Regina books 10th straight boys’ state soccer berth with 4-0 win over Williamsburg

IOWA CITY - Over the past decade, Regina boys' soccer has built up a tradition that few other programs - in any sport, for that matter - can match.

All season long, the Regals kept their goal of reaching the state tournament, like the last nine teams before them, in the back of their minds. On Saturday, that goal became a reality.

No. 3 Regina (13-5) rolled over No. 15 Williamsburg (11-6) 4-0 in a Class 1A substate final at Regina High School, earning its 10th-straight state tournament berth.

And even though everyone in and around the program understands the expectations that have come with the decade of dominance, Regina Coach Rick Larew said reaching the tournament is just in the back of their minds.

'There's a tradition here, and if you see my assistants, they've all been state champions, all state players,” Larew said. 'That says something about what the program is about. We don't talk about that ... The whole goal is trying to help these kids grow up and how to be successful in life.”

That level of success, though, is hard to ignore - especially for the Regals' opponents.

Junior Nicholas Pechous, who picked up a pair of goals in the 65th and 71st minutes on Saturday, said that adds some extra pressure, though never enough to throw them off course.

'We've got a target on our back,” Pechous said. 'Teams are out to beat us and take us away from the state tournament. But with the way we play, we always find our way back.”

Williamsburg jumped out fast, controlling the ball for the first five minutes and applying pressure downfield. The Raiders' attack, however, was short lived. The Regals quickly turned the tables, putting a pair of goals on the board in the 20th and 28th minutes from forward Tony Huang and midfielder Kieler Brown, respectively. Add Pechous' two goals in the second half, and it was smooth sailing to the end.

Now this isn't the most talented team Larew has had in his time at Regina, and he knows that. So instead of relying on just pure talent, he's focused on simply playing smart and consistent - something he said they did incredibly well Saturday afternoon.

'When we play possession soccer, when we just connect passes, we're as good as anybody,” Larew said. 'Now, other teams can beat us, but we play as well as anybody. When we don't do that possession, we get away from it, then we struggle because we're not good enough to run over people. We're just not that good. We're good enough to play and compete.”

Regina will open in the quarterfinals of the state tournament on Thursday afternoon at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.

And even though Pechous and the rest of the team appreciate the decade-long streak they have helped build, he said they aren't satisfied yet.

'It's great for us to continue a tradition like this,” Pechous said. 'Ten straight, it's a great honor. But we want more.”

l Comments: ryan.young@thegazette.com