Rota sophomore Ashley Stedge drives the ball past Cali Steffenhagen of Brussels during their DODDS-Europe Division IV girls soccer championship game Friday at Ramstein High School. Stedge scored one goal in the 2-0 victory. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Rota sophomore Ashley Stedge drives the ball past Cali Steffenhagen of Brussels during their DODDS-Europe Division IV girls soccer championship game Friday at Ramstein High School. Stedge scored one goal in the 2-0 victory. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Rota's Bryanna Hudson moves the ball over Alexandra McVicker of Brussels. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
The Rota girls celebrate their 2-0 victory. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — In their first season as an official team, the Rota Lady Admirals won the DODDS-Europe Division IV girls soccer championship Friday, beating Brussels 2-0.
Rota, which until this year had not fielded a team for DODDS competition, finished 7-0 and stopped Brussels from winning a fourth successive D-IV girls title.
"We’re starting our own dynasty now," senior forward Bethany Walcott said.
After the victory, the girls celebrated with Spanish spirit cheers, led by assistant coach Manuel Sosa.
The girls also repeatedly tossed head coach Clarice Brown in the air during another cheer.
"I love you," Brown told her players, "but if y’all would have dropped me ..."
Rota was in control for most of the match, although it failed to convert on several early scoring opportunities.
Its first goal came at 22 minutes when Ashley Stedge emerged from a group to score.
Even though Rota controlled the game, Brussels was not without its scoring opportunities.
Late in the first half, Brussels had a few chances to score.
Lady Brigands senior Marlena Schlattman had a strong shot from the top of the penalty box, but it sailed wide right.
Moments later, a Rota defender committed a hand-ball foul just outside the penalty box, but Schlattman’s subsequent direct kick was blocked, ending the half.
Schlattman had chances in the second half, too.
At 48 minutes, the midfielder had an open shot on net, but kicked it to Rota keeper Rebekah Vietinghoff.
At 57 minutes, Brussels keeper Sabrina Curtis ran out of the penalty box with the ball in her hand, committing a foul.
Rota was given an indirect kick, but Walcott’s chip shot went high and right.
Rota padded its lead at 62 minutes when freshman Yesenia Solis put the ball in the back of the net.
Solis initially wiffed on her shot, but recovered quickly to score.
"We played our best," Rota senior captain Marliza Barcelon said. "We just played better than they did. We worked hard. We practiced hard. We love each other, and this is the result of that."
