Ansbach goalkeeper Jack Lovallo watches the rebound after he saved a shot as AFNORTH midfielder Santiago Aponte and Ansbach defender Antioun Bates follow during the Division III boys title match at the DODEA European championships on May 23, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – The AFNORTH Lions had no doubt 2024 was their year.

The roster was stocked full of experienced players following a season in which the Lions advanced to the semifinals of the Division III DODEA European championships. They were ready for the next step.

“This was our chance,” AFNORTH senior attacker Christian Barone said. “We knew it from the beginning that we could make it, that we had talent.”

That talent showed in Thursday’s Division III title game against Ansbach at Ramstein High School. AFNORTH took an early lead and never looked to defeat the Cougars 5-1.

The win gave the program its first European crown since 2018 when AFNORTH (9-2) participated in Division II.

It was mission accomplished for the nine seniors. Eight of them were in the starting lineup Thursday and they placed a foot in all goals, be it an assist, scoring or sending in a cross for an own goal like fullback Jens Muller did with his cross in the 12th minute.

“We finished the job that we started in the beginning of the year,” AFNORTH coach Manny Duarte said. “I’m very proud of the boys, especially the seniors. It’s been a while, so we’re happy to be back at this level.”

The Lions entered the match with plenty of motivation, but they had an extra one from the campaign. That semifinal loss last year came against Ansbach.

Prior to the match, Barone, the tournament’s most outstanding player, said he, co-captain Nathan Goldsmith and Duarte reminded the other players about that match, wanting to give the Cougars (9-4-1) some payback in a tournament setting.

“That was the main topic on the pitch before the game,” Barone said. “We always had this in our minds about last year, especially the ones who returned.”

AFNORTH's Christian Barone hits a free kick as Ansbach's Nathan Arrequin and Daymien Abitua jump in the wall during the Division III boys title match at the DODEA European championships on May 23, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH senior Juan Antonio Rey cuts back as Ansbach midfielder Lucas Rudy defends during the Division III boys title match at the DODEA European championships on May 23, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH senior Santiago Aponte dribbles past Ansbach right back Sam Hanson during the Division III boys title match at the DODEA European championships on May 23, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH right back Nik Fulde throws in the ball during the Division III boys title match against Ansbach at the DODEA European championships on May 23, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

As for the action, after the own goal, AFNORTH pressed for a second goal but struggled to create chances for much of the first half. The Lions peppered Ansbach freshman goalkeeper Jack Lovallo with 13 shots over the first 40 minutes, but only seven of them were on target.

Right before halftime, though, the Lions scored twice in quick succession. In the 37th minute, Ansbach turned over the ball off a goal kick, and Barone ended up with a good look at goal from the edge of the 18-yard box, and the Florence, Italy, native didn’t miss.

One minute later, Goldsmith launched a long free kick to Juan Antonio Rey, and the senior midfielder from Madrid beat Lovallo, who finished with 10 saves.

That burst came a little earlier than Duarte anticipated, and it was by design Thursday.

“We usually are a second-half team,” he said. “So, we had to really alter some things to try to alter our first-half play. Some things went our way. That was very important for us.”

Ansbach couldn’t get a sniff of the AFNORTH goal for most of the match, something that Division III squads have experienced this season.

In fact, the Cougars are the only small-school squad to score on the Lions this season and in the tournament.

And Thursday’s goal came at the perfect time. Ansbach cut the deficit to two in the 44th minute after Daymien Abitua was felled in the box. The sophomore forward converted the penalty.

AFNORTH had an immediate answer, though. Rey got the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and passed it to fellow senior Lucas Czapansky, who scored from the right.

Rey assisted on AFNORTH’s last goal, too, with a centering pass from the right wing that senior Gabriel Hatfield pounced on at the back post before turning it home.

The Cougars couldn’t get a foothold even when AFNORTH senior defender Oscar Sanchez received his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 65th minute.

Ansbach coach Paul Rauscher credited AFNORTH’s suffocating defense for that.

“All my playmakers were triple-teamed the instant they touched the ball,” Rauscher said. “We’re used to being the fastest and the biggest on the field, and when we encounter them, we’re not. It is what it is.”

The match ended in disappointment for the Cougars, but Rauscher praised his team for continuing the program’s consistency since soccer has returned from COVID-19. Ansbach has finished third and runner-up twice in the past three seasons.

“I asked them for a game that they fought and left out on the field, and they did it,” Rauscher said. “Nothing takes away from that.”