As if facing Norwalk wasn’t enough of a challenge, the Pella girls and boys soccer teams also battled constant wind and temperatures in the 90s, but were able to pick up a pair of big wins over Norwalk yesterday afternoon in Little Hawkeye Conference play.  
The girls game started out as a defensive showdown, as the two teams stood at a scoreless tie at halftime.  The Lady Dutch held a narrow 2-1 advantage in shots on goal in the opening 40 minutes, but turned up the intensity and found more offensive opportunities in the second half.  
Bri Schroder put two of Pella’s eight second-half shots past the Norwalk keeper, while the Lady Dutch defense stifled the Warriors offense to hold on for a 2-0 win. Pella assistant coach Mark Howard said the high temperatures and long weekend seemed to take a toll on the girls, and says they were proud of how the team fought hard to earn the victory.  
The Pella boys fought hard to earn a big victory as well, rebounding from an early Norwalk goal to take a 3-1 lead at halftime; courtesy of a barrage of three goals in a ten-minute span.  
The Little Dutch added an insurance goal early in the second half, but then had to withstand several powerful surges by the Warriors to hang on for a 4-2 victory.  
It was the first win for the Pella boys over Norwalk in more than five years.  The victories improve the Pella girls soccer team to 5-3 overall, while the boys are 9-3.  
Both teams face Knoxville tomorrow, with the Lady Dutch playing at the High School Athletic Complex and the boys on the road.
Pella Boys Statistics:

Tukker Bogaard – 29′ (Deckar Lynch), 49′ (Deckar Lynch)
Spencer Boeyink – 20′
Pauly Apostolopoulos – 24′