Regina Boys Soccer Advance to State Championship After Penalty Shootout Victory

Iowa City Regina has secured their place in the Iowa high school boys soccer state championship following a 1-0 victory over West Central Valley, decided by penalty kicks on June 4 at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines. The match concluded after a scoreless draw through regulation and overtime, with the outcome determined by a shootout that saw Regina prevail 5-4.

The decisive moment came when midfielder Evan Greve switched positions to play as goalkeeper for the penalty shootout. Greve made the game-winning save against West Central Valley’s Garret Wolfe, sealing the advancement for the Regals. This result marks the ninth time Regina has reached the state finals, continuing a legacy of success in the tournament.

West Central Valley goalkeeper Mason Fortney was instrumental in keeping the match tied, making eight saves in the first half and a total of 12 throughout the contest. His performance prevented Regina’s high-powered offense from breaking the deadlock, despite sustained pressure deep into the second half. In the second overtime period, Regina star senior Laird Holden had two significant scoring opportunities, but Fortney’s defence held firm to send the match to penalties.

During the shootout, West Central Valley’s Aiden Clauson hit the crossbar on their fifth attempt, keeping the score at 3-3. Regina’s Kevyn Dominguez and Jackson Kopecky then converted their kicks to reach five. Regina head coach Rick Larew praised Greve’s versatility and reliability, noting that the team had full confidence in him due to his performance in practice.

"I thought they were a good team," Larew said. "They understood how to shut us down... We executed our game plan as best we could, they're just a very good team that held us in check."

Regina has won all eight of their previous state final appearances and is seeking their first state title since 2019. A victory in the upcoming championship game would match Iowa City West for the most boys soccer state titles ever in Iowa history. The Regals will now await the winner of the match between West Sioux and St. Albert to determine their opponent for the title game.

West Central Valley finishes the season with a 15-2-1 record, marking their program’s sixth-ever state tournament appearance. The Wildcats had the opportunity to clinch the game on their fifth penalty attempt but were denied by Clauson’s shot striking the crossbar.

Larew emphasised the importance of managing short periods of play, stating, "Most goals are scored the first five minutes, the last five minutes of a half and the five minutes after a goal." He noted that the tournament demonstrated this trend and that the team intends to play a great first five minutes in the final.

The article originally appeared on the Des Moines Register and was syndicated via Yahoo Sports.