For the second time this season IMS traveled to Iowa City to face the Running Regals of Regina and for the second time this year they fell, this time in the substate round of the soccer postseason by a 5-1 score. Defenses dominated the first 10 minutes of play until Aaron Schmits of Regina got free for a goal in the 13th minute to put Regina up 1-0. The Regals made it 2-0 in quick fashion when AJ Adam beat the keeper one minute later. Regina wrapped up the first half scoring with Schmits’ 2nd goal in the 39th minute to take a 3-0 lead into the locker room.

Regina opened up the scoring in half number two with Nicolas Ziniel’s 48th minute goal to take the score to 4-0. IMS got on the board late with a 78th minute goal off the toe of Dillon Bender. Regina added a final penalty kick goal, their second of the game, in the 79th minute when Michael Adam was taken down in the box. The game was a physical one with Regina receiving more than 25 free kicks and IMS accumulating more than five yellow cards and a red card during play. Head coach Marcus Miller said this was a game that got out of control, and he thinks his kids fought harder in the game than what the score reflects.

“[Saturday] We knew that Regina was ranked No. 1 for a reason, a very tough team and very physical. I thought my guys played well, I though they tried to do what we tried to do in the game in terms of making adjustments since the first time we played them, Regina has obviously improved since the first time we played them as well.” Miller said. “It got to be a very physical game, I had two guys who had to get medical treatment after the game. It got out of hand, and I don’t think the score reflected the competitiveness of the game.”

Regina advances to the state tournament in Des Moines for the sixth straight season. IMS ends their year at 14-7-1.