Marymount wins the battle of Rome, D-II

Marymount striker Federico Pipitone and American Overseas School of Rome center back Cosmo Gulino go after a bouncing ball during the Division II boys final at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Federico Pipitone pounced on a ball at the edge of the 18-yard box with the opportunity of a lifetime at his feet.

The Marymount striker was wide open in extra time of the 2026 Division II final against American Overseas School of Rome at the DODEA European soccer championships in the 84th minute, and Pipitone wasted no time burying it into back of the net.

“I already knew where the goalkeeper was, so all I had to do was get a touch, look at the goalkeeper again and really tap it in,” Pipitone said.

That proved to be the match-winning goal, as the Royals defeated the Falcons 3-2 in an extra period.

The win marked the Marymount boys program’s first DODEA-European title in 13 years.

“It’s a dream,” Pipitone said. “We really can’t believe it.”

Thursday’s victory at Ramstein High School continued the theme for the Royals as comeback kings.

Three times the Royals trailed in the tournament. They faced an early deficit to Black Forest Academy before winning. In the semifinal against Rota, Marymount was down a goal and a man before equalizing and defeated the Admirals in extra time.

In the final, the Royals trailed AOSR 2-0 after 70 minutes before rallying yet again.

“Their mentality had to change either a little bit or a big bit, but it had to change so that we go behind in a match, we remain composed to get ourselves back into the game,” Marymount coach Kris McAdam said. “I can’t ask any more from them. I’ve given them instructions all season, and they’ve listened to the instructions and put them into action.”

American Overseas School of Rome wing back Meng Peng Jiang heads a corner onto net ahead of Marymount sophomore Niccolo Bigi during the Division II boys final at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Marymount right midfielder Sattam Faisal dribbles along the right wing as American Overseas School of Rome winger Luca Zuccolotto chases during the Division II boys final at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

American Overseas School of Rome center back Cosmo Gulino clears the ball during the Division II boys final at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Marymount midfielder Sebastian Furstenberg Fassio launches in a corner kick during the Division II boys final against American Overseas School of Rome at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

American Overseas School of Rome goalkeeper Valerio Natali stops a shot by Marymount right midfielder Valentino Benedetti during the Division II boys final at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The top-seeded Falcons gained the lead via goals from attacker Pierpaolo Graziano in the 5th minute and winger Leone Maggi in the 42nd minute.

But AOSR lost vice captain Meng Peng Jiang to a pair of yellow cards in the first half, the second coming in the 37th minute. That forced the Falcons to play more defensively instead of their usual free-flowing, possession-based style.

The Royals began to get their chances, but the Falcons were resolute, earning praise from their opponents for their effort.

“Those 10 men of AOSR were still excellent and we had to try to break them down and had to put the ball in the back of the net,” McAdam said.

Pipitone sparked the comeback in the 71st minute. The ball ricocheted to the senior, and his shot from outside the box hit the back of the net.

“In practice, our coach always makes us our stop, turn and shoot,” Pipitone said. “I didn’t even know what happened. I tried to stop it, open my body and shoot it.”

Two minutes later, Marymount equalized via a Pedro Braz Martins header.

AOSR coach Giacomo Castelli said the sending off changed the match and he believed it would have been a different result 11-v-11.

Still, he didn’t fault his players’ effort, playing with 10 men for 53 minutes and making their fourth-straight championship appearance.

“This doesn’t change anything about how proud I am of my team, how well we work,” Castelli said. “We are a proper team.

“Our program, it’s showed that it’s doing something well. It’s consistently growing and competing to win a European title.”