Daymien Abitua, co-captain of Ansbach's boys soccer team, shoots what will be the first of his three goals against Hohenfels' co-ed team in a 6-0 Ansbach win on April 12, 2025, in Ansbach, Germany. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

ANSBACH, Germany – Spangdahlem’s star players shone brightest in Bavaria in a triple-header on Saturday as both of the school’s soccer teams swept Ansbach in DODEA-Europe high school sports action.

Ansbach’s boys warmed up with a 6-0 morning thrashing of Hohenfels co-ed team, behind a hat-trick from star captain Daymien Abitua and a brace from Orlando Roman.

Kylie McVey netted a goal and an assist and defended all over the field to preserve a 3-1 victory for the visiting Spangdahlem girls.

The Ansbach boys put up a solid effort but ultimately fell short 2-0 to the Spangdahlem boys in their second game of the day, as the dynamic duo of slick dribbling Troy Truscott and pacey Malachi Taherimorovat proved too formidable with a goal each for the Sentinels.

Ansbach enforcer Nathan Arreguin was solid on defense in the losing effort.

Spangdahlem's Troy Truscott slaps a corner into the box during Spangdahlem's 2-0 victory over Ansbach in Ansbach, Germany, on April 12, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach's Lucas Hendrixson shoots on goal during a 6-0 victory over Hohenfels' co-ed team in Ansbach, Germany, on April 12, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Malachi Taherimorovat splits two Ansbach defenders on his way toward goal in Spangdahlem's 2-0 victory in Ansbach, Germany, on April 12, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Boys

“I’m really proud of the guys,” Ansbach coach Tracey Robertson said after the Hohenfels match. “This team is just full of great leaders and character and heart.”

It only took one minute and 25 seconds for the speedy Abitua to carve through the Hohenfels defense and find the back of the net. The gutsy Hohenfels squad settled down and withstood multiple barrages before he did it again at 25 minutes.

Abitua would net his third goal five minutes into the second half.

Roman had two spectacular goals, one over the top of the keeper from the left-hand side of the 6-yard-box in the 34th minute and a screamer into the upper right-hand corner past a fully-extended keeper in the 50th minute. Lucas Hendrixson added a cheeky goal with the outside of his boot in the 39th minute.

“Our bench really stepped up today; I’m very proud of them,” Abitua said after the final whistle. “Everybody performed the way they were supposed to, and we won the game; that’s all that matters”

The Cougars are hoping to avenge back-to-back runners-up campaigns by claiming the European crown in late May, Abitua said.

In the third and final match of the day, Ansbach and Spangdahlem faced off and were pretty evenly matched from the outset. The defense of both teams was stifling and the game was nil-nil at the half.

Spangdahlem opened the game up in the second half behind the quality of Truscott and Taherimorovat. Taherimorovat began the scoring 10 minutes into the second half with a physical run into the 18-yard-box. He beat Ansbach keeper Jack Lovallo – 16 saves on the day, 10 versus Spangdahlem – with a difficult, high-angled shot.

Truscott netted a 20-yarder from the left-hand side shortly before the end of regulation. Lovallo got his fingertips on it but couldn’t stop the forward momentum from carrying the ball over his head.

Spangdahlem coach Javier Graham said he was “ecstatic” and proud of the team after the victory. Senior center-back Caleb Truscott, brother of Troy, said stalwart defending and holding Ansbach scoreless in the first half gave the Sentinels the confidence to press for the win.

“We have not won against [Ansbach],” he said. “This is the best feeling we’ve had since beating Brussels at Euros last year.”

Abitua was carried off the field following an injury in the second half, which could be a problem for an already-depleted Cougars team going forward.

Ansbach defender Mya Henderson collects the ball in the Ansbach box while Spangdahlem’s Alexis Lauer looks on, during Ansbach’s 3-1 defeat at home in Ansbach, Germany, on April 12, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Kylie McVey, right, drives around Ansbach's Marga Marzan during a 3-1 victory over the hosts in Ansbach, Germany, on April 12, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Girls

The Spangdahlem girls faced an uphill battle in the second game, going up against Ansbach star keeper Kennedy Lange, who had 15 saves on the day. The Sentinels looked sluggish out the gate, but rallied behind chatter from Alexis Lauer, who knocked in a rebound off Lange in the 26th minute following an expertly placed corner from McVey.

Ansbach missed several sitters in front of goal in the first half it surely regretted. Lange was solid between the pipes and kept the Cougars in the game.

In the second half, McVey scored 15 minutes in, with a right-footed blast off a pass from Lauer that seemed to shift the momentum to the Sentinels. Spangdahlem’s emboldened defense stifled Ansbach’s forwards until Oli Cormier slotted one from outside the box in the 31st minute.

Ansbach erupted in celebration, and appeared poised for another, but it proved to be too little too late. Spangdahlem’s Rebecca Tremel put the game away with a goal 6 minutes later.

Spangdahlem coach Josia Onyango said it took a little time for the team to gel and grow into the game, but he was pleased with the result.

“The key was communication and making sure we pass the ball, look for our passes,” McVey said after the victory. “We all had a lot of confidence and were trusting in our teammates.”