Iowa City Regina falls in girls' state soccer, but gains experience

DES MOINES — Deep into a one-sided game that favored her opponent at the girls' state soccer tournament, Iowa City Regina Coach Ann Larew took a second to survey the field.

Her eyes went side-to-side as she counted all the Regals' freshmen getting state tournament experience. There were seven on the field, and it brought a sense of pride about what the future could bring.

Even in a 9-0 loss to defending Class 1A champion Davenport Assumption, there was hope.

'We have a history,' Larew said after the quarterfinal matchup at Cownie Soccer Park. 'These girls who are seniors have been to the state tournament every year. The ones that are younger, now they see that tradition. They see that that's where they want to be. They know now what it takes. It takes a lot of hard work and working together. I think they'll use that as motivation.'

The Regals (7-13) slogged through some growing pains this season after finishing runner-up last year. Their young roster worked through a schedule with a regular season finale against the Knights (17-2), a 2-1 loss for Regina.

Assumption, Larew said, didn't divert from the strategy it employed a couple weeks ago. The Knights just hit on all cylinders while the Regals tried to withstand the offensive onslaught. Assumption's Molly Gervase scored in the 10th minute for a 1-0 lead, but four goals in a span of 11 minutes near the end of the first half helped the Knights cruise.

'They're definitely a great team and they came out a lot stronger than we thought,' said junior midfielder Lauren Gaarde. 'We were not ready for that at all, so I think just knowing it can always be your last. No matter if it's during playoffs or at state, it can always be your last moment.'

Regina returns all but two starters next season, three of which will be sophomores. This season was centered on learning and building experience. Next season will be about returning to make a deep run.

'Davenport Assumption was a better team than we were,' Larew said. 'They outplayed us and they won the game. We only see that as motivation to be back on this field next year. I'm quite sure that we will be.'

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