The Iowa City Regina Regals captured their ninth consecutive state championship on Saturday, finishing an immaculate 21‑0‑1 campaign with a 3‑2 win over St. Albert in the title match.
From the outset the Regals imposed their rhythm, and in the 26th minute senior forward Laird Holden opened the scoring after a precise pass from Connor Hoffman found him in the box.
Holden struck again just before halftime, doubling the lead to 2‑0 and putting the Regals in control, but St. Albert refused to fold, mounting a late surge that produced two goals in the closing minutes.
A Hat Trick for the Ages
The turning point arrived in the 55th minute when Holden converted a penalty kick, completing his hat trick and sealing the victory while sending the crowd into celebration.
Head coach Rick Larew, who has guided the Regals through all nine titles, praised the team’s discipline and attention to detail, emphasizing that the squad’s unity was the cornerstone of their historic run.
With 43 goals in his senior season, Holden finished as the program’s all‑time leading scorer, a milestone that ties Iowa City West for the most state championships in Iowa boys soccer history.