RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – For the first time in years, the DODDS-Europe Division I girls soccer champion is neither Heidelberg nor Ramstein.
The International School of Brussels topped Heidelberg 2-0 on Friday to take the crown. ISB knocked off both Ramstein and Heidelberg in the tournament to cap an undefeated season.
"It’s the best feeling in the entire world — better than chocolate cake with whipped cream," said senior Lydia Gray.
With only four seniors on its roster, ISB relied on the strong play of its younger players.
"It’s good to win it for the players who are leaving because we’re such a young team," said Sophie Earll, a freshman.
The game was scoreless until the 30-minute mark, when ISB’s Peo Fay Molelekeng was fouled from behind in the penalty box. Even before Gray lined up to take the penalty kick Molelekeng began celebrating.
Moments later, Gray made good on the penalty with a low shot to the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Fourth-seeded Heidelberg saw few scoring opportunities during the 80-minute game, with ISB controlling the flow.
At the 66th minute, Heidelberg had a shot on goal that was stopped by Josine Blok. Then as the game’s end neared, the Lady Lions increased their offensive pressure, keeping the ball near the ISB net. But with about three minutes to play, Earll scored an insurance goal to give the Lady Raiders a bit of breathing room.
"This is the goal we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season," said ISB coach Adrian Drury. "We have a lot of young players with a lot of energy. It’s a very enthusiastic team, and the players are a pleasure to work with."