REICHENBACH-STEEGEN, Germany – The pieces of a familiar puzzle began to fall into place Wednesday, as the Naples and American Overseas School of Rome boys soccer teams once again secured their spots in yet another meeting with the DODEA European Division II championship at stake.
Both teams encountered surprising challengers on Day 3’s semifinals, as Bahrain and Vicenza had toppled higher-seeded opponents earlier in the tournament, with each hoping to carry their underdog momentum into the finals.
But fate had other plans. Naples took the field against Vicenza in a mid-morning matchup and delivered a commanding performance, shutting out the Cougars with a dominant 5-0 victory that underscored their consistency.
“(Vicenza) played their hearts out and they gave up everything in the game,” Wildcats coach Sue Fitzpatrick said. “They came ready and they advanced to everybody’s surprise, so (the match) was good.”
AOSR didn’t put up as many goals, but emerged with a 3-0 victory over Bahrain to set the familiar finals matchup.
Earlier, the Wildcats came out with intent, striking early to take the lead within the opening minutes against the Cougars.
Vicenza sophomore Raul Carillo appeared to equalize with a stunning shot to the back of the net — but the celebration was short-lived, as the referee’s whistle ruled it offside.
From there, it was all Wildcats. With sharp passing and relentless pressure that tested even the Cougars’ five-man back line, Naples surged ahead to a 3-0 lead by halftime, showcasing clinical ball control and impressive striking ability.
Wildcats sophomore Anders Cromwell was able to add to the scoreboard in the second half with his second goal of the day helping to seal Naples’ commanding win.
Despite a hard-fought tournament run, Vicenza’s momentum ran out against the reigning champions, who now head into Thursday’s title match riding the wave of three dominant victories in the tournament.
Vicenza Cougars junior Jacob McGovern clears the ball during a match against the Naples Wildcats during the semifinals of the 2025 Division II DODEA European championships at Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany on May 21, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Naples Wildcats junior Landon Heavrin passes the ball in a match against the Vicenza Cougars during the semifinals of the 2025 Division II DODEA European championships at Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany on May 21, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Orlando Niolu, a senior with the American Overseas School of Rome Falcons, attempts to break past the Bahrain Falcons' defense during the semifinals of the 2025 Division II DODEA European championships at Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany on May 21, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Diego Mercado-Rodriguez, a sophomore with the Bahrain Falcons, defends against Leone Maggi, a sophomore with the American Overseas School of Rome Falcons during the semifinals of the 2025 Division II DODEA European championships at Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany on May 21, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
The day was far from over for the boys as Naples viewed from the sideline a match that would determine if they would once again be playing the AOSR – an opponent they’ve met every year in the finals since the return of play after the Coronavirus pandemic.
Determined to hold off AOSR’s high-powered attack, Bahrain entered the match with a fortified 5-4-1 formation. However, in a fate similar to Vicenza’s, Bahrain’s lucky streak came to an end — though not without a performance that earned respect on the pitch.
“We knew that before that they were going to defend in a low block,” AOSR coach Giacomo Castelli said. “I said to the guys, we must have patience and create our chances.”
From the opening whistle, AOSR seemingly dominated possession, pinning play to Bahrain’s half and shutting down breakaway attempts with quick, disciplined defense.
Bahrain’s formation proved to be effective for the first half of the game, stumping AOSR’s ability to get the ball past the defensive line. With multiple saves by Bahrain junior goalkeeper Carson Cicchi, the match seemed to be a repeat of Tuesday’s match against Marymount.
AOSR senior Andrea Torelli proved a relentless force up front, combining sharp footwork with sophomore Pierpaolo Graziano’s precision to gradually chip away at Bahrain’s back line.
Their persistence paid off midway through the second half, when AOSR finally broke the deadlock with a well-earned goal by senior Orlando Niolu.
Ecstatic celebrations erupted on the field and sidelines alike, as the tense, nail-biting match had seemed destined for overtime until AOSR broke through.
When play resumed, Bahrain pushed higher in search of an equalizer — but the gamble left their back line vulnerable. AOSR quickly took advantage, netting a second goal, then sealing the win with their third off of a final penalty kick by Niolu.
“We’ll be there,” AOSR senior captain Riley Smith said about going into their upcoming match against Naples. “Our heartbeats are at the same tempo. Our team is ready (and) has never been more ready. We’re full of confidence.”
