number of counter-attacks but Inter's defenders were able to successfully stop the Rangers from penetrating and shooting any effective shots on goal. The match was scoreless at the half, and at about 25 minute of the second half, a long ball from Varun on the right was sent upfield in the middle at about 25+ yards out and Nat was able to deflect the ball in towards the right side of the goal mouth and Nick, being at the right place at the right time, struck the ball into the net. About 2 minutes later, another ball was sent up over the defenders and towards the goal. The Ranger's GK came out in an attempt to secure the ball at the same time that Carsten was attempting to slide kick the ball -- but both players collided and the Ranger's keeper stayed down in obvious pain and then was carried off the field. Hopefully, the Ranger's fine GK did not sustain any serious injury. Afterwards, inexplicably, the official belatedly awarded Carsten a red card for not stopping after a non-existent whistle was supposedly blown, and the game ended one minute later. A hollow win for Inter given that the Ranger's GK was injured and Carsten given an unfair red card. Inter will play the Rangers in Round 2 play of the MD State Cup next Saturday.

04 Apr. '04. Inter faced the resurgent Titans in its first game/home-opener of the new spring 2004 season at the nice SoccerPlex. Although the rain for the past few days had abated, the fields were soggy and slippery, and the wind was fierce with very strong gusts and chilly temp. The Titans had the wind at their back in the first half and kept the ball in Inter's half for about the first 5 minutes; however, Inter was able to counter attack and move the ball against the wind into the Titans' half on several occasions, but the match remained scorless at the half. In the second half with the wind at their backs, Inter kept the ball in the Titans' half but after about the 10 minute mark, the Titans sent a long ball upfield against the wind, which was not cleared out effectively by Inter. A Titans player collected the ball to the right of the goal box and close to the goal line but had no real clear angle to shoot; however, Rob came out to make an attempt to challenge the player who then crossed the ball to the left of Rob into the middle of the goal mouth where one of his teammates was able to tap it in beyond the Inter defenders scrambling back to defend the goal line vacated by Rob. Later, at about the mid-way point of the second half, Inter was awarded a DFK at about 25+ yards out to the right. Nick launched a nice ball into the goal mouth where a Titans player attempted to head it out, but it luckily ricocheted off of Mario who headed it directly into the net to the left of the surpised GK's hands. Congrats to the Titans for a hard fought match. Both teams were missing several of their key players in today's match.

03 Apr. '04. Although the area endured much rain during the past two days, the OBGC fields were open and the first round games were played Saturday on the soggy but playable fields on a windy/chilly day, with the little known FSC Fantoms facing our D1 friends from Frederick, the Excel Rangers. The gamed was tied in regulation, 1-1, and in OT, the Rangers prevailed, 2-1. Thus, Inter will face the Rangers in Round Two on 24th Apr. - time/location TBD. Congrats to the Rangers for 'moving on' to Round Two.