A second half goal by senior Lizzie Neumann was the difference in a season-opening battle of ranked girls soccer teams, as the #11 in 2A Pella Dutch defeated #7 Bondurant-Farrar 2-1 on Thursday night.

The Dutch struck first on an Avary Hunsinger penalty kick goal (pictured above) in the first half, only for the Bluejays to respond just a few minutes before the break. Neumann broke free after a shot attempt to give Pella the advantage needed for the win.

Pella’s girls improve to 1-0 and earn the first varsity win for new Head Coach Scott Treft. He’s featured on this weekend’s Hy-Vee Radio Coaches Corner on 92.1 KRLS this Saturday at 9 a.m. The Dutch girls are next in action on Monday in Ames.

The Dutch boys soccer team finished a 1-1 tie with Des Moines Christian on the road. Head Coach Will Foskett says the team fell behind in the first half but couldn’t find the back of the net despite several strong scoring chances. The Dutch found a tally in the second half to force the tie with the Lions. Pella is now 1-0-1 and heads to Oskaloosa on Tuesday.

Pella’s boys golf meet today and the track and field meet at DCG on Saturday have been cancelled due to weather conditions.