Regina Holds Off Solon 3-2 in Season Opener
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – Regina lost a majority of its goal-scoring punch from its state semifinal squad last season with the graduation of its top three scorers.
Departed seniors Quinn Warren, Jack Hoover and Eddie Petersen accounted for more than 60 percent of the Regals’ scoring during its 16-win season last spring.
Veteran coach Rick Larew has a plan for replacing that scoring production this season and it centers around balance.
“That’s what we talked about for this season is we want to score a lot of goals but it’s going to be a lot of different people who are going to have to do it,” Larew said.
The goal by committee approach got off to a productive start on Monday.
Three different players scored goals, including two who notched their first career scores, as Regina fended off Solon 3-2 in a non-conference contest on a sunny afternoon at Regal Field in Iowa City.
Senior Matt Colony scored his fourth career goal in the win and junior Armando Sanchez and sophomore Kevyn Dominguez each notched their first career goals as Regina won its season opener for the third consecutive season.
“Win or lose I think getting the first match done with takes a little pressure off of you,” Colony said. “Getting that first one in the win column is always good.”
Sanchez got the scoring started in the eighth minute when he lofted a shot past Solon keeper Zander Stookey from outside the right edge of the box.
Colony gave Regina a 2-0 lead when he put away a loose ball in front of the net in the 35th minute.
The goal was the fourth of Colony’s career but his first since his sophomore season and gave Regina a two-goal cushion heading into the half.
“Coaches put us through numerous drills on following through and looking for second chance goals,” Colony said. “That’s what we did.”
Solon twice cut the deficit to one goal both on penalty kicks by sophomore Elliot Sutton.
The first penalty kick goal from Sutton cut the margin to 2-1 in the 53rd minute but Regina had an answer.
Sophomore Kevyn Dominguez slipped a shot from outside the box into the upper left corner of the goal in the 59th minute to give Regina some much needed cushion.
“Last year if you were to critique our team we had great possession for three quarters of the field but what we struggled with is when we got down to that final quarter of the field,” Larew said. “I told everyone this year there isn’t a single person we are telling not to shoot. Just take the shot, don’t wait for the perfect shot.”
The goals for first career goals for Dominguez and Sanchez proved to be the difference for Regina which got a pair of assists from junior Laird Holden.
“Graduating a lot of guys last year we knew we had to prepare some of younger guys and the underclassmen for a huge year this year,” Regina junior Evan White said. “I think we’ve had great leadership from guys like Laird Holden and Drew Greve who are pushing these younger guys in practice and that really sets up these young players to get into the game and make an impact when they get a chance.”
Solon cut the lead to 3-2 when Sutton converted a second penalty kick in the 69th minute but Regina held the Spartans without a serious threat over the final 10 minutes.
“We have to stick to our style of play,” White said. “We want to play our game, we know we have skilled players at all levels of the field that can do good things with the ball and good things off the ball so we have to stick to our system.”
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