Photo Courtesy of Troy L. Hugen Photography

80 minutes wasn’t enough for the Class 1A Substate 6 Final, but the #14 ranked Pella Christian boys soccer team came out on the wrong end of a 2-1 overtime decision against West Branch Wednesday night.

The Bears quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead over the Eagles, scoring on a penalty kick in the fifth minute of the game. That score held for much of the first half, before the Eagles found the back of the net for the equalizing goal. Trae Van Maanen found Theo Hugen in the 32nd minute and Hugen beat the West Branch defense to tie the game going into halftime. The two teams were scoreless in the second half, due in large part to terrific goalkeeping from Kaleb Pogany for Pella Christian and the Bears’ Shae Farmer. Needing extra time to determine who was going to State, the Eagles continued to battle, but ultimately West Branch managed to net the winning goal with two minutes remaining in overtime.

Pella Chrisitan ends the season with a 7-9 record and graduates seniors Kaden Van Wyngarden, Trevan Parker, Aiden Stoltz, David Olivier, Jack Fancher, Kaleb Pogany.