Kaiserslautern’s Antonio Robles, left, chips the ball over Vilseck goalkeeper Jayson Baldwin during the second half of Saturday afternoon’s match at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Trailing the play is, center left, the Falcons’ David Henderson. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Vilseck’s Stokley Fudge told his teammates he wanted them to be more like lions than their falcon mascot.

He explained how the lion isn’t the biggest, strongest or fastest in the savannah. What makes it king, though, is its heart, its desire. That piece is what the sophomore wanted the Falcons to display.

Vilseck did just that, sprinting out to a four-goal advantage at halftime and holding on for its first win of the season, 5-4 over Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

“Before the game, I told them that we’ve been trying to find the keys to success, and it hasn’t been working out. Today, we needed to break through that door,” Fudge said. “We all had heart in the end, and that’s what I’m trying to inspire in our team.”

It’s a win both Fudge and Vilseck coach Mary Corrigan said they hope will inspire more success this season.

The Falcons (1-3, 1-1) had lost their previous three matches by no fewer than five goals. On Saturday, Vilseck found itself down in the ninth minute, when the Raiders’ Isaac Phillips scored off a give-and-go with teammate Ethan Miller.

Vilseck responded with five straight goals.

Vilseck's Stokley Fudge, right, dribbles as Kaiserslautern's Brandon Patterson, left, jostles during the first half of Saturday's match at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The Falcons won, 5-4. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's John Allen Koyama, right, pokes the ball away from Kaiserslautern's Nikolai Engeman, center, during a Saturday afternoon match at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Also defending for Vilseck is Gabe Darnell. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's John Allen Koyama, center, runs behind the defense while Kaiserslautern's Brandon Patterson, right, checks for help during Saturday afternoon's match at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern's Nikolai Engeman, center left, clears the ball while fellow Raiders, from left, William Herrman and Jackson Armstrong watch during Saturday afternoon's match against Vilseck at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Then, in the second half, the Falcons were pushed by Kaiserslautern (1-2, 1-2), with the Raiders making it 5-4 in the 71st minute after Antonio Robles beat Vilseck goalkeeper Jayson Baldwin to a long ball and lobbed it over him.

Once again, Vilseck managed to respond, this time by not allowing the Raiders to get off shots in the defensive third of the field and then killing off clock by keeping the ball on the other end.

“It showed a great deal of growth,” Corrigan said. “The past two games against Wiesbaden and against Vicenza, our biggest enemy has been ourselves and not being able to pull ourselves out when we got down by a goal or so. This was a commitment that they made to each other, that they were going to play till the end.

“It was a little messy, but I’m very, very proud of them.”

The first half wasn’t messy for the Falcons.

In fact, they pounced on their prey by using its strategy against it. Kaiserslautern played with a high defensive line, which led to 11 offside calls – including eight in the first half. The problem was it left a lot of space behind the defenders for Vilseck attacks.

Fudge took advantage of that, with three of his goals coming in open play, either getting behind the defense with a pass or speeding right past the defenders with the ball at his feet and shooting past Raider keeper William Herrmann. His fourth goal came on a penalty he earned in the 12th minute.

With John Allen Koyama’s goal in the 19th minute that made it 4-1, the sophomore defensive midfielder passed the ball to himself to get behind the line and on net.

“I think it played a little to our advantage,” Corrigan said of the Raiders’ high line. “We got quickness and some very young players.”

In the second half, the Raiders roared back, peppering Vilseck’s goal with seven shots on target. Phillips opened the comeback attempt in the 44th minute, while Aaron Zamor dribbled around the keeper to make it a two-goal disadvantage in the 49th minute.

Despite the time remaining after Robles’ late goal, Kaiserslautern couldn’t complete the comeback.

“The second half, we tried to correct the mistakes that we made in the first half,” Raider coach Enrique John said. “At the end of the day, it wasn’t enough, but this is how this game is played. Vilseck won the game. They deserved to win because they played a better game.”

Vilseck's Valerie Vizcaino, center right, clears the ball ahead of Kaiserslautern's Brooke Rawcliffe, right, on Saturday morning at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. At left are the Falcons' Maci Blackman and Nyja Flournoy. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern's Kimberly Guzman, left, and Vilseck's Donella Druitt go after a ball on Saturday morning at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's Kyla Blake pokes the ball away from Kaiserslautern's Chloe Mitchell on Saturday morning at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Following the play are, from left, the Falcons' Valerie Vizcaino, the Raiders' Georgia Rawcliffe and Vilseck's Arianna Almanza. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's Arianna Almanza and Kaiserslautern's Michela Figuera chase after a ball during the first half of the Falcons' and Raider's match Saturday morning at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. In the background is Vilseck goalkeeper Nyja Flournoy. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Girls

The results keep getting better for Kaiserslautern after each match.

After losing to Stuttgart on opening weekend, the Raiders drew against Lakenheath in the second match.

On Saturday morning against Vilseck, the Raiders took the next step in defeating the Falcons 9-0 at home. DODEA’s mercy rule was enacted at halftime.

“We’re growing and we’re getting better with each game,” Kaiserslautern coach Sue Fitzpatrick said. “We got to work on aspects of our game that we really needed to, and it was perfect timing.”

The Raiders (1-1-1, 1-1-1) jumped out to a hot start and never looked back. They scored five goals in the first 15 minutes and added four goals in the final six minutes of the first half, finishing with 14 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes.

Senior captain Lena Herrmann had three of those goals (first, 13th and 35th minutes), striker Kimberly Guzman recorded two (third and 14th minutes), as did Sontee Mickens (37th and 39th minutes).

Georgia Rawcliffe (eighth minute) and Jedidah Quinland (40th minute) rounded out the scoring.

“A big focus leading up to this game was communicating with each other and letting the ball do the work instead of us,” Herrmann said. “I think we came out at the whistle with that focus, and it paid off.”

For the Falcons (0-4, 0-2), it was another tough matchup for an inexperienced squad. Goalkeeper Nyja Flournoy had five saves.

Coach Ana De Alvare said most of her team hadn’t played soccer before, but despite the tough results, she said her players haven’t gotten down on themselves and their spirits are high.

“It is a growing experience every single match,” De Alvare said.