Regina bows out in semis

DES MOINES - The Regina girls' soccer team met one of its goals at the state tournament when it won a quarterfinal match against rival Solon for its first state victory in three trips. But winning a second game proved elusive.

No. 2-ranked and unbeaten Nevada outlasted the No. 3 Regals, 1-0 in overtime Friday, and will play in today's Class 1A final against Davenport Assumption.

'We knew it would be a tough match,” Nevada Coach Randy Davis said. 'We played them last year, and we expected a good game. Our motto has been we play the whole 80 minutes. It took a little longer, and we just keep coming and keep coming. Regina played a great game. Eighty minutes of 0-0 soccer is a compliment to everyone.

The winning goal came in the 87th minute on a counterattack. Kati Cassabaum played a through ball to streaking freshman midfielder Abby Stephenson. Stephenson got Regal keeper Hanna Stein to commit, and then kicked it past her for the winner.

'Oh my gosh, it's unbelievable,” Stephenson said. 'We finally got our chance after so many shots on goal. We finally got one through. It's a great feeling.”

Stephenson had the poise to take just the right touch and neither blast the ball nor shank it.

'Obviously, you don't want that to happen, but at the same time it's a tough situation because we're trying to score as well,” Regina Coach Jordan Grimm said. 'We just got caught in transition, and it's tough with a team on a free run like that.

'I'm very, very happy with the girls. I'm so proud of them. Proud that we got the opportunity to come here and play and just so proud to be part of the team and part of the program.”

Both teams had ample chances to score in regulation and the overtime. Nevada's Jessica Helton had a one-on-one in the box and kicked it over the goal in the 47th minute. Regina's Katie Wick hit the post in the 64th minute, and Lauren Ronnfeldt's blast to the upper right corner of the net was just barely tipped over the bar by the Cubs' keeper two minutes later.

But, ultimately, both defenses were up to the task. Stein, in fact, caught more balls than she probably has in a month's worth of softball games.

'They countered nicely,” Davis said. 'They had a couple shots there at the end that I thought were in for sure.”

Regina finished 16-4, and Nevada improved to 21-0.

'They're an incredible team,” Grimm said. 'You look at their record and the teams they beat. They're very well-coached, athletic girls.”