Bethesda Internationals

24 Mar. '04. Due to the injury to Skylar O. yesterday, and Patrick M. still nursing an ankle injury (bruise) sustained at the Jefferson Cup tournament over the weekend, and 2 players absent on spring break vacation, Inter's normal roster of 14 would be down to 11 (including Patrick) and no substitutes available at this late juncuture; thus, coach Pete decided that in the interest of player safety due to fatigue and risk of injury with no subs, Inter must pull out of its first-ever participation in the MSC March Madness tournament this coming weekend. Fortunately, MSI/MSC was able to recruit the excellent Baltimore BAYS 92 team to replace Inter in the top Potomac Division.

23 Mar. '04. After attending his middle school's first soccer tryout earlier in the afternoon, Skylar O. sustained a fractured clavicle during his regular practice at Timberlawn Park today. His orthopedist said that Skylar will be out of commission for at least 4 weeks. He will miss his ODP team's trip to Scotland as a result of the injury, as well as at least the first 3 weeks of the upcoming NCSL spring 2003 season. Skylar is hoping for a speedy healing/recovery and will be strong enough to compete in the MD State Cup 2nd Round game on 25 Apr. '04.

20-21 Mar. '04. In the first match of the Elite division on a fiercely windy day, Inter faced its rival and opponent of last year's JC Premier division Championship game (which Inter prevailed, 2-1), REST FC '91. Both teams were evenly matched and moved the ball well up and down the field in the first half, with both defenses pressuring the other and executed swift counter-attacks. At about the mid point of the first half, a strong shot was launched by a REST FC '91 player from about 20 yards out which Rob caught but then dropped behind the goal line, creating a corner kick for REST FC '91 which was well executed - with the wind - that Inter did not defend well to clear out, resulting in a fine header goal by a REST FC '91 player and a 1-0 lead at the half. In the second half, REST FC '91 kept attacking on Inter's side and a ball sent to the middle towards the net was ineffectively cleared by Inter to a REST FC '91 player who found a seam and fired in the second goal beyond Rob's outstretched arms, giving REST FC '91 the victory, 2-0. In the second match against an excellent Norcross Fury Gold team, Inter found itself quickly down, 0-4, in the first half due to several defensive miscues, and simply because the Furty Gold's bigger and speedier forwards were able to elude Inter's defenders and score quite easily. Inter tightened up its defnese in the second half, not allowing the Fury Gold to score, but the Fury Gold's defense also shut down Inter's ability to get off any good shots on goal througout the entire match. The third match on Sun., 21 Mar., was between Inter (3rd Place Group 4) against Beadling SC (3rd Place Group 3). The wind conditions were still very strong and the two teams were pretty evenly matched. The officiating was atrociously awful and inconsistent equally against both opponents. Late in the first half, Beadling SC managed the first score off of a nice high shot over Rob's outstretched hands from about 20 yards out to center. Late in the second half, Inter was able to score off a nice strike by Sam from the left side of the goal mouth past the keeper which guest player Blake tapped in across the goal line to make sure it went all the way across the goal line into the net.

20 Mar. '04. The second session ended today with Inter forfeiting the last game to OLNY Dynamite due to Inter's participation in The Jeffeson Cup 20-21 Mar. '04. Inter managed just one win (over OLNY Dynamite, 12-2) in its first game, and a forfeit from MSC Predators, 3-0, due to RSP administrative error! Inter could not find its touch against the bigger/stronger, older U13 teams, losing to the excellent MSC Synergy Lightning, 3-8, USC American Stars, 1-5, and dropping a close one to the U12 Potomac Cougars, 3-2. Inter was also tied in the final minute by the U13 SSA united, 4-4. But, all in all, the focus of winter indoor league play is primarily for Inter players to keep up their conditioning/skills in preparation for the upcoming NCSL spring 2004 season ahead.

14 Mar. '04. On a cold and windy day at Camp Letts in Annapolis, MD, Inter played two matches (2 x 20 min. halves) against the U13G Blast and U12B Thunder in the morning and then another two games in the afternoon. In its first match of the morning against the Thunder, Inter passed the ball well despite a poor, clumpy field, finding the back of the net 3 times and allowing no goals. In the second game, the swift Blast were very physical, relentless in pressuring the ball and disallowed Inter to score, but Inter was also able to hold the Blast scoreless. Likewise for the two afternoon games against the Thunder and Blast, Inter could not strike any goals home but it did not allow any either. All in all, it was a good 'tune-up' exercise for the three teams in preparation for the upcoming Jefferson Cup tournament 3/20-21, and the NCSL/WAGS spring 2004 season ahead. Inter extends its Thanks and appreciation to the Blast for hosting this event and looks forward to more 'friendlies' in the future between the 3 sister teams of our very fine Bethesda SC.