As it turns out, the best way to turn around an 0-3 start by the defending European girls Division II soccer champions is not to invite Division I power Ramstein over to kick the ball around.
"Ramstein dominated from start to finish," Mannheim coach John Crockett said by telephone Saturday after five Lady Royals scored in a 5-0 victory that sent Mannheim, unbeaten in 2008, to 0-4 in 2009.
Laura Welch scored one goal and assisted on two others to lead the offensive show. Defensively, Ramstein (3-0 overall, 2-0 Region II) allowed no shots on goal. The Lady Royals are unscored-upon this season.
In other girls games of note:
Baumholder 5, Kaiserslautern 4: On Saturday in the rain and mud at Baumholder, All-Europe Katrina Alsup scored two goals and assisted on two others as the D-III power Lady Bucs outgunned their D-I visitors.
Lauren Dooley also scored twice and posted an assist for Baumholder. Ariana Eoff had two goals for K-town.
Baumholder coach Sam Alsup praised the defensive play of Alexandra Bower, who, he wrote in an e-mail, "saved many shots from reaching the goalie/goal."
Baumholder is 2-1 overall and in Region II; K-town of D-I fell to 1-2, 0-2.
Lakenheath 4, Bitburg 1: On Saturday at RAF Lakenheath, England, Kayla Shouey scored twice, and Vannessa James led the defensive charge.
Naples 3, Aviano 0: On Saturday at Aviano, Italy, Naples assumed the driver’s seat in the American Schools in Italy League race behind two goals off the foot Dana Coburn.
Naples, which defeated Vicenza 5-1 on Friday behind freshman Haley Witz’s three goals, improved to 3-0 overall and in Region IV.
Aviano, which defeated visiting Sigonella 3-0 on Friday as Alyssa Lane scored twice, is 2-1-1.
Heidelberg 3, Hohenfels 1: On Saturday at Hohenfels, Rebecca Luna, Asya Tucker and All-European Maggie Cutler provided the scoring, which when combined with 13 saves by Heidelberg keeper Melanie Stordahl handed the Lady Lions (2-1) their second Region III victory in as many tries.
Loisann DeLass, off a feed from Darien Eldred, scored a second-half goal for Hohenfels (1-2, 0-2).
Wiesbaden 5, Ansbach 0: On Saturday at Ansbach, Jaelyn Coats banged home two goals to keep the Lady Warriors (3-0) unbeaten in 2009.
Kristina Coleman, Clarie Freelove and Danielle Hill also tallied in the romp.
Viseck 5, Bamberg 2: On Saturday at Bamberg, Tamaria Hollis scored twice, and goalkeeper Stevi Hood turned back 15 shots.
Hanna Fellenger scored on a penalty kick for Bamberg and assisted on her team’s other goal, tallied by Isha Sumah.