Warriors finally get that elusive trophy for the case

Wiesbaden goalkeeper Ty Waldron leaps to grab a corner ahead of Stuttgart winger Cristian McGinnis during the Division I boys final at the 2026 DODEA soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Gabriel Dawson was one of many Warriors who stared in disbelief on the field at Ramstein High School following a loss to Stuttgart in the Division I final three years ago.

Thursday evening, the senior had a similar look — although for the opposite reason.

The Warriors defeated the Panthers 1-0 in the 2026 Division I title match at the 2026 DODEA European soccer tournament.

“I can’t believe we did it,” Dawson said. “It’s unreal to me.”

It’s a title Wiesbaden (9-3) has been chasing for years.

Thursday’s title is the first one of which anyone currently associated with the high school and the boys soccer program is aware.

Coach Tariq Zangana played for the Warriors when he was in high school, and he was around when the 2023 squad just missed out on ending the drought. So, the European crown meant a lot to him, he said.

“We just wanted to make history,” Zangana said. “We knew we had the opportunity a few years ago, and we wanted to take advantage of it. We’re so glad we did.”

Wiesbaden got out to an early lead thanks to a moment of magic between Dawson and sophomore Zachary Wigglesworth. The latter stopped the ball from going over the end line and crossed it across the edge of the 6-yard box. A wide-open Dawson then headed the ball into the back of the net.

“I was thinking, ‘I got to hit this,’ ” Dawson said of his thoughts on the goal. “It comes to my head, and it’s the most natural instinct for me, too.

“It was amazing when it went in. It was amazing running to the crowd. It was amazing with my team huddled all around congratulating me.”

Little did the forward/midfielder realize he had scored the match-winner.

Stuttgart captain Christian Groves attemps a bicycle kick among a group of Warriors that includes, from center left, Jaden Ruiz, Robert Milan and Joseph Valencia during the Division I boys final at the 2026 DODEA soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden forward Liam Ho and Stuttgart defender Christian Groves jump for a throw-in during the Division I boys final at the 2026 DODEA soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden midfielder Jaden Ruiz keeps the ball away from Stuttgart defender Christian Groves during the Division I boys final at the 2026 DODEA soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart midfielder Maddox Boudreaux ushers Wiesbaden midfielder Zachary Wigglesworth during the Division I boys final at the 2026 DODEA soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden defender Elias Priet slides in to tackle the ball away from Stuttgart winger Kai Button during the Division I boys final at the 2026 DODEA soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden shut the door on the Panthers (8-2-2) defensively, allowing just four shots on target and eight overall. Even those shots weren’t particularly threatening to goalkeeper Ty Waldron.

“I didn’t have to do a whole lot,” said Waldron, the tournament’s MVP. “They did a great job. I’m very proud of them.”

The Warriors still faced a few nervy moments, especially in the closing minute as Stuttgart launched free kick after free kick toward Waldron’s net.

But once again, the defense held strong and kept everything away.

“I was just waiting for it to be over,” Waldron said. “Honestly, it was pretty nerve-wracking, knowing we were only up by one, but our defense has been pretty good, and we took care of it.”

Part of the reason for the Panthers’ offensive outage was they were missing the tournament’s leading goal scorer, Albin Williams, who was injured in the semifinal win over SHAPE.

Stuttgart assistant coach Chris Kelly said the players tried to fill his shoes, but they fell just short for the second consecutive year.

“The team I thought fought really hard with the guys that jumped out there and attempted to fill his void,” Chris Kelly said. “For the most part, we did, except for just getting that goal we needed at the end of the game.”

Kelly also said the result doesn’t sour the season for Stuttgart.

The Warriors, meanwhile, started the long-awaited celebrations after the match. And it didn’t seem like they were going to end any time soon.

“We played with all our hearts, and we gave everything we had,” Zangana said. “It means everything to us.”