Sports
Ramstein downs Heidelberg in OT for Division I boys soccer title
Stars and Stripes
May 23, 2009
Taylor Shepard of Ramstein stops a shot as Kevin Beerman of Heidelberg leaps over the back of Jonathan McLouth during the DODDS Division I soccer championship game Friday at Ramstein High School. Shepard dropped the ball, causing Heidelberg players to scramble for another shot; Enrique Grandacarpio was ejected from the game for contact with the goalie. Ramstein won in overtime, 1-0. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Taylor Shepard of Ramstein stops a shot as Kevin Beerman of Heidelberg leaps over the back of Jonathan McLouth during the DODDS Division I soccer championship game Friday at Ramstein High School. Shepard dropped the ball, causing Heidelberg players to scramble for another shot; Enrique Grandacarpio was ejected from the game for contact with the goalie. Ramstein won in overtime, 1-0. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Kevin Beerman, left, of Heidelberg and Glenn Verley of Ramstein battle for possession. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
RAMSTEIN AB, Germany — Tourney MVP T.J. Clouma banged home the only goal of the game in the first minute of overtime Friday to lift the Ramstein Royals to a 1-0 victory over the defending champion Heidelberg Lions in the DODDS-Europe boys’ Division I championship game.
Clouma converted a free kick into the Heidelberg penalty box taken by teammate Jack Trefftzs, crashing through his markers and heading the ball into the left side of the net.
"It was pretty tight in there," Clouma said. "I just threw my body through and got my head on it."
Clouma’s goal didn’t prove decisive, however, until the end of the 10-minute overtime period. Under tourney rules, teams are required to play the full 10 minutes of overtime, regardless of scoring.
The procedure required all-tourney goalkeeper Taylor Shepard of Ramstein to add to the five difficult saves he made in the first 80 minutes of play. With time running out, Heidelberg was granted a free kick five yards from the end line and just outside the penalty area.
Coming slightly off his line, Shepard got his hands on Nate Joyner’s cross, allowed the ball to fall to the ground, and dived on it. He ended up clutching it with both arms as Heidelberg attackers kicked at it desperately.
"I had both my arms around the ball and people’s legs," Shepard said. "I wasn’t going to let go."