BFA junior Priscilla Sivonen and Naples' Sonja Gottlieb leap for the ball during the final game of the 2026 Division II DODEA European soccer championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 21, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — The Black Forest Academy girls’ soccer team had a single focus at the start of the 2026 season — making it back to the DODEA-Europe Division II soccer championship game.
After three days of battling the mid-size school division’s top seeded teams, the Falcons were only 80 minutes away from achieving their year-long goal—or so they thought.
It took a bit longer than that, but after two overtime periods, BFA prevailed in a 3-2 win over Naples that gave the team its first championship win since 2019.
“We were fighting the whole time,” senior and team captain Olivia Wilson said. “I’m very thankful for my team because we all played together so well.”
Naples certainly wasn’t going to go down without a fight. The Wildcats came out of the gate swinging, catching the Falcons off-guard with a goal from Sonja Gottlieb in the first two minutes of the game.
The Falcons stayed calm and the defense was able to lock in, but the Wildcats were also effective defensively. The ball stayed around midfield for a majority of the first half with neither team wanting to concede more than a few feet to the opponent.
Nearly every scoring opportunity came off a corner, free kick, or throw in.
“We know our strengths,” BFA head coach Jack Wilson said. “We know where there’s opportunities on set pieces, where if we do it right, we can create goal scoring opportunities.”
It’s precisely what the Falcons did. Junior midfielder Esther Lee sunk her first of two free kicks in the 13th minute to tie the score at one.
“This is actually my first time ever scoring a free kick,” Lee said after Thursday’s game, adding that she nearly had her first in last year’s championship game but jumped the whistle and had the goal negated.
Naples was able to sneak in another score on a fast attack from forward Lexi Fegette in the 31st minute, but otherwise, the Falcons’ back line did a fine job jamming the box and protecting goalkeeper Eden Miller.
Down 2-1, but with the wind at their backs in the second half, Lee and company were able to press down the wings more effectively.
Naples’ defense held strong, but Lee’s cannon of a leg continued to torment Wildcats keeper Mia Randazzo from well outside the penalty box including a second free kick that sailed below the crossbar in the 74th minute to take the game to its first overtime.
Naples' Sonja Gottlieb jumps to trap the ball with her knee during the final game of the 2026 Division II DODEA European soccer championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 21, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Falcons defender Lily Cox clears the ball from Wildcats forward Lexi Fegette during the final game of the 2026 Division II DODEA European soccer championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 21, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
A free kick from BFA striker Esther Lee sails over the hands of Naples goalkeeper Mia Randazzo during the final game of the 2026 Division II DODEA European soccer championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 21, 2026. Lee's score sent the game to overtime with a 2-2 score. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy freshman Charlotte Van Meter celebrates after her game winning goal against Naples in overtime during the final game of the 2026 Division II DODEA European soccer championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 21, 2026. BFA won the match 3-2 and claimed its first title win since 2019. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Junior Esther Lee sends a free kick into the top of the net during the final game of the 2026 Division II DODEA European soccer championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 21, 2026. Lee scored twice from free kicks in BFA’s 3-2 victory. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
BFA defenders Sierra Tweedy and Hannah Carey block Naples forward Isabella Vitrella during the final game of the 2026 Division II DODEA European soccer championships at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 21, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
“Good things happen when the ball goes to Esther Lee,” Wilson said. “If you foul her, she’ll take a free kick, and if you let her through, she’ll score a goal.”
The first 10 minutes of extra play were reminiscent of the first half with neither team able to get an edge. But two minutes into the second OT, freshman Charlotte Van Meter was able to break away for the go ahead score that brought an end to Naples’ three-year reign at the top of the division.
BFA plays a mostly Division I schedule due to its location in southern Germany, but Wilson said going up against DODEA’s big schools helps the squad prepare for tough contests like Thursday’s championship win.
“We know we’re not a part of the Department of Defense, but we’re so privileged that they invite us to participate,” Wilson said “We’re happy win, lose, or tie…we’re just happy we get to compete.”
