Europe
AFNORTH boys win, girls battle to tie with Brussels
Stars and Stripes
March 22, 2013
AFNORTH's River Shank gets a shot off against Brussels in the Lions' 5-4 home win over the Brigands on Thursday. At left is Nick Liebiediev, at right is Michael DeFazio. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH's River Shank gets a shot off against Brussels in the Lions' 5-4 home win over the Brigands on Thursday. At left is Nick Liebiediev, at right is Michael DeFazio. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH's Ryan Mantell, left, and Gabe Cima of Brussels battle for the ball in Thursday's season opener for both teams at AFNORTH. The home team won an even match in the end, 5-4. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Kristian Javier of Brussels, left, brings the ball up the field against Luke Narug of AFNORTH in the season opener for both teams at AFNORTH Thursday night. Javier scored three goals, but that was not enough as the Lions went on to win 5-4. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Brussels keeper Danny Helbling pulls in the ball against a flying Luke Narug of AFNORTH in the season opener for both teams at AFNORTH on Thursday. The Lions defeated the Brigands in an exciting game 5-4. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Aleeza Vitale of Brussels and AFNORTH's Samantha Stanton battle for the ball in a Thursday evening game at AFNORTH. The teams tied 1-1 in their season opener. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Ali DeFazio of Brussels, right, and Maike Wagner of AFNORTH battle for the ball in the teams' season opener at AFNORTH. The game ended 1-1. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH's Maike Wagner clears the ball in front of Gabby Friedhoff of Brussels in a Thursday evening game at AFNORTH. The teams played their season opener to a 1-1 tie. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH's Oguzhan Yabici gets off a shot in front of Hayden Pfefferkorn of Brussels in the Lions' 5-4 win over the visiting Brigands in the season opener for both teams. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Nicholas Marinich, left, watches as Brussels keeper Danny Helbling tries in vain to reach the game-winning shot as the host AFNORTH Lions defeated Brussels 5-4 in the season opener for both teams Thursday night. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
BRUNSSUM, Netherlands – The DODDS-Europe soccer season is expected to feature a lot of close games this year and Thursday’s season-opening Region I doubleheader between Brussels American and AFNORTH didn’t disappoint.
After a scoreless first half in the girls game, AFNORTH’s Hope BonenClark scored in the 57th minute, but the Lions’ lead was short-lived thanks to Hannah Saunders’ answer two minutes later. Neither team found the net after that and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
Goals were more plentiful in the boys matchup, which ended in a 5-4 victory for the hosts – despite three goals from Brussels’ Kristian Javier. Gabe DeSouza, Logan Harless, Philipp Karich, Claudius Karich and River Shank all found the net for AFNORTH, according to coach Kevin Padron. Nicholas Marinich scored the other goal for Brussels.
Brussels goalkeeper Daniel Helbling was kept busy and was credited with 13 saves.
The Brigands are back in action March 28 against SHAPE. AFNORTH doesn’t play again until April 19.