Regis Jesuit goaltender Sam Gartner, center, stretches out to stop a shot by Monarch's Brendan Van Haute (9) during the first period of the Raiders' 5-1 loss to the Coyotes in a state ice hockey semifinal game on March 5, 2015, at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. Monarch defeated Regis Jesuit in the Frozen Four for the third consecutive season and moves on to play Cherry Creek at 2 p.m. March 7 for the state championship. (Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
Regis Jesuit goaltender Sam Gartner, center, stretches out to stop a shot by Monarch’s Brendan Van Haute (9) during the first period of the Raiders’ 5-1 loss to the Coyotes in a state ice hockey semifinal game on March 5, 2015, at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. Monarch defeated Regis Jesuit in the Frozen Four for the third consecutive season and moves on to play Cherry Creek at 2 p.m. March 7 for the state championship. (Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
Regis Jesuit goaltender Sam Gartner, center, stretches out to stop a shot by Monarch’s Brendan Van Haute (9) during the first period of the Raiders’ 5-1 loss to the Coyotes in a state ice hockey semifinal game on March 5, 2015, at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. Monarch defeated Regis Jesuit in the Frozen Four for the third consecutive season and moves on to play Cherry Creek at 2 p.m. March 7 for the state championship. (Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

LOVELAND | The Regis Jesuit ice hockey team has mastered playing its way into the state ice hockey semifinals, as the Raiders have an ongoing streak of eight seasons in the Final Four.

Getting past Monarch once they get there, however, has been a puzzle the Raiders are still trying to solve recently.

Coach Dan Woodley’s Regis Jesuit team took the lead against the Coyotes in Thursday night’s state semifinal contest at Budweiser Events Center on Jack Jordan’s first-period goal, but wound up falling short of the state championship game for a third straight season at Monarch’s hands.

Blake Bride scored three straight goals and boosted the Coyotes to a 5-1 victory over the Raiders, who were seeking a fifth all-time trip to the finals and a chance to win a fourth state title.

Monarch (17-3-1) lost to Ralston Valley in each of the past two seasons, but takes on 18-4 Cherry Creek — a 3-2 winner over Dakota Ridge in a 6-overtime epic — this time. The state championship game is scheduled for 2 p.m. March 7 on the same ice.

Meanwhile, Regis Jesuit — which downed Monarch 4-1 in the regular season — saw its undefeated season come to an end and finished the season 19-1-1.

The Raiders will have to wait until next season to make a run at a state championship to join the ones they won in 2008, 2009 and 2012.

Like its first round playoff win over Heritage (8-0) and second round victory against Resurrection Christian (3-0), Regis Jesuit came up with the first goal of the game in the semifinal when Jordan beat Monarch goaltender Hampus Akesson with assists going to Jack Kilkenny and Michael Baer.

The Raiders hadn’t allowed a goal in the postseason through six periods and stretched that to seven, as a goal for the Coyotes just a minute after Jordan’s was waved off because it was deemed to have come after the whistle had blown.

Late in the second period, Bride ended Regis Jesuit’s 120-plus minute stretch without yielding a goal when he scored unassisted with less than four minutes left in the second period, then tallied again with just 25 seconds left in the period.

Monarch came away with three goals in a penalty-filled third period that started with a pair of five-minute major penalties assessed to the Raiders.

The Coyotes couldn’t score on the power play, but Bride scored an even strength goal to build the lead, Adam Tybor tallied shorthanded and Andrew Pickner padded the lead again late.

Regis Jesuit goaltender Sam Garter, who had faced just 16 shots on goal in the previous two playoff games, saved 25 of the 30 shots directed his way.

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel

MONARCH 5, REGIS JESUIT 1

Score by periods:

Monarch       0  2  3 — 5

Regis Jesuit  1  0  0 — 1

SCORING

First period: Regis Jesuit — Jack Jordan (Jack Kilkenny, Michael Baer), 11:54

Second period: Monarch — Blake Bride, 13:22; Monarch — Bride (Mike Van Haute), 16:35

Third period: Monarch — Bride (Andrew Pickner, Van Haute), 5:23; Monarch — Adam Tybor (shorthanded), 13:30; Monarch — Pickner, 15:21

Goaltenders: Regis Jesuit — Sam Gartner (30 shots against-25 saves); Monarch — Hampus Akesson (23 shots against-22 saves)

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...