Iowa City Regina Secures Ninth State Championship in Boys Soccer Against St. Albert

The Iowa City Regina boys soccer team celebrated its ninth state championship title after defeating St. Albert 3-2 in the finals held at Mediacom Stadium on June 5. The Regals, who entered the match as the top seed, continued their impressive legacy by clinching victory in their ninth consecutive appearance in the state finals.

Senior standout Laird Holden was instrumental in the win, scoring all three goals for Regina and marking a memorable conclusion to his high school career. His remarkable hat trick solidified the Regals' dominance throughout the season, as they finished with an unbeaten record of 21-0-1.

St. Albert, ranked third and making its 12th state tournament appearance, fought hard but ultimately fell short. The Falcons' Kyle Irwin, who had an outstanding season with 29 goals and 25 assists, managed to assist on both late goals by Tanner Estell and Morgan Young, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Regina's lead.

Regina's head coach, Rick Larew, who has guided the team through all nine championships, emphasized the collective effort that led to the title. “I can give you the road map, I can show you how we've done it before, but you guys have to do the work,” he stated, highlighting the importance of teamwork and commitment.

Despite Holden's individual accolades, he credited his teammates for their contributions, saying, “I couldn't do anything without them. The hustle, the preventative effort on defense... I'm so thankful to be on this team.” This victory ties Iowa City Regina with Iowa City West for the most boys soccer championships in state history, underscoring their enduring legacy in the sport.