Europe
D-III boys semifinalsAFNORTH, Ansbach advance in small schools
Stars and Stripes
May 22, 2024
AFNORTH’s Nathan Goldsmith makes an artistic attempt to score after a corner kick flew over teammates and opponents in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. AFNORTH beat Spangdahlem 4-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Ansbach. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
LANDSTUHL, Germany – The Ansbach boys soccer team generally needs 10 or 15 minutes to rev up its engine.
Yet recently, it’s taken something stronger to get going. In this case, it’s going down a goal.
That’s what happened in the Cougars’ semifinal match against Alconbury on Wednesday during the DODEA Division III European championships. The Dragons put one past goalkeeper Jack Lovallo to take an early lead.
That proved to be the wake-up call Ansbach needed, as the second seed scored seven straight goals to win 7-1.
Sophomore forward Daymien Abitua recorded a hat trick, junior forward Daeveon Browne chipped in with a brace, and sophomore midfielder Lucas Rudy and sophomore defender Nathan Arrequin added one goal each.
“The other team scoring first, it puts them down against the ropes and then they usually respond,” Ansbach coach Paul Rauscher said. “They start communicating more, start to get into their rhythm.”
Those slow starts have become a troubling trend for the Cougars (9-3-1), especially with who’s waiting in the wings.
Ansbach will face top-seeded AFNORTH in the title game on Thursday morning at Ramstein Heigh School. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m.
The Lions defeated scrappy Spangdahlem 4-0 in the other Division III semifinal Wednesday afternoon.
Jens Muller scores an AFNORTH goal past Spangdahlem keeper Isaiah Riley in the Lions’ 4-0 win in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. AFNORTH will play Ansbach Thursday for the DIII title. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH’s Juan Antonio Ray beats teammate Santiago Aconite to a ricocheted ball to score a Lions’ goal in their 4-0 win over Spangdahlem in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. Spangdahlem’s James Idems tries to defend. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH’s Christian Barone gets past Spangdahlem’s Mason Tieyah for a shot on goal as Sentinel keeper Isaiah waits to make the save. The Lions beat Spangdahlem 4-0 in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024, to advance to Thursday’s final against Ansbach. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Spangdahlem goalie Isaiah Riley knocks the ball away from friend and foe in the Sentinels’ 4-0 loss to AFNORTH in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH’s Jens Muller and Spangdahlem’s Malachi Taherimorvat fight for the ball in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. AFNORTH won 4-0 to advance to Thursday’s final against Ansbach. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
The two teams met once during the regular season in a match that wasn’t kind to the Cougars. The Lions (8-2) routed the Cougars in Ansbach 8-1 on April 13.
Despite that lopsided result, the Ansbach coach said his players are entering the match thinking they’re huge underdogs.
“Not to treat it like David and Goliath, for one,” Rauscher said of his team’s mentality. “They did not see the real Ansbach when they visited for some reason.”
Goals are expected to be at a premium. The Cougars have allowed three goals in the tournament and posted five shutouts this season. The Lions, meanwhile, have given up just one goal to Division III competition all season.
To stay in the match, Rauscher said Ansbach will have to match AFNORTH’s stalwart defense with a wall of its own. Then, the Cougars must take their chances on the rare occasions they get them.
“Hopefully, (the final) will be a low-scoring affair,” Rauscher said. “Our scoring opportunities will be limited. I have an offense that is very explosive, very fast, and if they can get it down the field, they can definitely have their opportunities.
“But to win this match, our defense is going to have to keep them from scoring. We have not given up a lot of goals this tournament, and we have to keep that going.”
On the girls side, AFNORTH defeated Sigonella 5-1 in a preview of Thursday’s title game after the two teams had already clinched spots in the finals Tuesday. The championship match will kick off at 9 a.m. at Ramstein High School.
Alconbury’s Aaron Dudley passes to a teammate as Ansbach’s Brodie Kohrs defends. Ansbach beat Alconbury 7-1 in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024, and will face AFNORTH in Thursday’s final. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Ansbach’s Alexander Pohlman, right, clears the ball in front of Alconbury’s Dominic Hash in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Ansbach’s Daevon Brown uses a soft touch to slip the ball into the net for the Cougars’ first goal on their way to a 7-1 win over Alconbury in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. Ansbach will face AFNORTH in Thursday’s final. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Ansbach’s Damien Abitua gets past Alconbury’s Anthony Sheehan for a shot on goal in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. Ansbach won the game 7-1 and will face AFNORTH in Thursday’s final. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury’s MJ Hash gets to the ball ahead of Ansbach’s Nathan Arrequin in a Division III semifinal at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. Ansbach won the game 7-1 and will face AFNORTH in Thursday’s final. At right are Sofia Politis and Isabella Minjarez. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury’s Leonidas Politis clears the ball with a pass to a teammate in a Division III semifinal against Ansbach at the DODEA-Europe soccer finals in Landstuhl, Germany, May 22, 2024. Politis scored his team’s goal in their 7-1 loss to the Cougars. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
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