Regals back where they belong, in state title game

[HTML1]DES MOINES - It wasn't over before it started, because that's impossible, but the end wasn't far from the first whistle.Regina scored 16 seconds into the 1A semifinal match-up with No. 7 West Liberty, and then again less than two minutes later to rout the Comets 4-0 and clinch a spot in the championship match.The Regals (14-1) will face top-seeded Dyersville Beckman in Saturday's final, starting at noon on KCRG 9.2 and KCRG.com. The Blazers beat Nevada in the other semifinal, 3-0.A.J. Adam was unmarked and got the game's first tally, on a perfect cross from Connor Brown. It would have been the tournament's fastest goal if the Regals hadn't scored 12 seconds into Thursday's quarterfinal. Brown's floating pass was so good that Adam put it farther into the side netting than he needed."I was really nervous," Adam said. "I thought I missed it first. It was a great cross by Conner."Just 1:39 later, Brown swung another beauty into the box off a corner, right onto the waiting right foot of Nicolas Ziniel, who slotted it past Oscar Marquez for a two-goal advantage."It doesn't have to be that good," Brown said of his two assists. "They're great up there. Our forwards up top played amazing."West Liberty pulled the tournament's biggest upset Thursday, beating Waterloo Columbus. The best way to show an underdog it doesn't belong is to strike quickly, to not let it into the game. Regina broke Los Cometas' spirit early, and then poured in two more first-half goals for good measure."We didn't think they were as deep as us," Regina head coach Rick Larew said. "I was glad when the sun came out and it got humid. Our goal is to run teams off the field. "Adam got his second in the ninth minute, and Emilio Tovar followed up his own shot in the 18th to give the Regals four.West Liberty's run was a special one, having been seeded 11th in the substate tournament and seventh at state."That's what will stand out," Comets' head coach Mike Gunn said. "How well they pulled it together at the end."Regina is back where it believes it belongs, one win away from a fourth state title in five years."We thought we belonged there last year, too," Adam added.But before that, an experienced team with experienced coaches will go to the mini-golf course. A long-time team tradition, the team will compete on the little links before Saturday's game on the big pitch.Friday night is film study, hydration, nutrition and rest for the Regals, with the unbeaten Blazers awaiting. The two teams haven't met since early 2012, when Beckman beat Regina 1-0.Both finalists were bounced early in the 2012 tournament, Regina by Waterloo Columbus, Beckman by Nevada.Adam oozed positive energy, noting that an hour after his team lost in last year's state tournament, they were talking about offseason training plans. He did insist that just making the title game isn't the goal."We really trained hard to be where we are," the senior forward said. "We're not going to give it up easily."