The American Overseas School of Rome boys began their quest for a fourth straight European Division III soccer championship Saturday with a 5-0 road blanking of the Aviano Saints.

“They played a strong game,” said Aviano coach Steve Stanley, whose Saints will play Division II in the European tournaments in May and thus won’t have to face AOSR again.

Stanley, however, would like another crack at the Italian-dominated AOSR lineup.

“I wouldn’t mind playing them again,” he said. “We made a couple of mistakes that kind of set us back.”

In other boys games of note on DODDS’ opening day:

Giessen 3, Brussels 3: At Brussels, Kevin Breisch scored twice and Daniel Newport added a goal and an assist as the visiting Griffins tied defending European Division IV runner-up Brussels.

Returning starters Mike Hebing, Matt Parker and Logan Quinn scored the Brussels goals in this early season test of two teams expected to challenge defending Division IV champion Milan in May’s European tournament.

Hohenfels 7, Bamberg 0: At Bamberg, Jimmy Pietra and Idrissa Soumaroro each scored twice in the seven-goal courtesy rule victory over an 11-player Bamberg squad.

Although both teams play in III-South, this game was designated as nonconference. Both teams’ preparations were hampered by snow-covered fields.

Bitburg 3, Mannheim 1: At Bitburg, Brian Schwenneker scored on a free kick and put another free kick onto the head of Chris Winkler for a second Bitburg goal as the Barons collected a Division II conference victory.

Ramstein 7, Würzburg 0: At Ramstein, the defending European Division I champs got six goals from freshmen and sophomores in a league victory that ended at halftime because of the seven-goal courtesy rule.

Justin Wiehe scored two of the goals, and Jack Marinich had two assists for Ramstein, which got solid defensive play from Sean Bannister and Michael Soto, according to Royals coach Dan Nukala.

Ramstein keeper Ryan Albrandt was called upon for just two saves; Würzburg’s Joel Marbut made 12.

ISB 5, Wiesbaden 0: At Brussels, Chris Ireland scored twice and the Raiders kept pace with Ramstein atop the Division I standings.

SHAPE 2, AFNORTH 2: At Brunssum, Netherlands, David Pohl, off a feed from Tobias Schick, scored his second goal of the game with less than four minutes to play to give AFNORTH the tie.

AFNORTH dominated the first half and led 1-0 at the break, according to AFNORTH coach Greg Blankenship. But SHAPE took charge after intermission, playing the first 22 minutes of the second half on AFNORTH’s side of the field and taking a 2-1 lead on goals by Cesar Saenz and Fernando Barron.

“SHAPE is a powerful team that woke up the second half and played a half of beautiful soccer,” Blankenship wrote in a Saturday e-mail. “AFNORTH is a young team that improved throughout the game and will correct the midfield mistakes that proved costly at the start of the second half. (AFNORTH’s) Pohl and Chris Eden will be two strikers that opposing teams will struggle to contain.”

ScoreboardInterconference

Heidelberg 4, Patch 0

(Saturday at Heidelberg)

Halftime—Heidelberg 3, Patch 0

Goals-Sean Kerber 3, Alexander Boehme.

Assists-Niklas Stevenson 2.

Saves-Patch (Archie Barnes) 9; Heidelberg (Joe Wilhelm) 3.

JV—Heidelberg 3, Patch 0.

Lakenheath 1, Alconbury 0

(Saturday at Lakenheath)

Halftime—Lakenheath 0, Alconbury 0

Goal-Kyle Tyree.

Assist-Chris Davis.

Saves-Alconbury unavailable; Lakenheath (Carl Snapp) 3.

Noteworthy—Game was 25-minute halves; goal came in 50th minute. Lakenheath coach Garrett Billington praised “excellent job” by midfielder David Parent.

Division I

ISB 5, Wiesbaden 0

(Saturday at Brussels)

Halftime—International School of Brussels 3, Wiesbaden 0

Goals-Chris Ireland 2, Colin Conway, Uri Pereira, Max Snyder.

Assists-Periera, Karim Lahkled, Matt McKenna, Roope Elojarvi.

Saves-Unavailable.

Ramstein 7, Würzburg 0

(Saturday at Ramstein)

Halftime—Ramstein 7, Würzburg 0

Goals-Justin Weihe 2, T.J. Cloma, Matt Lee, Patrick Long, Ryan Smith, Dan Whitney.

Assists-Jack Marinich 2, Jordan Borino, Rolando Crossdale, Jorge Lopez, Chris Maxey, Whitney.

Saves-Würzburg (Joel Marbut) 12; Ramstein (Ryan Albrandt) 2.

Noteworthy—Würzburg's Taylor Dallen was cited by his coach for strong play, as were Ramstein’s Sean Bannister and Michael Soto.

JV—Ramstein 5, Würzburg 0.

Division II

Bitburg 3, Mannheim 1

(Saturday at Bitburg)

Halftime—Unavailable.

Goals-Mannheim: Evan Crockett; Bitburg: Derek Neice, Brian Schwenneker, Chris Winkler.

Assists-Mannheim: None; Bitburg: Sid Banks, Schwenneker.

Saves-Mannheim (Josh Cameron) 5; Bitburg (Robert Hernandez) 3.

JV—Mannheim 6, Bitburg 0.

SHAPE 2, AFNORTH 2

(Saturday at Brunssum, Netherlands)

Halftime—AFNORTH 1, SHAPE 0

Goals-SHAPE: Cesar Saenz, Fernando Barron; AFNORTH: David Pohl 2.

Assists-SHAPE: Alex Blaess, Andre Brugman; AFNORTH: Chris Eden, Tobias Schick.

Saves-SHAPE (Philip Border) 11; AFNORTH (Matt Sutton 9, Stefan Ivanovski 2) 11.

Noteworthy—According to AFNORTH coach Greg Blankenship, SHAPE’s Border made three point-blank saves in second half before Pohl registered the tying goal.

Hanau 3, BFA 3

(Saturday at Hanau)

Halftime—Black Forest Academy 3, Hanau 1

Goals-BFA: David Armstrong, Ian James, Eddie Ukety; Hanau: Brett Holt, Adam Azcarraga, Corey Lane.

Assists-BFA: Unavailable; Hanau: Azcarraga.

Saves-BFA (Jonathan Breslin) 13; Hanau (Ryan Diem) 13.

Noteworthy—Hanau coach Travis Schupp cited defensive play of Juan Agosto and Stephen Oen.

JV—BFA 6, Hanau 1.

Division III

Giessen 3, Brussels 3

(Saturday at Brussels)

Halftime—Unavailable.

Goals-Giessen: Kevin Breisch 2, Daniel Newport; Brussels: Logan Quinn, Mike Hebing, Matt Parker.

Assists-Giessen: Sean Welton, Newport; Brussels: None.

Saves-Giessen (David Peplinski) 3; Brussels (Ethan Hennes) 7.

Noteworthy—Brussels coach Dexter Bohn praised Vito Pleitys for an “outstanding defensive effort.” Both teams will compete in Division IV at May's European tournament. During season, Giessen is competing in Division III-South; Brussels in III-North.

Hohenfels 7, Bamberg 0

(Saturday at Bamberg)

Halftime—Hohenfels 4, Bamberg 0.

Goals-Jimmy Pietras 2, Idrissa Soumaroro 2, Mike Hogg, Kenny Oberlin, Stephen Washington.

Assists-Unavailable.

Saves-Hohenfels (Chris Tsesmelis) 9; Bamberg (Chris Ficus) 14.

Noteworthy—Bamberg coach Wade Krauchi, who could suit up just 11 players, praised aggressive play by his sweeper, Daniel Herring.

Italy

Naples 3, Marymount 2

(Saturday at Naples)

Halftime—Marymount 2, Naples 0

Goals-Marymount: Goorgio Castagneto, Vittorio Valenti; Naples: Dylan Mintambo 2, Mark Ryan.

Assists-Marymount: Umberto De Eccher, Villy De Luca; Naples: William Carrico.

Saves-Marymount (Luciano Pettcelo-Mantoverdi) 7; Naples (Mitch Marziali) 10.

Noteworthy—Pettcelo-Mantoverdi saved penalty kick at 20-minute mark of second half.

AOSR 5, Aviano 0

(Saturday at Aviano)

Halftime—American Overseas School of Rome 2, Aviano 0.

Other details unavailable.

Milan 5, Vicenza 0

(Saturday at Milan)

Halftime—Milan 3, Vicenza 0.

Goals-Jun Won Kim 2, Ezra Bozotti, Guglielmo Carraro, Naoki Okumura.

Other details unavailable.

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