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On a day more suited for flying kites than playing soccer, Ramstein opened the 2019 season Saturday with a 2-0 boys victory and a 5-1 girls victory at Kaiserslautern. It was a testament to the advantage of a having an artificial turf playing surface. When the junior varsity games started at 10 a.m., it was in the 40s, raining and excessively windy. The hardy, bundled up fans looked like they were getting ready to watch a sled dog race instead of a high school soccer match. After the recent stretch of rain and inclement weather, a grass field would have been a mud bowl. But the surface at Kaiserslautern was dry and the games proceeded safely. By the end of the fourth game, for the varsity boys’ match at about 5 p.m., the sun was peeking out, but it was still extremely windy, still uncomfortably cold.
Kaiserslautern entered the boys contest as the two-time defending European League champion. But with the loss of most of the players that brought home those titles, the Raiders presented a whole new look with just four sophomores and a junior with no varsity experience. Like any team sport, it will take a while for them to get used to each other and find their collective niche. But it is evident that what they lack right now in experience they compensate with speed and athleticism. However, on this day, the savvy and experienced Ramstein team, led by a solid, steady defense, shut them down by negating their speed and taking control of the field.
“Our players were able to apply pressure and maintain exceptional positioning throughout the game, especially in the second half,” Coach Alberto Rios said. “Because of this, we were able to limit K-town’s options across the field which was a huge factor in the game’s outcome,” Rios said.
Ramstein opened the scoring at 18 minutes. Kaiserslautern goalie Alex Crossley managed to get in front of an absolute rocket and deflect the free kick. But he couldn’t get the handle and the ball squirted to his left and former Raider Conner Mackey swooped in and hammered it home, then celebrated vociferously, for the 1-0 lead.
Ramstein’s veteran defenders spent the rest of the half keeping the action in front of them. Whenever the Raiders challenged, they were stopped by steady goalkeeper Garrett Erickson. Kaiserslautern had perhaps its best chance to score at the 22 minute mark when Jaheim Allen managed to sneak behind the defenders on the left side, but his kick was up and wide. The action then stayed in the middle of the field, no one getting an advantage, until Ramstein’s Jaden Buelvas knocked one in low to the right side just before the half time for the 2-0 lead.
“We knew 2-0 was not a guarantee at halftime,” Rios said. “We told everyone to maintain focus and to continue to communicate on the field because we knew K-town would come out with more intensity than in the first half. K-town has some strong players and we had to adjust our defense to accommodate their play. I think the team did just that in the second half and that allowed us to keep the lead and take the win.”
The second half was scoreless, but Kaiserslautern had a stretch where it had three free kicks. The closest it got to scoring was when Erickson stopped a header shot following Gianni Dones curving pass. Dones was noticeable because of his passion, speed and toughness. His nose for the ball and aggressive style of play got him knocked down many times by larger defenders, but he always popped up and went for the ball again. Whenever he had it the Royals seemed a little more on guard. The Raiders looked for him to ignite the offense all game long, but Ramstein kept him bottled up.
“We were pleased with the communication on the field,” Rios said. “We will continue to work on that and, of course, our defense. This is only the first game and we know there is still a lot to work on as a team. Focus will be a huge factor moving forward because this is a long season. I think, if this game shows us anything, it shows us the players have a desire to play as one unit, as a team. That will be very important every time we take the field.”
Kaiserslautern Coach Enrique John knows it will take some time for his players to get into a rhythm but was pleased with its spring debut.
“Our players playing against Ramstein for the first game was indeed a challenge, but I look at it in a positive way,” John said. “The way we played was admirable. We were not dominated in any way. One of the lessons learned was that we have to make better use of the few chances that are presented. If we don’t then the result speaks for itself.”
He said it is the responsibility of the coaching staff to integrate the young players and make sure they understand the way of performing at a level they are not used to.
“Just like any other team where you have 14 or 15 new players, they have to learn each other and also how to integrate and become one,” John said. “That is always a challenge, especially with a young team starting out. Being the defending champions, every team we play is going to challenge us, but I’m very confident the players will step up to the plate and bring out the best in themselves. It is a matter of patience and time.”
The girls matchup was dominated by Ramstein from the beginning. It is led by ten returning varsity players and a talented quartet of front liners, Haley Deome and Alexis Tri in the middle and Rocio Fernandez and Allie Davis providing support and dominance as left and right wings. The Royals got behind the Kaiserslautern defenders all afternoon and repeatedly tested Kaiserslautern goalie Jaymie Gulley. The tone was set early when Deome got her right foot into one on which Gulley made the point blank save. It was the beginning of a very busy day for Gulley.
Ramstein’s midfielders made sure the ball stayed in front of them and continually set up the four attackers to start the action. The athletic Fernandez started the scoring with a 15 foot shot upper right on a pass from Tri at eight minutes. It would have been 2-0 two minutes later, but Gulley stuffed Fernandez and Tri. A few minutes later, Deome outsprinted the defense to the loose ball and slid one in the upper left for the second goal. Fernandez closed out the first half scoring with a hard shot upper right for the 3-0 lead. The stingy Royals defense kept the Kaiserslautern strikers in check and kept the ball in the Raiders end for most of the half. Ball possession was highly in Ramstein’s favor.
In the second half, Tri’s aggressiveness and Ramstein’s overall strength and experience kept the pressure on the Raiders net. Ramstein made it 4-0 at the seven-minute mark and Fernandez got her hat trick with a left footer for the 5-0 margin.
Kaiserslautern avoided the shutout late in the period when Savanna Vickers got open in the middle and converted a pass from sweeper Chloe Martin, scoring low left, making it 5-1.
Ramstein Coach Katina Campbell was pleased with the overall performance for an opening game.
“The aggressiveness and speed of the front four were not the only factors to our victory,” Campbell said. “Our defensive line also provided excellent support and coverage for our goalkeepers, Morgan Lewis and Christene Merrill. Anna Abell, Kat Ruffing, Jane Rawcliffe and Gabby Pace created a ‘great wall’ against the advances of the K-town strikers.”
Now that the first one is in the books, the Royals have a better idea of what to expect of themselves.
“With the first game behind us, reflection on what is good and what needs improvement is essential,” Campbell said. “I liked the speed and endurance exhibited by all the athletes which fueled the team to challenge the advances by our opponent and dominate the match. We want to work on more effective field crosses, improving our corner kicks, and increasing the communication of the midfield to command and control the field.”
Both Ramstein’s girls and boys bus to Stuttgart tomorrow, the girls taking on the defending European League champion and an indicator of where they stand against the league’s elite. Kaiserslautern is also on the road, traveling to Wiesbaden. Ramstein’s next home game will be on March 30. Kaiserslautern is at home again on April 20.
