Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – State tournament opponents continue to send scores of defenders at Alec Wick in an attempt to slow the Regina sophomore standout.

Regina seniors just keep coming up big.

Seniors Kieler Brown and Jonah Warren each scored goals in a 3-1 semifinal win over No. 11 West Liberty (12-8) on Saturday at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines that sent two-time defending Class 1A champion to the title game for the third consecutive season.

“It’s huge for guys to be ready to step up when they are putting three or four guys on (Alec) because there is always going to be another guy open,” Brown said. “It’s huge because it leaves spots open all over the field when they are trying to take him away so guys have to step up.”

The win was the seventh straight for Regina (17-6) and extended the Regals state tournament winning streak to eight.

Regina is 7-0 all-time in state title matches and will go for its eighth 1A championship in 11 seasons on Tuesday at Noon against top-ranked Waterloo Columbus (20-2).

“It’s awesome to get another opportunity to play for a championship,” Brown said. “Every game is tough, every team we play is good, both of the teams we have played already have given us a really tough game so it’s a blessing to get another chance to play for a championship.”

On Friday it was senior Drew Hartwig that came up big for the Regals scoring the overtime game-winner in a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Greene County.

Saturday Brown and Warren were ready when it was their time to shine.

Brown put Regina up 1-0 with a goal in the final minute of the opening half and Warren gave Regina a lead it would never let go when he converted a penalty kick in the 47th minute.

“It’s huge for guys to ready when they get their opportunity,” Warren said. “We talk about that, all the guys that come in play their hearts out and that’s what is asked of you.”
An all River Valley Conference semifinal was even for better than 39 minutes before Brown gave Regina a boost before halftime.

The senior lofted a shot from more than 40 yards out toward the goal and over the outstretched hands of West Liberty freshman keeper Bryan Martinez with 48 seconds left in the opening half.

As the shot went in Brown celebrated as most of the stadium fell silent.

“I thought it was going in right when I shot it,” Brown said. “I looked and I thought I had the angle on it but it was really quiet when it went in. I looked around I thought there was an offside or something. I think I was the only one that thought it went in.”

West Liberty quickly answered to start the second half when freshman Jahsiah Galvan drew a foul in the box and Gabriel Seele capitalized with a penalty kick goal in the 44th minute.

Regina had the answer less than three minutes later when Warren knocked in a penalty kick after the Comets were whistled for a foul in the box.

“I wasn’t nervous, I’ve done it so many times,” Warren said. “I just picked my spot, stayed calm and did my job.”

Immediately after the goal Regina went on the offensive.

Wick had a shot inside the box saved by a diving Martinez before the Regals drew a foul that resulted in the third goal of the season for Warren.

“They played the way I was hoping they were going to play in terms of being very aggressive,” Regina coach Rick Larew said. “We weren’t going to play a sit back and wait game we wanted to play a very aggressive game and possess the ball. Our thought was we could make them work.”

Just as Greene County did in Friday’s quarterfinal the Comets were intent to keep Wick from being the different.

West Liberty continually ran two or even three defenders at the Regals’ leading scorer.

Again, Regina had the weapons to take advantage.

“We talk about it a lot because it can be very easy to stand back and watch Alec, that’s what I do,” Larew said. “We’ve had guys go out and make plays.”

Despite the defensive attention Wick found the back of the net for the second straight game, giving Regina a commanding 3-1 lead with a penalty kick in the 71st minute.

Regina will now attempt to win its eighth state title, second most of any team in state history.

Waterloo Columbus advanced with a 2-0 win over Sioux Center and split a pair of regular season matches with Regina, winning the most recent meeting 4-0.

“It’s pretty awesome to play in another title game,” Warren said. “It’s not a chance that many people get to have.”

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