It was a stunning return to the state tournament that lands at No. 10 of an absolutely loaded top ten countdown of sports stories and moments at Pella High School in the 2024-25 school year. The Pella girls soccer team clinched a third consecutive appearance to the final eight of Class 2A following an upset victory over North Polk on May 30th. The #12 Dutch defeated the #3 ranked Comets by a 2-0 margin in Alleman. Pella scored on a penalty kick early in the 2nd half off of Avary Hunsinger. The Dutch defense hung tough against North Polk, and Bri Shannon sealed the match with just over three minutes remaining with another goal. The Dutch played in the school’s 16th ever state tournament. Pella’s opening match is on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. in a rematch with conference rival Dallas Center-Grimes. The win would be the last for Head Coach Mark Howard, as he announced his retirement this summer.
Interview with Pella Soccer Players Sarah Hardman, Kyler Hartson, and Bri Shannon: