This appears to have been one of those knockout games where control did not guarantee comfort.
That left the contest hanging on composure. Shootouts often turn on specialist preparation or sheer instinct, and Regina seems to have found both in an unusual place. Greve’s switch from midfield to goal gave the finish an improvised edge, but the report says it was not a surprise inside the camp.
If Regina advanced, Fortney sounds like the main reason the semi-final became so tense.
The report says the West Central Valley keeper produced a standout display, including a heavy early workload and key saves late on as Regina pushed for a breakthrough. In matches like this, a goalkeeper can change the emotional temperature of the night: every stop raises belief for one side and frustration for the other.
Just as important was West Central Valley’s defensive discipline. Limiting space, protecting the box and forcing Regina to keep searching for a clean finish appears to have dragged the favourite deep into uncomfortable territory.
Cup football often rewards adaptability as much as fluency. Regina may not have found the goal its pressure deserved, but seeing out a stubborn semi-final and then winning on penalties points to resilience as much as talent.
Now the focus shifts to the final. After a draining night settled by the finest of margins, the next storyline is obvious: whether Regina can carry that composure one game further and turn a survival test into a title-winning finish.