AFNORTH defender Sage Kallestad clears the ball ahead of Alconbury central attacking midfielder Leo Politis during a Division III semifinal match at the 2025 DODEA European championships on May 21, 2025, at Rothenborn Stadion in Landstuhl, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

LANDSTUHL, Germany – For a team that rarely trailed during the regular season, the Alconbury coed soccer team has found itself in holes during the 2025 DODEA European championships this week.

The latest experience came in the team’s biggest match so far this campaign – a Division III semifinal against AFNORTH on Wednesday at Rothenborn Stadion.

Just like the day before against Sigonella, the Dragons overcame the adversity, beating the defending-champion Lions 2-1.

“We’re just strong mentally, physically,” Alconbury senior Luis Alejandro Diez said. “Even if we go down, our mentality doesn’t change.”

The win punched Alconbury’s ticket to the Division III boys final against Ansbach. The Dragons (3-0-1) will be seeking their first European crown since 2016 and the program’s third overall.

The Dragons expressed excitement because they clinched a better result than last spring.

“It just feels so amazing after finishing third place last year,” senior winger Sofia Politis said. “It was such a close win.”

Alconbury found itself chasing early when Patrick Stevens put AFNORTH (4-4-3) up 1-0 following a dominative start.

The Dragons recovered and eventually swung the possession battle in their favor, but they couldn’t create many chances.

That changed in one of the final touches before halftime. Keiran Daley picked up a pass from Politis and curled in a shot from 18 yards out to equalize in the 40th minute.

The junior striker from Bournemouth, England, then produced the match winner in the 61st minute after he bodied off a Lion to get on the end of long ball, which he redirected over the goal line.

“He is a footballer,” Alconbury coach Leslie Atkins-Hash said of Daley. “He lives and breathes the sport. He’s played since infancy. He might have been born with a ball handed to him. It’s instinct, it’s natural.

“He’s a real gift.”

The Dragons still needed to hold on for 19 minutes, and those final moments proved nervy.

Alconbury switched to a three-man backline from its typical four earlier in the match because the team had sought to bolster the midfield. That left the trio of Alejandro Diez, senior captain Taye Vickerstaff and senior Anthony Sheehan tested against AFNORTH’s firepower in seniors Santiago Aponte and Joaquin Chico.

“It was a little shaky at times, but we held it together,” Alejandro Diez said. “We made the corrections that we needed to. Obviously, you’re going to play a little more defensive, but even switching to that, we did it perfectly.”

Alconbury goalkeeper Manuel Minjarez celebrates after the final whistle of the Dragons' 2-1 victory over AFNORTH in the Division III semifinals at the 2025 DODEA European championships on May 21, 2025, at Rothenborn Stadion in Landstuhl, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury striker Keiran Daley shoots the ball as Alconbury defenders Ben Maranon, left, and Sage Kallestad watch during a Division III semifinal match at the 2025 DODEA European championships on May 21, 2025, at Rothenborn Stadion in Landstuhl, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH defender Ben Maranon throws in the ball during a Division III semifinal match against Alconbury at the 2025 DODEA European championships on May 21, 2025, at Rothenborn Stadion in Landstuhl, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH striker Patrick Stevens dribbles toward the Alconbury net as Dragon defenders Taye Vickerstaff, left, and Luis Alejandro Diez chase him during a Division III semifinal match at the 2025 DODEA European championships on May 21, 2025, at Rothenborn Stadion in Landstuhl, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Atkins-Hash also praised the work of goalkeeper Manuel Minjarez.

In his first year between the sticks, the senior collected 14 saves, one of which came in the 79th minute when a corner caused pandemonium in front of his net. Minjarez managed to keep the ball out before the Dragons cleared it.

“AFNORTH came in striking that ball, and Manny had some brilliant saves,” Atkins-Hash said. “It was one of the best games of his goalkeeping career.”

Up next for the Dragons is a date with Ansbach. The Cougars defeated Spangdahlem in the day’s other semifinal 1-0.

It took heroics from Lucas Rudy to get over the hump. The junior center back scored the match’s lone goal in the 79th minute.

Prior to the match, coach Tracey Robertson said her assistant Patrick Kabuye foretold that Rudy was going to be critical for the team’s success against the Sentinels (5-7). His words proved more prophetic than perhaps even he realized.

“Coach told me to take a shot, get the confidence in me,” Rudy said. “I just took it, and it went in.

“It definitely was an insane feeling, a last-minute goal.”

The Cougars (6-3-2) admitted to being caught off guard by Spangdahlem defensive mentality throughout the match. The Sentinels also received a penalty kick, but Ansbach keeper Jack Lovallo saved the attempt to keep the match scoreless.

“It was a tough fight,” Robertson said. “We thought for sure we were going to go into overtime. It was intense; I couldn’t breathe for 80 minutes.”

The Cougars avoided the wear and tear of extra time and booked their third-straight title-match appearance.

Finishing runners-up the past two seasons is playing on the backs of their minds, Rudy said.

“We’re going to be very motivated,” he said. “If we play like we did today, we have a good chance.”

Ansbach is the lone squad to get a positive result against the Dragons this season – a 2-2 tie on May 10.

Both sides expect another close encounter when the two square off at Ramstein High School, beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday.

“We expect their all, but we’re going to give it 110 percent,” Alejandro Diez said. “That’s how we came out with a win (today), and we’re not going to stop tomorrow.”