DODEA-Europe teams eagerly return to the soccer pitch this weekend after two years of COVID-19 cancelations.

The six-week regular season will begin in style with compelling opening-week matchups. Archrivals Ramstein and Kaiserslautern battle for local bragging rights. English programs Lakenheath and Alconbury face off for the only time this spring. AFNORTH visits Spangdahlem in an early but consequential small-school clash. In Italy, Vicenza plays host to regional rivals Aviano and Naples.

This weekend’s slate starts the path to what DODEA-Europe expects will be traditional European tournaments gathering all of its schools, including those from Italy, Spain and England, for a four-day event starting May 16 in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

Girls

Divisional rearrangement is a major factor in Divisions I and II this spring as a pair of 2019 finalists swap places. Division I runner-up Naples shifts down to Division II, while dominant Division II champion Black Forest Academy moves up to Division I.

BFA will encounter a hostile field of tough large-school programs, including Kaiserslautern, Ramstein, Vilseck and, most notably, defending champion Wiesbaden. Head coach Nicole Angel said this group of Warriors already exhibits “strong leadership and team chemistry” as it launches its title defense.

“Everyone is working hard together,” Angel said. “They believe in themselves, their teammates and this program.”

Lakenheath boasts a remarkable 13 experienced players, a level of continuity few rivals can match.

“We have a number of excellent returning players and a few new additions that are providing strength all over the pitch,” Lancers coach Sharon Goodman said.

SHAPE coach John Arias called this season a “building year” for the Spartans, but they’ll be working off a clear blueprint.

“Our main focus is for the athletes to enjoy the game, develop a sense of team and improve individual soccer skills,” Arias said.

New Division II arrivals Naples and Vicenza figure to contend immediately. Vicenza coach Adam Ridgley has an entirely new roster this year, but he said his players have worked with a local developmental program and a nearby Italian team to keep their skills sharp. The Cougars also welcome a handful of new players with quality stateside experience.

“I hope that we can be competitive in every game,” Ridgley said.

Several small DODEA-Europe schools don’t have enough players for separate boys and girls soccer teams and instead field co-ed teams competing on the boys side. It’s likely that the Division III girls tournament will feature just four teams - AFNORTH, Alconbury, Sigonella and 2019 champion Spangdahlem.

That doesn’t mean it won’t be competitive. Spangdahlem coach Michael Tieyah said the Sentinels have “senior leadership” and the drive to continue the “winning tradition” they established before the COVID-19 hiatus. Sigonella has five returners and some promising underclassmen.

AFNORTH has just one returning player and a schedule interrupted by its unconventional spring break schedule. But head coach Christy Wise said she is very happy with her Lions squad.

“This… team continues to impress me each day with their strength and determination,” Wise said. “I am lucky to be their coach this season.”

Boys

Division I has no defending champion, and not just because of the cancelations over the last two seasons. Naples will compete in the Division II tournament after winning its first Division I title in 2019 with a shootout defeat of Ramstein.

The Wildcats’ move leaves a vacant title and a field of contenders who would be happy to fill it. But each will need to navigate the inevitable uncertainty of the first proper season since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kaiserslautern would like to add to its recent collection of championships, and coach Enrique John announced a goal to “try our best to be one of the better teams in Division I this year.” But it’s difficult to project with any more specificity than that.

“Like all schools in DODEA, we are tasked to rebuild a competitive team, which will take time and patience,” John said. “We will have to feel our way through this season.”

Black Forest Academy coach Isaac Michaels said his team “can’t wait for the season to begin,” and the coach himself is looking forward to seeing what his young team can do.

“It will be exciting to see how our guys develop and learn to play together,” Michaels said.

SHAPE draws student-athletes from a number of NATO countries and will look to use that unique roster construction to its advantage.

“We have a wealth of players that will help us do well this season,” said Spartans coach James Cerf, citing the team’s mission to turn the international squad into “one united group.”

First-year Wiesbaden head coach Marco Zaccardelli, meanwhile, has 10 players with some form of varsity experience to potentially fuel a chance at a Warrior breakthrough.

Reigning Division II champion American Overseas School of Rome and above-mentioned 2019 Division I champion Naples headline Division II, while another realignment affects the power structure of both Divisions II and III. AFNORTH, which finished third in Division II in 2019, will move down to the small-school level for tournament play this spring, where the Lions will challenge reigning Division III champion Ansbach. Lions coach Carlos Aponte describes a promising mix of talent for the new small-school contender as: “a solid core of senior leaders and underclassmen who are committed to improvement.”