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Ramstein’s Isabel Fischer, right tries to get past Lakenheath’s Mary Lowe in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Fischer scored the game’s only goal as the Royals advanced to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart.

Ramstein’s Isabel Fischer, right tries to get past Lakenheath’s Mary Lowe in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Fischer scored the game’s only goal as the Royals advanced to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Go back a few years and it wouldn’t surprise anyone who followed DODEA-Europe Division I girls soccer if you told them that Ramstein and Stuttgart would be competing for the title.

The two programs from the system’s two largest schools dominated much of the decade before the Wiesbaden Warriors – champions in 2019 - and the coronavirus pandemic got in the way.

But nothing’s stopping the rematch now as both teams advanced into Thursday’s championship with semifinal victories Wednesday at Vogelweh.

Ramstein topped Lakenheath 1-0 on Isabel Fischer’s second-half goal. Then Stuttgart knocked off Wiesbaden 4-2 behind two goals from Bella Henderson and single scores by Haley Wells and Kendall Boudreaux. Alison Tew had both scores for the Warriors.

The Royals and Panthers, who didn’t meet in the regular season due to an abbreviated schedule, finish off six championship games at Vogelweh with a scheduled start of 7 p.m.

Lakenheath keeper Chloe Aldric hits the ball out of the box over teammates Mary Lowe and Sophia Yorko and Ramstein’s Abigail Belote and Gabriella Clark in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Ramstein won 1-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart.

Lakenheath keeper Chloe Aldric hits the ball out of the box over teammates Mary Lowe and Sophia Yorko and Ramstein’s Abigail Belote and Gabriella Clark in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Ramstein won 1-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein’s Eleftheria Randitsas shoots as Lakenheath’s Sophia Yorko tries to block in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Ramstein won 1-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart.

Ramstein’s Eleftheria Randitsas shoots as Lakenheath’s Sophia Yorko tries to block in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Ramstein won 1-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden’s Hannah Buchheit tries to get her foot between Stuttgart’s Haley Wells and the bal, in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Wells scored a goal in the Panthers’ 4-2 win and will face Ramstein in the championship game.

Wiesbaden’s Hannah Buchheit tries to get her foot between Stuttgart’s Haley Wells and the bal, in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Wells scored a goal in the Panthers’ 4-2 win and will face Ramstein in the championship game. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden’s McKinley Viers drives upfield against Stuttgart’s Anna Thompson in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The Panthers won 4-2 and will face Ramstein in the championship game.

Wiesbaden’s McKinley Viers drives upfield against Stuttgart’s Anna Thompson in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The Panthers won 4-2 and will face Ramstein in the championship game. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart’s Bella Henderson takes a free kick in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Henderson scored two goals in the Panthers’ 4-2 win and will face Ramstein in the championship game.

Stuttgart’s Bella Henderson takes a free kick in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Henderson scored two goals in the Panthers’ 4-2 win and will face Ramstein in the championship game. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath’s Heidi Amberson, left, and Ramstein’s Emma Shockley fight for the ball in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Ramstein won 1-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart.

Lakenheath’s Heidi Amberson, left, and Ramstein’s Emma Shockley fight for the ball in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Ramstein won 1-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Stuttgart. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart keeper Jasmine Lavardi scoops up the ball as she is pressured by Wiesbaden’s Essie Munoz in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The Panthers won the game 4-2 and will face Ramstein in the championship game.

Stuttgart keeper Jasmine Lavardi scoops up the ball as she is pressured by Wiesbaden’s Essie Munoz in a Division I girls semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer championships in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The Panthers won the game 4-2 and will face Ramstein in the championship game. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Division II

Two teams that did meet in the regular season – and again on Wednesday – will play for the middle-school championship.

Vicenza, which has not lost this season, takes on Aviano. The Cougars defeated the Saints 3-0 on Wednesday and the two teams tied 3-3 in the regular season. They’re set to square off at 3 p.m.

Division III

Sigonella will try to make it two teams based in Italy returning across the Alps with titles, but it will have to beat AFNORTH for the third time in the tournament to make that happen.

After topping AFNORTH 3-2 to open the four-team tournament, the Jaguars have outscored their opponents 17-2.

The championship game is slated for an 11 a.m. start.

author picture
Kent has filled numerous roles at Stars and Stripes including: copy editor, news editor, desk editor, reporter/photographer, web editor and overseas sports editor. Based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, he’s been TDY to countries such as Afghanistan Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia. Born in California, he’s a 1988 graduate of Humboldt State University and has been a journalist for 40 years.

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