Stuttgart goalkeeper Caleb Fox dives after a free kick from Ramstein senior Maxim Speed that found the back of the net in a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Ramstein made a concerted effort to practice penalties in the weeks prior to the DODEA Division I European championships this week in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

By simulating the situation a couple times per week, the goal was to rid the Royals of nerves in case spot kicks should decide a match.

So, when Ramstein’s semifinal with top-seeded and defending champion Stuttgart at Kaiserslautern High School on Wednesday afternoon was tied after 100 minutes of action, the Royals said they didn’t feel any nerves.

And it showed. Ramstein converted all four kicks it took to upset the previously undefeated Panthers 4-1, after going 2-2 through regulation and extra time.

“Everybody was calm,” Ramstein captain Maxim Speed said. “Before the PKs, we all said, ‘Stay calm, take these PKs, it’s just a kick.’ And everybody did that.”

The finish put a bow on what coach Dominik Ludes called an incredible performance that left him speechless.

The Royals (8-4) held the Panthers (10-1) without a goal from non-stoppage play this season after allowing just a penalty in the teams’ previous contest this season. Stuttgart’s two goals by senior Itzak Sandoval on Wednesday came off a penalty in the 20th minute and a 20-yard free kick.

The defensive effort was enough to make the coach happy, but he saw something special in all five of his team’s penalty takers – Speed, sophomore Keiran Goodall, junior Kelan Vaughn and senior Mathias Bailey. Ludes said junior striker Joseph Yost, who was meant to take the fifth spot kick, was ready to step up to the plate.

“The whole team showed leadership,” Ludes said. “There’s not a single player I would pick out as the man of the match. The whole team performed, and that’s what you need against a team like Stuttgart.

“To have the nerves in the shootout to go out there and take that penalty kick requires character, resilience and leadership.”

As cool as the penalty takers were, goalkeeper Elliot Radosevich produced the heroics.

Starting the season as the team’s backup, the junior made a couple of key saves during the match, including in the 78th minute when he charged off his line to block a Sandoval shot on frame. Then, in the penalty shootout, Radosevich came up big twice, saving attempts by sophomores Maddox Boudreaux and Christian Groves to set up Bailey for the match-winner.

The shootout saves went in opposite directions, with Boudreaux going low to the right and Groves shooting low to the left. Radosevich admitted he just guessed correctly on Boudreaux’s attempt, but he picked up a tell on sophomore Cristian Ingle’s converted penalty. The goalkeeper noticed Ingle looking one way before going in the opposite direction.

So, when Groves looked to the right before the runup, Radosevich decided to dive the opposite way and got his paws on the ball.

“It was very difficult, especially having a penalty early on in the game,” Radosevich said. “I just had to keep cool, stay calm and get to what I know and just dive for the ball.

“It was wonderful to have a big moment and make a couple saves.”

Late in regulation, though, the Royals were in trouble. Sandoval’s free kick had them trailing with less than 8 minutes left to equalize.

Ramstein didn’t panic. Jace Monson headed the ball into the post off a corner a minute later, and they had a penalty shot waived away with a yellow card for diving in the 75th minute.

In the 77th minute, Speed connected on his second free kick of the match to make it 2-2.

“Everybody kept their cool,” Speed said of trailing late in regulation. “It was definitely something we struggled with during the season, but everybody kept their heads clear.”

For Stuttgart, the loss ended the team’s two-year undefeated record, which dated back to the Panthers’ 2022 final loss to this same Ramstein program.

Coach Nathan Garrett praised the players’ efforts the past two seasons to grow the team’s culture, which included a European title last spring.

“It’s hard to walk away from that and not have a chance to go back-to-back,” Garrett said. “Hats off to Ramstein.”

The Ramstein boys soccer team celebrates after senior Mathias Bailey scored the winning penalty against Stuttgart in a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein left winger Keiran Goodall shoots around Stuttgart defender Gabe Tamez in a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein senior Mathias Bailey kicks the winning penalty against Stuttgart in a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart defender Gabe Tamez muscles off Ramstein midfielder Kai Woodstock from the ball in a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein junior Kelan Vaughn leaps up for a corner over Stuttgart's Maddox Boudreaux, second from right, and Jacob Schudel in a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart captain Itzak Sandoval takes a free kick during a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships against Ramstein on May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart attacker Ryan Stevenson throws in the ball during a Division I semifinal of the DODEA European soccer championships against Ramstein on May 22, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Royals now turn their attention to a familiar foe: SHAPE. The Spartans (10-1) dispatched Kaiserslautern (4-7) in the day’s other semifinal 3-1 in what coach Erika Aquino described as a very physical game.

Injuries made such an impact on the match that the Spartans were fortunate to escape without any major injuries, Aquino said.

“It was very challenging,” she said. “We came out with many injuries. Luckily for us, our kids are very resilient and they’re doing all right.

“I think there was so much relief because it was such a long game, so many injuries that we were a little deflated.”

SHAPE took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Charles Geib and Ignacio Calzada de la Pisa, before the Raiders pulled one back. Then, Santiago Torrente de la Pisa sealed the victory just as Kaiserslautern looked for the equalizer.

Marcos Gomez and Calzada de la Pisa recorded assists in the win.

That victory set up a fourth meeting between the Spartans and Royals. SHAPE won the first three contests by a score of 9-3. That includes a 1-0 win Tuesday in pool play.

Aquino said the Spartans aren’t going to be cocky because of those victories. Instead, they expect the Royals to amped up in a final under the lights at home.

“It’s going to be tough, there’s no question,” Aquino said. “We’re fully aware of that. They know their heads must be in the right place ready to take on a great team because I know we have a great team and we deserve it.”