Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Prior to its showdown with second-ranked Regina on Monday evening West Branch already owned one of the most impressive resumes in Class 1A this season.

A state tournament qualifier last season, West Branch entered Monday’s number one versus number two showdown top-ranked and one of only four remaining unbeaten teams in the state.

The Bears didn’t need a massive confidence boost going into the postseason.

They got one anyway.

Senior Joe Hamann scored the game-winning goal with 13 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to lift 1A top-ranked West Branch to a 2-1 win over No. 2 Regina in a River Valley Conference showdown at Regal Field.

“The momentum from here is going to be crazy,” Hamann said. “I think this is really going to help us as a springboard.”

West Branch improved to 14-0 on the season with the win, including a perfect 8-0 in RVC play and clinched the RVC title for the first time in just the fifth season in program history.

Regina had a six-match winning streak snapped with the loss and dropped to 11-3 on the season.

“I have all the respect for Regina, they are quality athletes in every sport,” West Branch coach Ted Miller said. “I had this game circled on the calendar because I knew we had a quality team and we could do big things this year but beating these guys is going to be such a confidence boost. I think this victory is going to get us into the state tournament.”

Prior to kickoff on Monday West Branch saw it had earn a number one seed in a 1A substate with the release of the postseason pairings.

Hours later the Bears got a big boost with the postseason on the horizon overcoming a 1-0 halftime deficit for its first ever win over Regina.

“As Butch Pedersen always said in football this is going to be a springboard,” West Branch senior Trenton Schutte said. “We want to take the momentum and keep it rolling.”

Regina took an early lead when sophomore Ethan Beard scored in the 19^th minute.

It remained 1-0 until late in the second half when Schutte pulled the Bears even.

“We are second half team, there is no doubt about that, we always play better in the second half,” Miller said. “They figure out the things they need to get better at in the second half, they figure it out and they do it.”

Schutte lofted a shot into the upper half of the goal from outside 25 yards to even the score at 1-1 with 14:47 remaining.

“Our assistant coach at halftime says that their goalie was coming up to the 18 to direct their team and he said if you get an opportunity send it in there,” Schutte said. “I just went for it.”

Thanks to West Branch senior keeper Shae Farmer the game remained tied for nearly 34 more minutes.

Farmer preserved the 1-1 tie when he made a point-blank stop on a Jack Hoover attempt with 1:25 remaining in regulation.

Farmer also came up with a save of a Thor Olson shot in a one-on-one situation in the box with 8:11 to play in the second overtime period.

“I was getting big and he kicked it through my legs actually,” Farmer said. “With my right hand I barely tipped the ball and I was able to turn around and jump on it.”

The match appeared poised to be decided in penalty kicks before Hamann’s late heroics.

“At about 30 seconds the ball was in our half and at that point I’m was just thinking don’t let them score, get into PKs our goalie Shae Farmer is very good,” Hamann said. “I was honestly ready for pks.”

Senior Cameron Gingerich played a ball to Hamann on the Regina side of the field as the clocked ticked down and the senior did the rest.

Hamann ripped a shot from outside the left edge of the box inside the right post in the waning seconds.

“As soon as Cameron got it about midfield he sent a ball into open green space I just knew I had to take the shot,” Hamann said. “In the last seconds there is no better opportunity than right there and it happened to go in.”

His team-high 25^th goal of the season with just 13 seconds remaining resulted in perhaps the biggest regular season win in program history.

“Shae came up big for us, he made multiple great saves throughout the game,” Schutte said. “The first half we did not play our game and then in the second half we started finding ourselves and continued that to overtime and kept going.”

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