Royals get the better of Panthers again

Ramstein goalkeeper Grant Anderson grabs the ball ahead of Stuttgart winger James Sheppard during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Saturday morning’s Ramstein-Stuttgart boys soccer match seemed more like a replay from years past than the rivalry’s latest chapter.

The Panthers dominated possession and ended up nearly three times as many shots on goal (15 to six). The Royals did everything to frustrate the visitors before hitting them on the counterattack.

As usually has been the case under longtime head coach Dominik Ludes, the Royals got the better of Stuttgart, this time winning 3-1 at Ramstein High School.

Yet again, Ramstein (3-1, 3-1) handed the Panthers (3-1, 3-1) their first loss of the season, this time during the regular-season contest instead of during the tournament’s knockout rounds, which was the case the past two campaigns.

“Every year, we know the formation we’re going to play against them – they know that. We know what formation they’re going to play,” Ramstein coach Reagan Etherton said. “We’re prepared for that; we’re set up in a low block to try to contain and limit the opportunities.”

In the opening minutes, it looked as though the visitors were going to overwhelm the young Royals.

The Panthers peppered Ramstein goalkeeper Grant Anderson with nine shots on target and 15 overall in the first half. It was especially dangerous after Stuttgart’s James Sheppard connected on a cross from winger Cristian Ingle in the eighth minute to take the lead, as the Panthers prowled for a second goal.

Anderson stood on his head after that moment, making numerous key saves among the eight he recorded in the first half. His teammates also came to his aid by blocking various shots before they got to the goal.

“Stuttgart came strong as expected,” said Anderson, who finished with 14 saves. “I relied on my guys to get us back in the game after they scored their first goal. I believe my saves helped my team’s motivation to go up (and score).”

It took just one moment to turn the match on its head, and the Royals got it against the run of play.

Captain Keiran Goodall pressed at the Stuttgart backline for the first time in the 29th minute before being taken down in the box for a penalty when he had run into a dead end. In the 31st minute, after an injury stoppage, the winger converted the kick to tie it at 1-1.

The penalty was the hosts’ first shot in the match.

“You look for the contact, especially because I felt like I wasn’t going to get anywhere,” Goodall said.

The Royals took a one-goal advantage into halftime. Striker Kai Woodstock headed a cross from teammate Antoni Edwards that looped over Stuttgart goalkeeper Zane Kelly and slowly bounced over the line in the 38th minute.

The dagger came in the 59th minute when Logan Robosky cleaned up a rebound from a shot by midfielder Cristian Mata.

Stuttgart couldn’t get back into the match after that.

Panther coach John Bowman said his team must work on finishing after getting just one goal on 14 shots on target, as well as limiting its defensive errors.

“Honestly, we gifted both of (the first-half goals) to them,” Bowman said. “We made a mess of the one side before the PK, so we were scrambling. And then we centered the ball for them on the second goal.

“We just got to clean up our play.”

Ramstein defender Brett Monson jumps over teammate Grant Anderson after the Royal goalkeeper blocked a shot by Stuttgart winger Cristian Ingle during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart midfielder Maddox Boudreaux heads the ball away from Ramstein's Connor Mack during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart midfielder Albin Williams controls a pass in the 18-yard box during an April 18, 2026, match against Ramstein at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein winger Keiran Goodall tries to dribble past Stuttgart fullback Joseph Lugo during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart midfielder Christian Groves shoots as Ramstein midfielder Cristian Mata chases him during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Royals weren’t pleased with their performance when Ramstein and Stuttgart met during the preseason jamboree

That fueled the Royals when the Panthers came to town on Saturday afternoon. Ramstein picked up a pair of goals early in the second half before holding on for a 3-2 victory.

“That was not the way we wanted to start, so now is the time for payback,” Ramstein coach Alec Rodriguez said of his team’s mentality. “I think … that they really wanted to show the real face of Ramstein girls soccer rather than what they showed in the jamboree.”

The contest was tied 1-1 at the break via an own goal for the Royals in the fourth minute and an equalizer in the 11 minute by Stuttgart winger Alexandria Lyles, who dribbled around keeper for a wide-open net.

Ramstein (4-0, 4-0) used an eighth-minute span early in the second half to take the lead for good.

First, in the 48th minute, Claire floated a 30-yard shot over Stuttgart keeper Sophia Sirard and just under the crossbar. Then, in the 55th minute, winger Ava Smith sent a corner kick to the far post, where fellow winger Kayla Groat was waiting for it. Groat made no mistake and headed the ball home.

“We wanted to come out firing and just get ahead while we could, and Claire had a crazy good shot,” Groat said. “Ava played such a crazy good ball, and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

“All I could think about was getting it in the back of the net. I didn’t want to mess up such a perfect cross.”

The Panthers (3-1, 2-1) didn’t go without a fight. Lyles once again found the net in the 72nd minute on a free kick from the left wing, curling her shot into the upper right corner of the net.

Stuttgart pushed for a tying goal but fell short. Still, that mentality is what coach Nathan Garrett said he hopes to see from his players.

“The difference from years past is that when a team would score first, heads would drop. This year, it’s different … that culture of no-quit attitude,” he said. “It’s a learning moment. We’ve just got to grow from this.”

While Rodriguez credited his goal-scorers for taking their chances, he pointed to the defensive effort as a major reason for the team’s turnaround against its top title rival.

“The main message I want the girls to take from this, especially when we watch film, is that … embracing the dirty work and the defensive discipline that we showed is what won us this game,” Rodriguez said.

Ramstein winger Kayla Groat shoots from distance ahead of Stuttgart fullback Charlotte Ng during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein striker Kylie Ascherl and Stutgart's Lucy Robertson collide going for a ball during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

A corner crosses past Ramstein center back Claire Larsen, center, and goalkeeper Lance Wilson, center right, and Stuttgart attackers, from left, Eden Luce and Brielle Aplanalp during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein striker Kylie Ascherl dribbles away from Stuttgart center back Hannah Holmes during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart's Lucy Robertson and Ramstein center back Caydence Enger chase after a ball during an April 18, 2026, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart midfielder Brielle Aplanalp boots the ball forward during an April 18, 2026, match against Ramstein at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)