Tigers may be match for Lions in the wild, but not on soccer field

Hohenfels freshman Will Odhiambo shoots as AFNORTH center back Eren Ayik defends during the Division III boys title match of the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Nothing, not even civic obligations in his native Norway, was stopping AFNORTH’s William Hellebust from being available for Thursday’s Division III title match.

The Lion captain missed most of the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships because of military testing. Hellebust and his dad traveled south into Denmark and then drove from there to Ramstein High School to take on an upstart Hohenfels squad.

“I’d do anything to play football,” Hellebust said. “That’s why I’m here today.”

That drive was mirrored by the rest of the AFNORTH squad, and it culminated in a 6-2 victory over the Tigers. The win clinched the Lions’ second European crown in three seasons.

“We came here with a good mentality,” AFNORTH striker Alexander Teichl said. “We were fighting through hard, tired days, and we got what we wanted.

“We all have a lot of passion. We all knew what they were doing.”

The contest unfolded in a very different manner this season’s two previous contests between Hohenfels and AFNORTH.

The Lions won the regular season match by one goal, and during the tournament’s round-robin play, the two tied in regulation before AFNORTH won on penalties.

On Thursday, the Lions pounced on the Tigers almost from the get-go and jumped out to a four-goal advantage after 33 minutes, including three goals in an 11-minute span.

AFNORTH striker Alexander Teichl shoots during the Division III boys title match against Hohenfels at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels junior Matthew Stellfox, center left, and sophomore Felix Abaldo, center right, leap to head a corner during the Division III boys title match against AFNORTH at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH winger Patrick Stevens dribbles around Hohenfels sophomore Joey Dreger during the Division III boys title match of the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels attacker Joey Dreger and AFNORTH captain William Hellebust jostle for the ball during the Division III boys title match of the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH winger Patrick Stevens shoots from distance during the Division III boys title match against Hohenfels at the 2026 DODEA European soccer championships on May 21, 2026, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Teichl broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when he cleaned up a rebound off a Patrick Stevens shot that was saved by Hohenfels goalkeeper Julian Gonsalves. Tobias Blix doubled the lead in the 23rd minute, when the midfielder cut inside and rocketed a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box inside the right post.

Teichl added his second of three goals 2 minutes later via a long ball from Blix, and the Lions completed the blitz in the 33rd minute when winger Thomas Sheink headed in a Hellebust corner.

Yanislav Panayotkov and Teichl capped off the match in the opening 12 minutes of the second half.

“We had our ups and downs, but we still kept fighting,” Hellebust said. “We stayed disciplined, and that’s why we won this game and the championship.

“It’s fun to play because you play good football and show who the real boss is.”

A program on the rise, Hohenfels got a couple of consolation goals. Sophomore Joey Dreger received a pass from freshman Nathaniel Stellfox, turned his defender and fired the ball home to give the Tigers a boost.

Then, in the 75th minute, Grace Dermody excited even some of the AFNORTH side with an Olimpico off a corner.

Scoring straight from the corner was by design. On the first day of practice, coach Joe Dreger saw Dermody kick the ball, which started the origins of a play called “gold.” Felix Abaldo sets up in front of the keeper at the near post, and Dermody launches the ball to the back post.

It worked to perfect Thursday.

Dreger praised his team for not giving up after going down big early. He also is looking forward to the Tigers taking the next step next season, with most of the stars coming back.

“We’re a team full of fighters,” Dreger said. “We get in the huddle every time, and we say ‘pride.’ It gives me a chill every time because when we break, it gets louder and louder.

“The future is bright. We’re looking forward to building and expanding on this year.”