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Bitter rivals and perennial Division I contenders Heidelberg and Ramstein battled to a 1-1 tie at Ramstein in a non-regional high school boys soccer opener for both teams on Saturday.

"As usual in this old rivalry, the action was intense and the pace was fast," Ramstein coach Dan Nukala said an e-mail report.

After a scoreless first half, returning All-Europe selection Glenn Verley, assisted by Ryan Dorofee, scored for Ramstein. Enrique Grandacarpio scored for Heidelberg to even the score.

"The game was very much a defensive battle," Nukala wrote, "…with both goalies making some acrobatic saves to keep the game close."

In other boys games of note on opening day:

AFNORTH 7, Menwith Hill 0: On Saturday at Brunssum, Netherlands, defending European Division III champion AFNORTH deployed its returning All-Europe weapons from the outset in romping past their D-IV guests.

All-Europe senior striker James Perea scored three goals, and his All-Europe senior teammate Tobias Christmann, a defender, handed out two assists for the Lions, who led 5-0 at halftime. The seven-goal courtesy rule came into effect three minutes into the second half, when Jose Munoz followed Perea’s third goal with one of his own.

"… Perea, Riley Robinson, … Christmann, and Riyad Aliohali dominated the offensive pitch throughout the contest against a young and inexperienced Menwith Hill team," AFNOTH coach Greg Blankenship reported in an e-mail. "Nick Cale, Brock Blankenship, Aaron Black and Vegard Dahl limited Menwith Hill to zero shots on goal throughout the contest."

Wiesbaden 1, SHAPE 1: Logan Shelton scored the second-half equalizer for host Wiesbaden on Saturday against the reigning European D-II champions.

"They have a very tactical, disciplined team," Wiesbaden coach Ben Arcila said by telephone. "It was a beautiful game to watch."

Simone Arcamole broke through in the first 40 minutes for SHAPE’s goal, but the play of defensive midfielder Allan Gray and 14 saves by goalkeeper Chris Geddings denied the Spartans thereafter.

Geddings "kept us in the game," Arcila said.

AOSR 6, Aviano 1: On Saturday at Aviano, Lorenzo Bassetti scored four times as the American Overseas School of Rome, winner of eight European Division III championships since 1997, established its credentials for 2009 at the expense of D-II Aviano.

Lakenheath 2, Alconbury: On Saturday at Alconbury, goals by Joe Sullivan and Sean Gallegos got the D-I Lancers past their D-IV hosts. All-Europe senior keeper David Blose made five saves for Alconbury.

Bamberg 3, Ansbach 2: Saturday at Bamberg was the day of the freshmen as Ansbach’s Paul Farinosi scored both of his team’s goals and Bamberg’s Tyler Lewis tallied all three of his team’s. Both strikers were making their varsity debuts.

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