In a match that was neck-and-neck to the finish, the No. 1 Pella Lady Dutch soccer team clinched the Little Hawkeye Conference championship in two overtimes versus archrival DCG last night 3-2.

Pella and DCG traded close shot for close shot throughout the duration of regulation, with Pella going up 2-1 from a Katie Vander Molen score with 14:50 left in the 2nd half, only to have the Fillies rally with under seven to play to tie it.

Deadlocked after the first ten-minute overtime period featuring many near-makes by Pella strikers, the Lady Dutch clinched the victory almost halfway through the time allotted in the 2nd extra period on a goal by Bellara Huang that fired up a rowdy crowd at Pella’s home stadium.

Head Coach Mark Howard tells KNIA/KRLS it was a special way to kick start what the team hopes to be a deep postseason run.

“I thought it was just a great game,” he says. “As the game transpired, I thought it was one of the best games I’ve ever seen.”

The conference champs’ record is now 12-3 and the Lady Dutch wrap up the regular season on the road at No. 4 in 1A Nevada on Thursday.