Vicenza goalkeeper Gia Barea beats Black Forest Academy forward Anna Yancy to the ball during a Division II semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder's stadium in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

BAUMHOLDER, Germany – Nothing separated Vicenza and Black Forest Academy through 80 minutes of regulation, 20 minutes of extra time and even five penalty takers on Wednesday afternoon.

Cougar coach Adam Ridgley sought a sixth shooter for sudden death kicks at VfR Baumholder’s stadium. He looked to captains Sara Fitch and Lily Pollard.

Their answer: Caecilla Janssens.

“They made the decision and said, ‘We think she’s got it, she’s ready to hit it,’” Ridgley said. “They looked at (Janssens), ‘You think you can hit it?’ She’s like, ‘Yup.’”

Their choice proved to be the right one. The senior midfielder stepped to the spot and fired home the match winner past Falcon goalkeeper Olivia Kruse to win a DODEA-Europe Division II girls soccer semifinal on penalties, 4-3. Prior to the penalties, the Cougars (12-1-1) and Falcons (4-3) couldn’t find the back of the net.

Vicenza junior Laurel Gill throws in the ball in front of the Cougar bench during a Division II semifinal against Black Forest Academy at the DODEA European soccer championships on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder’s stadium in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza goalkeeper Gia Barea watches the ball after making a save during the penalty shootout against Black Forest Academy during a Division II semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder's stadium in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Vicenza girls soccer team celebrates after winning their Division II semifinal match with Black Forest Academy at the DODEA European soccer championships on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder's stadium in Baumholder, Germany. The Cougars defeated the Falcons 4-3 on penalty kicks. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Janssen tried not to let the situation get to her as she walked up to the box after BFA’s sixth shooter had missed.

“I was praying the rosary, I was that nervous,” Janssens said. “I’m being so dramatic here – it’s just a high school game – but when it gets to moments that intense, the adrenaline just takes over, doesn’t it? I wasn’t even thinking about what if I miss. I was thinking I was going to score.”

Not that she didn’t get nervous during the shot. Kruse got her paws on the shot, only for it to bounce in front of the net and spin back over the line to punch Vicenza’s ticket to Thursday’s final at Ramstein High School.

“I can’t swear, but that’s what was going through my mind,” Janssens said. “My heart kind of sank initially, but I was still on my toes, on the edge, and it squeaked in there.”

Squeaking by is one way to describe Vicenza’s victory, as both the coach and player admitted the Falcons pushed them to the edge.

For Ridgley, the match’s opening 10 minutes made him the most nervous. In the first overtime period, BFA was on the front foot and looked the most threatening before the Cougars turned it around in the second extra frame.

Janssens and her coach both credited the Falcons for their performance on Wednesday.

“I have to hand it to BFA,” Janssens said. “They were so good that I was panicked.”

Despite the heartbreaking loss, BFA coach Sam Stemple expressed pride in the Falcons for going toe-to-toe with the No. 2 seed.

“We came in ranked fourth, and to take Vicenza down to penalties, I’m really proud of the way our girls played,” he said. “They just had a great game.”

Naples defender Amber Ozturloglu, right, heads away a cross during the Wildcats' Division II semifinal against American Overseas School of Rome at the DODEA European soccer championships on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder's stadium in Baumholder, Germany. Watching, from left, are Wildcat teammates Emma Kasparek and Nadia Shimasaki. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Naples midfielder Emma Heavey shoots during the first half of a Division II semifinal against American Overseas school of Rome at the DODEA European soccer championship on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder's stadium in Baumholder, Germany. At right is the Falcons' Mia Lambert. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

American Overseas School of Rome midfielder Reiley Lester breaks up a cross during a Division II semifinal match against Naples at the DODEA European soccer championships on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder's stadium in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

American Overseas School of Rome winger Gabby Nespoli looks ahead after getting around Naples defender Rylee Rummel, right, during a Division II semifinal at the DODEA European soccer championships on May 17, 2023, at VfR Baumholder's stadium in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Cougars advanced to Thursday’s final to face a familiar foe in Naples. The Wildcats did just enough to defeat American Overseas School of Rome in the earlier semifinal Wednesday, 2-0.

Freshman sharpshooter Va Nae Filer had both goals, the first of which came in the first half after fellow freshman Emerson Shorey bodied around her defender during a counterattack to pass the ball to Filer. The striker then spun her defender to open a lane and found the back of the net.

“The plan was to come out and win the championship,” Naples coach Alyson Parenteau said. “We’re tracking with where we need to be and what we need to be doing.”

The Falcons (6-4-1) made the match a cagey affair, at least more than the Wildcats (11-0) have experienced this season. Still, Naples managed to keep a clean sheet and get enough going on offense.

Junior goalkeeper Anais Navidad credited her back line for picking the right moments to attack the ball in defense to remove the most dangerous chances before it came to her.

“We have this saying – five minutes,” Navidad said. “We scream it every time there’s a goal, and it helps us stay focused, stay in the game and realize that the game’s not over yet.”

Now, the Wildcats and Cougars will play in the DODEA Division II title match. The two met once this season, a 3-1 victory for Naples on April 15.

Naples won’t expect to ride their laurels from the previous meeting. In fact, the Wildcats anticipate another hard-fought contest.

“I think they’re going to have just as much passion and heart as we will,” Parenteau said. “We’ve all played a lot of games. I think we might be starting to get a little tired, but it’s great to have good competition.”