The Pella High soccer teams are easing into action with their annual scrimmages in preparation of the 2017 season.

The boys had theirs last night, while the girls take to the pitch tonight.

The Lady Dutch made it to the state championship game last season, where they fell to Lewis Central. Coach Mark Howard says that he’s been asked about the elusive state title many times this spring, but says that there’s a long way between now and then.

“First we have to go through the season, and in my conversation with the girls we have to take one game at a time and try to get a little bit better every game. We need to play our conference foes tough, try to win the conference and get back to the state tournament. We just have to not look ahead too far, try to get better every game and hopefully we’ll get back to that spot. Then we’ll do our darndest to do better than last year.”

The Lady Dutch open the season next Monday night at home against Marshalltown. The Pella boys get rolling Thursday at Winterset.