Pella ends Iowa City Liberty’s season of firsts in girls’ state soccer tournament

DES MOINES — A successful season of firsts came to an end Tuesday for the Iowa City Liberty girls’ soccer team.

The sixth-ranked Lightning (13-5) were defeated, 4-2, by the fifth-rated Pella Dutch (14-4) in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A Iowa high school girls’ state soccer tournament at Cownie Soccer Park.

“We achieved what our goal at the beginning of the year was,” Liberty Coach Frank Fiordellisi said. “We achieved a lot of firsts this year, and hopefully those aren’t the lasts.”

Firsts for Liberty in 2024 included: the program’s first trip to the state tournament, first Mississippi Valley Conference title and a school-record 13 wins.

Pella struck first Tuesday as University of Iowa commit Abby Warner capitalized on a penalty kick in the sixth minute.

The Lightning answered back with a PK of their own as leading scorer Rilyn Breinholt cashed one with 19:16 remaining in the first.

With less than two minutes to go in the opening period, Bella Tafolla found Morgan Bennett open and Bennett drilled it to give Liberty a 2-1 advantage at the half.

“I thought that was going to be a killer, giving up the early PK,” Fiordellisi said. “To be able to battle back from that deficit to then get a goal back and take the lead at halftime, I think that showed true resilience and character.

“I’m super proud of the team.”

The score remained 2-1 until Warner added her second goal with 17:30 left. Then, with 6:05 to go, Warner made it a hat trick on a header to give the Dutch the lead.

“We had a lead in the second half of a state tournament game, we just came up a little short,” Fiordellisi said. “They’ve got some great players on their team. Abby Warner, we knew we weren’t going to be able to stop her, but just had to limit her. For most of the game, we did.”

Briana Shannon added a late score for Pella. The Dutch will face top-ranked North Polk in Thursday’s semifinals.

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Photos: Iowa City Liberty vs. Pella in Class 2A girls’ state soccer quarterfinals

Fiordellisi believes the experience his team gained this season, especially during Tuesday’s contest, bodes well for the program’s future. Leading scorers Breinholt and Callie Stanley, as well as goalkeeper Ava Tague all have the opportunity to return next season.

“We’re losing some players, but we’re bringing back a lot of good players next year,” Fiordellisi said. “I just think this helps us to continue building the culture and the legacy of this program.

“It was an amazing season.”