Regals dominate in season opener

IOWA CITY - Graduation had a disproportionate impact on the rematch of the boys Class 1A state championship game.

Mid-Prairie lost a ton of talent, including two first-team all-state players, while Regina returned eight starters and a bunch of reserves.

The result: Defending state champ Regina rolled to an easy 8-0 victory last night in its season-opener.

'Our kids played sensational,” Regina Coach Rick Larew said. 'They practiced really well. Really focused.”

'For the beginning of the season we definitely played really well,” senior Nicolas Ziniel said. 'A lot of it has to do with the experience we have, the years we've been playing together and just a lot of chemistry we've built up that we were able to pick right back up.”

Regina's play was particularly impressive because last week its seniors went to the east coast on the annual senior trip and were not around to practice.

Usually that means the Regals start the season a bit ragged, understandably so, but that was not the case this year.

The team practiced 2-1/2 hours Saturday and three hours Sunday when the seniors got back.

Larew said the focus was intense on passing drills. It showed on Monday.

The passing, spacing and communication belied the missed practice time.

'It was one of the most fun games I've played,” Ziniel said.

'Watching everyone play together so well and moving the ball so fluently, all that chemistry we had going. It was a fun time.”

'A key for us is the older guys, the juniors and seniors, help out the younger guys who don't really know what it's all about yet,” junior Emilio Tovar said.

Tovar, coming off a calf injury, scored four goals for the first time in his career to lead the way.

Senior Fabian Ouellet-Pinto scored two and seniors Michael Adam and Ziniel had one apiece.

Last year's team was defensively oriented. This team has the wherewithal to score with any opponent.

'It will be a little bit more balanced,” Ziniel said.

'There's a lot of firepower here,” Larew said. 'And they really enjoy each other and they are unselfish.”