Soccer will be the first sport to reach the finish line in this unusual DODDS-Europe spring season, with its four-day European championship tournaments set for May 20-23 at Ramstein and Kaiserslautern.
With just two full weekends of on-field action remaining until the postseason, a handful of teams have navigated their fluid schedules without suffering a loss. Here’s a look at those teams and their hopes of surviving the season unbeaten.
BoysAFNORTH (3-0-1)
The Lions celebrated a long-sought Division II basketball title in February, and many of the same student-athletes are now hoping to duplicate the feat on the pitch.
Signature game: Edged Division I Lakenheath 1-0 on April 20.
Biggest remaining threat: Hosts defending Division I champion ISB on May 4.
Heidelberg (5-0)
The Lions are making their final season memorable for all the right reasons.
SIgnature game: A convincing 3-0 shutout of rival Patch on April 27.
Biggest remaining threat: A May 11 game at Vilseck brings a long road trip and a worthy opponent.
ISB (3-0)
The Raiders are riding the momentum of last year’s surprise Division I title victory.
Signature game: Nipped Kaiserslautern 2-1 on April 20.
Biggest remaining threat: Visits AFNORTH on May 4.
Marymount (4-0)
MMI came from obscurity to win Division II gold in 2012; this time they’re winning in plain sight.
Signature game: A 3-1 victory over once-beaten American Overseas School of Rome on April 13.
Biggest remaining threat: A regular-season-ending trip to Naples on May 11.
Ramstein (4-0)
A Division I also-ran a year ago, the Royals haven’t yielded a goal against all season.
Signature game: A riveting 1-0 takedown of last year’s runner-up, Patch, on April 26.
Biggest remaining threat: Visits a dangerous Wiesbaden squad May 11.
SHAPE (3-0-2)
The Spartans are barely hanging on among the ranks of the unbeaten with an active streak of two tie games.
Signature game: Salvaged a 1-1 tie with AFNORTH on April 27.
Biggest remaining threat: Travels to ISB on May 7.
GirlsISB (2-0-1)
Overshadowed by the school’s reigning boys champions, the girls are making a run at their own title.
Signature game: Narrowly avoided defeat with a 1-1 tie against Kaiserslautern on April 20.
Biggest remaining threat: Tough Division III foe Alconbury visits Friday.
Naples (3-0-1)
The Wildcat dynasty lives on, though Italian contenders seem to be making inroads.
Signature game: Aviano landed a blow for the Region IV field with a 1-1 tie March 29.
Biggest remaining threat: Solid Sigonella takes its shot May 4.
Ramstein (5-0)
The reigning Division I European champions won’t surrender their title easily.
SIgnature game: A 2-1 victory over Patch on April 26 in a rematch of last year’s European championship game.
Biggest remaining threat: The regular season concludes May 11 with a potential trap game at Wiesbaden.
SHAPE (4-0-1)
The Spartans have navigated their Region I schedule skillfully and are three wins away from an unbeaten season.
Signature game: Swept a two-game season series with Lakenheath with a 2-1 win April 19.
Biggest remaining threat: A May 7 showdown with unconquered regional rival ISB.
Twitter: @broomestripes
