Pella’s girls soccer team is hoping to take a step further from their 2023 top four finish at this week’s state soccer tournament in Des Moines.

The Dutch, standing at 13-4 overall, are making their 15th-ever state appearance, and eighth trip under current Head Coach Mark Howard. Pella is slated to take on Iowa City Liberty in the Class 2A quarterfinals Tuesday. The Lightning have only been a foe once before for the Dutch, back in the regional playoffs in May of 2022, when the green and white won 5-1. The two schools had no common opponents this year.

Liberty is led by Rilyn Breinholt, who has scored 19 goals this season, and Goalkeeper Ava Tague has an 86.7% save rate in 1360 minutes for the 13-4 Lighting who tied for first with Xavier and Cedar Falls in the Mississippi Valley Conference standings.

Pella’s Abby Warner is making her second consecutive state appearance, and has scored 35 times in her senior campaign. Goalkeeper Maddie Holland made the critical save that proved to be the difference as all of her teammates scored in the PK showdown with ADM last Thursday, and has converted on 84.8% of her save chances this year.

Coverage of Pella vs. Liberty in the Class 2A state quarterfinals begins at noon on Tuesday on 92.1 KRLS.