Photo by Jeff Yoder | photo gallery

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Alec Wick gave Regina an early lead in its Class 1A state quarterfinal on Friday with his team-leading 30th goal of the season.

As Greene County ran two and three defenders at Wick in the second half the Regal’s sophomore standout had no question one of his teammates would step up late.

Wick had one particular teammate in mind for some late game heroics and it wasn’t the player many would expect.

Senior Drew Hartwig filled the role of unlikely hero, knocking in the game-winning goal 75 seconds into overtime as two-time defending state champion Regina (16-6) returned the 1A semifinals for the fourth straight season with a 2-1 win overtime win over No. 9 Greene County (14-6).

“I knew somebody would step up for us and if it was going to be anybody it would be Drew,” Wick said. “His first goal was against them earlier this season and he ended it here today.”

A first-year starter, Hartwig entered with two career goals, the first of which came in a 4-3 win over Greene County earlier this month.

In his first career state tournament start Hartwig was the hero.

“This is my first year starting on varsity but I have been on the past two state championship teams and I’ve gotten a lot of experience from older guys,” Hartwig said. “I know that I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

The win was the sixth straight for second-ranked Regina which will be making its 11th state semifinal appearance in the past 12 seasons when it faces No. 11 West Liberty (11-7) in an all River Valley Conference semifinal on Saturday at Noon.

“I was very pleased, it was unexpected, Drew’s not a big scorer for us but he’s a very capable soccer player,” Regina coach Rick Larew said. “He’s a kid that didn’t play much until this year and he’s really matured and grown physically and emotionally and in a soccer sense. It’s nice for him to get that shot. It was well placed and technically it was done just right.”

Wick put Regina up early when he scored off a Kieler Brown feed in the fourth minute.

The goal was the fifth career state tournament goal for Wick in four matches at state.

“We were possessing through the attacking part of the field and I played it to Kieler and he just played a one-two,” Wick said. “He put it right in the gap and I was able to put it away.”

Greene County pulled even before halftime when Luis Velazco slipped a shot past a diving Josh Dutchik in the 32nd minute.

The Rams had a chance to seize momentum before the half but Velazco sailed a shot high and over the cross bar from point blank range with under three minutes to play in the opening half.

It remained tied after 40 minutes of play in the second half but Hartwig quickly ended things in overtime.

“I just got a good look and finished,” Hartwig said. “I put it away and we are moving on to the next one.”

A bounding ball found its way to the left foot of the left-footed Hartwig just outside the box on the right side.

Hartwig arched a shot into the upper left corner of the goal that set off a wild Regina celebration.

“I don’t remember exactly how the ball came in but I just got a good touch on it,” Hartwig said. “I looked up and I had a good look at the goal and I put it away.”

Regina will be seeking a third consecutive state title game appearance on Saturday when it faces West Liberty in a regular season rematch.

The Regals won the regular season meeting 3-2 in penalty kicks back on April 25.

“West Liberty is always good against us,” Larew said. “They are always strong, they are a very good team. We went to PKs with them so they are a really talented team.”

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