Regis Jesuit’s preparation for its upcoming semifinal game with Fountain Valley came in the form of six players finding the net in a 7-1 win over perennial playoff contender Ralston Valley on Saturday.
“We are a very talented team, as almost anybody can put it in the net,” Regis Jesuit coach Dan Woodley said. “We got goals from all over. We are hard to beat because we are so deep.”
Just a year ago, Ralston Valley knocked Regis out of the semifinals, ending the Raiders’ drive for a third straight championship.
“That is just one more reason we came out strong and brought everything we had,” Regis senior forward Matt Conrad said.
The Raiders jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, taking advantage of Ralston Valley penalties. On a 5-on-4 power play, senior Max Buretz found the net with an assist from junior Brian Burlage. Less than two minutes later, Buretz returned the favor, feeding Burlage on a breakaway.
Ralston Valley’s Dillon Taylor scored with a blue-line slap shot to the upper net, cutting the deficit to 2-1 early in the second period, but that was the only time the Mustangs got the puck past Regis goalie Matt Lechner.
Momentum swung Regis’ way when junior Marshall Conrad and senior Matt Conrad scored goals to end the second period ahead 4-1.
“We weathered that storm. And when we got the opportunities, we scored,” Woodley said.
The onslaught of goals continued as freshman Luke Slouka backhanded the puck past Mustangs backup goalie Cody Buesser on the first shot of the period.
Matt Conrad added another goal before junior Michael Pasquarella’s breakaway goal finished the Mustangs off in the final seconds of the game.
“We have been balanced all year,” Matt Conrad said. “Everyone is performing this year. One thing we have and most teams don’t is depth.”
Ralston Valley failed to reach the semifinals for the first time in six seasons. Regis, meanwhile, advances to the frozen four.
Ralston Valley 0 1 0 — 1
Regis Jesuit 2 2 3 — 7
First period — 1, RJ, Buretz (Burlage, Futz), 14:29 pp. 2, RJ, Burlage (Buretz, Lechner), 16:22. Penalties — Davis, RJ (interference), 9:14; Hoover, RV (checking from behind), 13:08; Lapinski, RV (tripping), 14:16.
Second period — 3, RV, Taylor (Snedden, Lapinski), 4:48 pp. 4, RJ, Mar. Conrad (Haas, Davis), 14:53. 5, RJ, Matt Conrad (Buretz), 16:09. Penalties — Martinez, RV (holding), 1:35; Davis, RJ (roughing), 2:49.
Third period — 6, RJ, Slouka (Brennan, Monk), 2:40. 7, RJ, Matt Conrad (Valls), 9:56. 8, RJ, Pasquarella (Wigton), 16:50. Penalties — Bennett, RV (roughing), 5:52; Bennett, RV (slashing), 5:52; Ottenbreit, RJ (roughing), 6:07; Monk, RJ (holding), 16:05.
Shots on goal — Ralston Valley 9-13-8 — 30; Regis Jesuit 12-11-11 — 34. Saves — Ralston Valley (Cowley, 33 minutes) 10-9-0 — 19 (Buesser, 17 minutes) 0-0-8 — 8; Regis Jesuit (Lechner) 9-12-8 — 29. Power-play opportunities — Ralston Valley 1-for-4; Regis Jesuit 1-for-4.
