Wiesbaden goalkeeper Ty Waldron deflects a shot on goal from Ramstein during the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. Waldron was instrumental in Wiesbaden's 3-2 win over Ramstein. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — No team was a true underdog heading into Wednesday’s semifinal games for the Boy’s Division I DODEA-Europe soccer championships, but Stuttgart and Wiesbaden nevertheless knocked out top-seeded SHAPE and two-time defending champion Ramstein to advance to the finals on Thursday with 2-0 and 3-2 wins respectively.
The Panthers front line, led by seniors Maddox Boudreaux and Cristian Ingle, was relentless in the first half striking hard and fast, pushing the pace, and keeping the Spartans on their back feet.
“We knew that if we didn’t bring the energy in the first couple of minutes, then we were going to be playing a catchup game,” Ingle said. “We brought it out early and we put it away quickly.”
It didn’t take long for Stuttgart to draw first blood with a goal from sophomore Albin Williams in the seventh minute, but William’s game was unfortunately cut short only a few minutes later, as he exited the game with a knee injury.
It was another roster loss for the Panthers who were already down a player from earlier in the tournament.
“It’s always concerning when a player goes out, but this is a team that’s been able to do it throughout the entire lineup,” Stuttgart assistant coach Chris Kelly said after the game. “Everyone got to contribute today.”
A second goal came off the head of Boudreaux in the 28th minute and a third goal was nearly scored by senior striker James Sheppard, but a heads-up play by Spartan defender Luis Carvajal to cover the net prevented the gap from widening further.
There was a bit of déjà vu for both teams on the sidelines at halftime, as each recalled the May 9 game that started in a similar fashion and ended in a 2-2 draw.
Stuttgart moved into a more defensive posture in the second half that allowed SHAPE to press the field, but ultimately, the Spartans were held to only a small handful of shots on goal.
Kelly said Stuttgart’s defense was a focal point heading into the game.
“[Christian] Groves, in that back line, did an amazing job,” Kelly said. “He just shut the door and didn’t allow them any real opportunities that were able to get in the back of the net.”
It was a tough loss for SHAPE, that was hopeful it could break its decades long championship drought, after remaining undefeated throughout the regular season and most of the tournament.
“It’s a good team, and I don’t know if that was evident today, but it has been all season,” SHAPE head coach Erika Aquino said, adding that the Spartans would re-group overnight and hopefully finish the season strong with a third-place award because the team deserves recognition.
Stuttgart sophomore Albin Williams dribbles past SHAPE midfielder Chase Lattemore during the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. Williams scored a goal in the Panthers’ 2-0 win. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE defender Tavin Cairney clears the ball during a game against Stuttgart in the semifinals of the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart senior Cristian Ingle shoots on goal against SHAPE during the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships sy Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. The Panthers will advance to the championship again against Wiesbaden on Thursday. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart’s Maddox Boudreaux and SHAPE’s Marten Muuisepp jump for a header during the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The Wiesbaden Warriors had similar success in the second semifinal of the day, but their path to victory over Ramstein looked quite different.
Wiesbaden entered Wednesday’s semifinal coming off a pool-play loss to Stuttgart, but the Warriors had already notched a 1-0 victory over Ramstein on April 11.
According to freshman Roman Gomez, the past didn’t matter.
“We took a loss, but we have the mind of a goldfish,” Gomez said. “It’s one game by game, one goal by goal, one second by second.”
Both teams seemed evenly matched at the start with neither giving up much space in the first few minutes.
Wiesbaden was able to pull ahead in the sixth minute with a strike around 15 meters out from senior Gabriel Dawson that sailed into the top of the net after a deflected corner kick.
Presented with the opportunities, Gomez recorded two scores from close range at the 21st and 33rd minutes.
Ramstein struggled to build momentum in the first half and what few chances they managed were stymied by junior goalkeeper Ty Waldron.
Unlike Stuttgart earlier in the day, Wiesbaden seemed to lose focus, and the defense started to crack under pressure from the defending champions as the game progressed.
“We try to avoid the air as much as possible,” Wiesbaden head coach Tariq Zangana said while highlighting Ramstein’s ability to push the ball downfield. “I’m not sure if they won the coin toss, but to use the wind in the second half, that really made it a struggle.”
Waldron had to earn his keep defending a flurry of shots from the Royals. Not long after halftime, Wiesbaden’s lead went to two and another goal in minute 64 from senior Kai Woodstock put Ramstein back in the game with plenty of time left.
A late header from sophomore Antoni Edwards with only a couple minutes left appeared to lock the contest at 3-3, but the goal was negated by an offsides call.
“It was a little bit scary and nerve-racking … I’m still shaking a bit,” Waldron said. “I trust my guys, so I knew we’d be alright.”
Wiesbaden freshman Roman Avakian Gomez dribbles past Ramstein defender Kilean Cortez on his way to the net during the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. Gomez scored two goals in Wiesbaden’s 3-2 victory. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden forward Gabriel Dawson shoots on goal against Ramstein during the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. Dawson scored a goal in Wiesbaden’s 3-2 win. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein midfielder Antoni Edwards heads the ball into the net late in the second half of the semifinals during the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. The goal was negated as junior James Yost was called offsides. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein goalie Grant Anderson leaps to defend against a goal from Wiesbaden’s Gabriel Dawson during the semifinals of the semifinals of the 2026 DODEA European Division I championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2026. The two-time defending champion Ramstein lost to Wiesbaden in a 3-2 contest. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart’s Boudreaux, Graves, and Ingle all quickly agreed after their semis win, that they’d prefer to play Wiesbaden in Thursday’s championship, because they are comfortable with the Warrior’s tactics and are confident in their ability to score a second victory over the tournament rival.
“They think they know us, but they haven’t seen us at our best,” Gomez said. “They want to play the strongest opponent, and we want to play them too — this is going to be the biggest final in a while.”
Thursday’s contest will give the Panthers a chance to redeem themselves after falling to Ramstein in last year’s championship, while the Warriors advance to the finals for the first time since 2023.
Wiesbaden lost 2-1 that year to none other than Stuttgart.
