Opposite fortunes greeted the ranked soccer teams of Pella High School Saturday. The #6 in 2A Dutch boys won a pair of matches against Cedar Rapids Jefferson 2-1 and Mt. Vernon 1-0 on Overtime Penalty Kicks, while the #9 in 2A Pella girls fell 3-1 to #7 Waverly-Shell Rock.

On a long road trip to Cedar Rapids less than 24 hours removed from a 5-0 win over Carlisle, the Dutch encountered a physical foe in the morning opener. Isaac Semini and Austin Bone both scored in the first contest. The afternoon featured a shorthanded Pella boys team, but they were able to hang on through all overtime periods and hit all five of their penalty kicks to defeat the Mustangs. The Dutch are 8-0 on the season.

Facing their third consecutive ranked 2A foe, a 1-1 tie at the half for the Pella girls turned into defensive struggles in the second, as Waverly-Shell Rock scored twice in a ten minute span to essentially ice the contest. Abby Warner continued her strong start to the year, earning her 16th goal of 2022 in seven games. The Dutch girls are on a three-game skid against some of Iowa’s best. The two teams return to action Tuesday; Pella’s boys hit the road while the girls are at home vs. Newton.