Naples, Black Forest Academy are set for Round 2

Black Forest Academy midfielder Esther Lee heads away a corner before Rota senior Carly Jacobs can get to it while Falcons, from left, Kylie Cousens, Priscilla Sivonen and Eden Miller watch during a Division II semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

REICHENBACH-STEEGEN, Germany — Black Forest Academy received a gut punch right before halftime of a Division II semifinal match against Rota.

The Falcons had an advantage thanks to a goal from Lily Shkoza off a Nava Boyd cross, but then came an Admiral free kick. Rota senior Emma Montoya launched it toward goal, and Jourdan Timmons pounced on it for an equalizer.

Seeing his players’ reaction at the break, coach Jack Wilson had a simple message.

“I said, ‘If you keep your heads down, you’re going to invite more pressure, and you’re going to lose this game,’ ” Wilson said. “I was like, ‘You got to get your heads up, don’t be discouraged and go and get the goal, and then we’re going to lock it down.’ ”

That pep talk proved to be prophetic.

The Falcons recovered in the second half and pulled out a 2-1 victory on the grass field at VfB Reichenbach.

The victory qualified BFA (6-2-2) for final of the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships, the same stage the Falcons made last year before falling.

The match-winning goal came via a player Wilson called the “GOAT” — Esther Lee.

Shkoza was awarded a penalty after a Rota defender took her down in the 18-yard box in the 47th minute. Lee stepped up and buried the penalty for her sixth goal of the tournament.

As well as being an important goal for the team, it helped Lee’s confidence. She mentioned how she hit the crossbar with a penalty earlier this campaign, so she was a bundle of nerves at the spot.

“I was like, ‘I can’t miss. I’ve got to put it in the net,’” Lee said. “I was so relieved. That really changed our game.”

After that, the Falcons shut down Rota (4-3-3) and its star Timmons. BFA man-marked her throughout, and after retaking the lead, Wilson put both Lee and teammate Priscilla Sivonen in defense to help.

The Admirals struggled to muster any clear-cut chances after that.

Despite falling short, Rota coach Ben Anderson praised his players for following through with the game plan.

“Two good teams played a very good game, and they just had one more goal than us,” Anderson said. “Today, we just didn’t quite do enough. I don’t even want to say (that) – they just did a little bit more.”

BFA, meanwhile, returns to Ramstein High School on Thursday, seeking revenge for a loss from a year ago.

“Last year we were scared. It was a big field; we were not used to it at all,” Lee said. “But this year, we know what it’s like to be on that field.”

Black Forest Academy goalkeeper Eden Miller corrals a ball ahead of Rota midfielder Sofia Schonffeldt during a Division II semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Rota defender Rylee Brooks holds off a challenge from Black Forest Academy midfielder Kylie Cousens during a Division II semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Black Forest Academy captain Olivia Wilson dribbles away from Rota forward Jourdan Timmons during a Division II semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Falcons will see a familiar opponent when they get to that final.

Three-time defending champion Naples came back to defeat an upstart American Overseas School of Rome program 3-1 in the later semifinal match.

Naples’ Georgia July admitted she was nervous heading into her first Euros semifinal, especially as the Wildcats (10-0-1) are trying to continue their dynasty.

“I was a little bit nervous going in,” July said. “As a freshman, it was kind of scary with the pressure of it.”

The Wildcats got goals from Sophie Garcia, Amalia Selph and July.

Garcia’s was especially important as it came right before the break.

“(The goal) right before the half gave the girls a mental push and that energy to believe that we’re still involved, that we’re still fighting for it,” Naples assistant coach Matteo Pugliese said. “We were playing a bit more aggressive, fighting for the balls.”

Selph’s shot from distance early in the second half gave Naples the lead for good. July iced the match with 9 minutes left by beating AOSR goalkeeper Hailey Carballo to a long ball and sliding it into the wide-open net.

“I just had tunnel vision at the goal,” July said. “I was just, go, go, go, don’t stop.”

AOSR coach Stephen Aldred said his Falcons took big strides this season after a couple of down years.

Considering his roster is losing less than a handful of players, the Falcons might be soaring even higher come 2027.

“They’re going to be in shock for a bit, but they worked really hard and deserved to get to this point,” Aldred said. “Our goal is to try and come third, get our name on the school banner in the gym and move on for next year.

Even though the Wildcats have beaten BFA in the past, they aren’t looking past the Falcons.

Pugliese praised BFA and said Naples will have its hands full trying to stop its next opponent.

“BFA’s a great team, very physical, technical,” Pugliese said. “We expect a hard-fought game, and we expect it to be a challenging final.”

Naples defender Melodee Hodosky controls the ball along the sideline during a Division II semifinal against American Overseas School of Rome at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Naples center back Sonja Gottlieb boxes out American Overseas School of Rome forward Sara Morales during a Division II semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

American Overseas School of Rome sophomore Carolina Poddighe shoots before Naples captain Sonja Gottlieb can block the ball during a Division II semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

American Overseas School of Rome junior Julia Gazulis boots the ball forward during a Division II semifinal against Naples at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 20, 2026, at VfB Reichenbach in Reichenbach-Steegen, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)