Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The Matchups

No. 1 Regina (15-3) vs. Treynor (13-5)

Defending champion Regina built onto the longest active streak of state tournament appearance with an 11th consecutive trip to Des Moines.

Regina has won six of nine 1A titles since the state went to three classes in 2009 after defeating Davenport Assumption 1-0 in the state title game last season.

The Regals have a tradition of testing themselves against one of the toughest schedules in Class 1A and this season has been no exception.

All three losses for Regina have come to either Class 3A teams (Bettendorf and Marshalltown) or state qualifiers (Iowa Mennonite).

Regina enters riding a six-match winning streak after defeating eighth-ranked Dyersville Beckman 3-1 in the substate final.

Treynor is making its state tournament debut after upsetting No. 10 Council Bluffs St. Albert 1-0 in a penalty kick shootout in the substate final.

The Cardinals have won five of their last six and outscored three postseason opponents 18-0.

No. 11 Gilbert (13-7) vs. No. 5 Davenport Assumption (12-8)

Two of the three returning teams from last year’s 1A field meet in a rematch of a state semifinal won by Davenport Assumption 2-1.

Defending runner-up Davenport Assumption returned to the state tournament with an overtime win over No. 13 Dubuque Wahlert in the substate finals.

Assumption has reached the title game in each of its last three state tournament appearances, winning 1A titles in 2002 and 2003 before finishing runner-up to Regina last year.

The Knights are battle tested with six losses to Class 3A competition including three to 3A state qualifiers.

Gilbert returned to the state tournament for the third time in four seasons with a 4-2 substate final win over Carroll Kuemper.

The Tigers are 0-4 against teams in the 1A field and were outscored 11 to 4 in loss to Regina, Nevada and Des Moines Christian.

No. 6 Williamsburg (13-3) vs. No. 15 Nevada (12-7)

After back-to-back 11-win seasons Williamsburg finally broke through with the first state tournament berth in program history.

The Raiders defeated No. 14 North Polk 2-1 in the substate final behind a pair of goals from junior Leighton Jones.

Williamsburg has been one of the toughest teams in Class 1A to score against this season posting 11 shutouts while matching Gilbert for fewest goals allowed among 1A qualifiers with nine. 

Nevada is making its first state tournament appearance since 2013 after an impressive 5-2 win over fourth-ranked Waterloo Columbus in the substate final.

Following a 4-4 start to the season Nevada won eight of its final 11 matches, a stretch that included a pair of wins over state qualifier Gilbert.

Nevada has three players with double digit goals in Jose Buenrrostro (11 goals), Anthony Ellis (11 goals) and Devin See (10 goals). 

No. 9 Des Moines Christian (15-1) vs. No. 2 Iowa Mennonite (18-1)  

Two of the top stories in Class 1A this season meet in what is one of the most anticipated quarterfinals in any class.

Iowa Mennonite has proved itself against the top teams in 1A this season while slowing climbing the 1A rankings.

IMS is the only 1A team to defeat top-ranked Regina this season and also owns wins over second-ranked Solon in the substate final and a pair of victories over seventh-ranked Burlington Notre Dame.

There should be plenty of action in this one as two of the top five scoring teams in the state meet.

Des Moines Christian features the state’s leading scorer in senior Ben Webster (54 goals) and has scored a state-best 121 goals this season.

Iowa Mennonite ranks fifth in the state in scoring with 78 goals and is the lone team in the 1A field with four players with double digit goals.

Louis Etienne has a team-high 17 goals while Cole Ours (15 goals), Isaiah Swantz (12 goals) and Jacob Boller (11 goals) have all reached double figures.

The Faces

REGINA: Nick Pechous was the state tournament star for Regina last season and leads the Regals with 15 goals and eight assists this season.

TREYNOR: PJ Peatrowsky ranks fourth in Class 1A with 26 goals and fifth with 15 assists.

GILBERT: Senior keeper Christian Graber was an honorable mention all-state selection last season and has helped the Tigers post four shut outs in their last seven matches.

WILLIAMSBURG: The Williamsburg attack runs through sophomore Matthew Cronquist who has a team-high 19 assists to go with 12 goals.

DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION: The lone Assumption player with double digit goals, senior Trent Fitzpatrick has a team-high 19 goals this season to go with five assists.

IOWA MENNONITE: Senior Cole Ours is the facilitator of the IMS offense with 15 goals and a team-high 11 assists.

DES MOINES CHRISTIAN: Senior Ben Webster has been the top playmaker in the state this spring, leading the state with 54 goals and 34 assists.

NEVADA: Freshman Jose Buenrrostro had two of his team-high 11 goals and two assists during the Cubs current three-match winning streak.

The Favorite

With six titles over the past nine seasons any time Regina is in the field the Regals are a serious title contender.

The defending 1A champ, Regina certainly fits the favorite label this season entering as the top seed and with just one loss against 1A competition this season.

Iowa Mennonite is the only 1A team to knock off Regina this season and with wins over the number one, two sixth and seventh ranked teams to its credit isn’t a typical six seed.

The Forecast

Regina and Davenport Assumption appear poised for a rematch of last year’s title game in the 1A semifinals.

If they do meet in the state semifinals Regina has recent history on its side after downing the Knights 1-0 in last year’s 1A title game and 3-0 this season back on April 21.

A couple of relative state tournament rookies should battle for the other spot in the title game.

Iowa Mennonite hasn’t played for a state title since it won state title in the fall in 1997 while Williamsburg is making its state tournament debut.

The Focus

Will there be a new champ in 1A?

Regina is back to defend it’s title but there is also the possibility for a brand new 1A champion.

Half of the 1A field has never won a state title and Regina is the only team in the field that has won the 1A title since the state went to three classes in 2009.

Five Fast Facts

*All 13 wins for Treynor this season have come via shutout with the Cardinals outscoring opponents 100-0 in those 13 wins.

* Regina is 10-1 all-time in state tournament openers with the only loss coming to Gilbert in 2015.

* The 54 goals for Des Moines Christian senior Ben Webster are more than the season total for three Class 1A qualifying teams.

* Iowa Mennonite is the only 1A qualifier to feature four players with double digit goals in Louis Etienne (17 goal), Cole Ours (15 goals), Isaiah Swantz (12 goals) and Jacob Boller (11 goals).

* All three of the teams returning from last year’s 1A field (Regina, Davenport Assumption and Gilbert) were semifinalists with Assumption and Regina playing in the state title match.

The Schedule

Thursday’s Quarterfinals

Regina (15-3) vs. Treynor (13-5), Noon

Gilbert (13-7) vs. Davenport Assumption (12-8), 12:10 p.m.

Williamsburg (13-3) vs. Nevada (12-7), 12:15 p.m.

Des Moines Christian (15-1) vs. Iowa Mennonite (18-1), 12:05 p.m.

Friday’s Semifinals

Regina/Treynor winner vs. Gilbert/Davenport Assumption winner, Noon

Williamsburg/Nevada winner vs. Des Moines Christian/Iowa Mennonite winner, 12:05 p.m.

Saturday’s Championship

Semifinal winners, 12:05 p.m.