Bethesda is a soccer club based in Bethesda, Md. This year, the U13 MLS Next team went to Salou, Spain, and played in the Mare Nostrum Cup. They brought four MLS Next players, Camilo Rodriguez, Joaquin Rodriguez, Lucianio Azari, and Alexander Boyer. Their coach is Joan Molist, who was also the coach for the Mare Nostrum Cup. The team finished the tournament in third place with four wins. 

After their friendly games, [3-1 win, 2-0 loss] they had their tournament debut. In their first tournament game, they took on Colegio San Prudencio, and won 4-0. Leading the charge was MLS Next guest player, Carlos Romero, who scored twice. “I feel pretty good, it’s a good confidence booster for the tournament,” Romero said. “For our first game in the tournament we played very well and very composed, and everyone played a key role.” In the first half, MLS Next player scored, Camilo Rodriguez. He managed to dribble through some defenders and score the third. “Nate [the left back] gave me a good ball in behind, I took it and I went in between three players and put it on the left side,” Camilo said. In the second half, Zach Papa scored. “It was a nice way to start off the tournament, a good confidence booster for the rest of the games. It’s a blessing to be here in Spain,” Papa said. The game ended 4-0. Their captain, MLS Next player Joaquin Rodriguez, was a key role in the midfield with passing and recovering the ball. “I felt really good and happy with the performance. Even though the other team wasn’t that good, I’m happy,” Joaquin said. “We dominated the whole game.” 

Later that day, they played their second game, against Galactic Soccer. They ended up conceding an unlucky opener, and later, conceded a second. The game ended, but the players weren’t happy with this game. Captain Elijah Hudson, who plays for the Bethesda second team, was passing and communicating great during the game, but wasn’t too mad about the score. “As a team we did really well, it was just a bunch of mistakes and stuff we couldn’t control that made us lose the game,” Hudson said. Even though they lost, the team felt ready for the game the next day. “I feel ready for tomorrow, we can definitely win that game,” Hudson said. The boys lost 2-0.

For the third game, they needed to win or draw to advance to the next round, and were facing 433 Academy. To start the game, Romero scored an early goal to make it 1-0. Bethesda kept their intensity high, and went to halftime 1-0. In the second half, the other team scored early, and another one shortly after, to get ahead. With only seven minutes left, Azari dribbled a little, passed to Papa, and scored. With three minutes left, Romero took the shot and scored. Finally, on the last play, Bethesda counter attacked and Romero found himself one on one with the goalkeeper, scored, and secured the three points. “I feel very happy, very astonished and proud of myself,” Romero said. “Once I scored the fourth, I knew it was over.” Papa also scored. “Well I Luciano [Azari] with the ball, he was driving, really good with dribbling. I called for the ball, he played it, took a touch and cut it back dribbling through a couple guys and shot it, and I just feel like that sparked the comeback,” Papa said. Captain Austin Jackson, who plays for the second team of Bethesda, defended with his heart throughout this game and made sure they didn’t get close to their net. “I’m super proud of my team, everybody contributed,” Jackson said. “Really well deserved team game.” With this win, they were through to the quarter finals.

One different thing in this game. One, it’s the quarter finals, stakes are higher. Second, France. They were playing a French team in this game, FC Mougins, and not against a Spanish team like every other game they played. After a headed out corner kick, Boyer found the ball at his feet and took a first time shot, and found the bottom left corner. Shortly after, Romero had a great finish into the same corner to extend their lead to 2-0. In the second half, the French scored to shorten the score to 2-1. Bethesda had a throw-in, and Romero flicked it over a defender, and scored a goal into the top left corner to give them a cushion with a two goal lead. However, shortly after, the other team scored a free kick to make it 3-2, but it was too late.  “I liked that goal, I was very excited after we scored because it was the first goal and it inspired the team,” Boyer said. Romero was the author of the second and third goal to secure their ticket to the semi finals of the tournament. “I feel very accomplished,” Romero said. After a spicy game against the French, the U.S. boys came out on top to advance to the semi finals.

In the semi-final match against C.d. Kirol Sport, Bethesda got chance after chance, but couldn’t score. After miscommunication in the back, Bethesda conceded a goal. After trying to get on the score sheet, the opponent’s counter attacked. The Bethesda keeper made a save, and managed to clear it off the line. However, the referee marked a goal for them, after saying the ball crossed the goal line. Shortly after, the referee blew the whistle for half-time. The boys came back onto the field, and played with all their heart. After an amazing effort to score, and getting very very close, the game comes to an end, and ends in a 2-0 loss. “The team did well, we could tell we were tired, but it isn’t an excuse,” said coach Joan. “Their first goal was very early, and that makes the other team close in the back, and makes it much harder for us. If we didn’t make that mistake in the first goal, we definitely would have had more chances to score.”

Overall the trip, and the third place finish, was an opportunity for the boys to improve and play against high level teams as their regular season marches on. The team’s next tournament is this weekend, Potomac Memorial, in Maryland.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Alejandra Lorenza

MLS Next player Joaquin Rodriguez stays strong and uses his arms and body to protect the ball so that the opposing defender doesn’t get it.