Bethesda Internationals

14 Mar. '08.  Yesterday morning's mix of light rain/sleet turned into a moderate/steady rain all night Fri. and into Sat. afternoon.  When the shortened match (2 x 40 min. halves) commenced vs. Cincinnati United Premier at 4PM, the new West Creek fields were in sloppy condition with many pools of soft mud throughout the pitch.  Surprisingly, the games were still being held despite the poor field conditions.  The Internationals controlled play for most of this match although the CUP team threatened on several deep penetrations into Inter's box.  In the 1st half, Inter's strong defense held the CUP team to just 2 shots on goal and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful.  Seth made a nice run-out sliding kick save on a ball and collected a dangerous through-ball on another occasion.  The CUP played hard and aggressive, committing 7 fouls (including a YC shown to #8 for a hard foul).  Inter setup numerous scoring opportunities with 7 shots on goal and 6 corner kicks but would finish just once.  At about the 9 min mark, Ebo sent a pretty pass upfield on the left to Chris near the end line on the right side of CUP's goal.   Chris served a nice ball into the box where Schillo maneuvered the ball into position to strike it into the net over the GK as he came out to close the angle.  Schillo also had several other shots on the left which either went wide or were stopped by the GK who made a number of excellent saves throughout the match.  After Patrick's free kick from about 25 yds. on the right, Nick V's header missed just over the cross bar.  Nick had another header attempt which was caught by the GK after a corner kick by Ebo.  Inter committed 6 fouls (including 1 offsides) and the half ended, 1-0, Inter.

In the 2nd half, Inter kept up its offensive attacks/counters and solid defense, holding CUP to 2 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing 6 fouls.  Seth stopped a blast from about 22 yds. out center with a finger-tip save that resulted in an unsuccessful corner kick.  Inter setup 5 shots on goal including a nice pass from Vitalis on the left to Skylar about 18 yds. on the right who dribbled in towards goal and kicked a hard shot which appeared that the GK finger-tip saved over the cross-bar but no corner kick was awarded.  Vitalis also sent a nice pass to Stephen in the middle who fired on goal from around 15-18 yds. but it went wide left.  Chris received  a ball in the box and sent a hard shot on goal which the GK stopped.  After receiving a nice pass in the box from Alex in the middle, Schillo sent another shot on goal which the GK stopped.  Inter also setup 3 corner kicks which were  unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls, and the match ended, 1-0, Inter.  

13 Mar.  Out at the Strikers SC new West Creek complex, the Internationals once again faced the strong TSF Academy Celtic team for the 3rd time in the last 8 mos.  Previously, Inter came away with a hard fought victory at PDA, 2-1, last Nov., and at the USCS Natl. Collegiate Showcase last Jul. it defeated TSF, 4-0, and went on to earn the Championship in the inaugural event.  For today's match, the WX turned sour overnight with mixed rain/snow/slush covering the nice grass fields although the precipatation had mostly abated.  The start time was delayed by 1-1/2 hrs. and match duration shortened to 35 min. halves.   TSF kicked off in the first half and was clearly charged up to not let the previous two outcomes be repeated in today's match.  TSF moved the ball around well and setup a couple of dangerous scoring opportunities in Inter's box but the balls were blocked/cleared out of harms way.   TSF played hard committing 8 fouls (including YC's shown to #14 for a push on Ebo and #8 for holding Ebo's jersey on a break away).  Inter's stingy defense held TSF to just 1 header shot on goal which sailed high/left and 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful.  Inter committed 5 fouls (including 1 high kick) while taking 5 shots on goal and setup 1 unsuccessful corner kick.  At about the 12 min. mark, Vitalis recieved a ball on the left near 40 yds. on TSF side and sent a good pass into the middle near 20-22 yds. to Schillo who deftly dribbled in between several defenders to his right and as the GK came out to defend 1v1, Schillo chipped the ball over the Gk into the net to put Inter up 1-0.  Inter had another opportunity to score off of a free kick by Patrick from about 35 yds. out on the right.  The ball was lofted perfectly into the box and Nicholas timed his jump up to head strike the ball towards the net but it hit TSF's left side post and bounced out to Nate abut 6-8 yds. out but his low shot was grabbed the GK, and the half ended, 1-0, Inter.  Also, Schillo served a nice ball from TSF's ride side into the box where Alex's  strong header attempt just missed over the cross-bar.

TSF continued to work hard in the 2nd half and intensified its offensive attacks/counters, setting up 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful and taking 6 shots on goal while committing 4 fouls.  Also, the mixed precipitation (rain/sleet/snow) returned for the remainder of the match.  TSF was unable to find the back of the net largely due to a great finger-tip save by Seth on a hard blast and another dangerous ball in the box which Seth grabbed while the other attempts all went wide/high.  Inter was held to just 2 shots on goal including a nice pass upfield from Ebo to Schillo on the left 20-22 yds. which the GK caught, and a nice pass from Schillo near mid-center to Erik inside the box whose shot on goal was stopped/saved by the GK.  Inter's sole corner kick opportunity was unsuccessful while committing 6 fouls, and the match ended, 1-0, Inter.  Kudos to TSF for another well-played and entertaining contest in which Inter was fortunate to prevail.

8 Mar. '09.  Back out at BMHS, the Internationals faced the Beadling SC, who fell yesterday to the Freestate Elite, 1-3.  Although Beadling too were determined and focused, Inter showed more of its typical game form today, although it was once again shutout in its many attempts on goal.  In the 1st half, Beadling took 2 shots on goal, no corners and committed 7 fouls (including a YC shown to #13 for  a hard foul).   Inter managed 4 shots on goal including a nice pass from Nate upfield to Chris whose hard shot sailed high and left of goal, and also a shot by Nate in the box which was deflected for a corner kick.  Inter took 5 corners but could not finish while committing 7 fouls (including a YC shown to Erik for a hard slide tackle), and the half ended, 0-0.

In the 2nd half, Inter tightened up its defense and stymied Beadling for most of the half until close to the end when a hard shot from 20-22 yds. out center was stopped with a finger-tip save by Seth.  Beadling also took 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 5 fouls.  Inter created numerous scoring opportunities with 5 shots on goal including a nice switched ball from Alex on the right side to Schillo on the left about 22 yds. out but the shot went high over the cross-bar.  Vitalis sent a nice cross from left to right through the goal mouth but no Inter player was nearby to take a shot.   Ebo sent a hard blast from about 25 yds. left but it went high over the cross bar.  Inter also created 6 corner kick opportunitites  but could not finish while committing 8 fouls, and the match ended scoreless.