April 25, 2024

Little Dutch, Mother Nature deck the Cardinals

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton senior Chandler Sturtz (7) collects and controls the ball with his knee in front of Pella’s Christian Hamilton (12) in first-half action Tuesday at H.A. Lynn Stadium. The Cardinals battled the visiting Little Dutch and trailed 2-1 when lightning halted play with 14:48 on the game clock. A thunderstorm rolled through preventing the game to resume and Pella took home a 2-1 Little Hawkeye Conference win. (Jocelyn Sheets)

NEWTON — Lightning forced a stoppage in play Tuesday at H.A. Lynn Stadium. With 14:48 left in the Little Hawkeye Conference game, Newton’s Cardinals trailed visiting Pella’s Little Dutch, 2-1, when the game was suspended.

The teams were planning to get back on the field but the thunderstorm won out. Play could not resume until 30 minutes after the final lightning flash in the area and the storm persisted through the night.

So, the Little Dutch took the 2-1 win home.

The teams were knotted up 1-1 at halftime in Newton’s final regular-season home game.

Will Warner hit a ball over Newton goalkeeper Griffin Engel’s leaping attempt to knock it down for the first goal of the game with 8:08 on the clock.

Newton had been swarming around the Pella goal most of the first half but couldn’t find the net until the 6:27 mark. Josh Ventling planted the ball deep in the net past Little Dutch goalie Chase Petty for the equalizer.

The Little Dutch struck quickly in the second half. Seth Johnson’s goal at the 38:30 mark proved to be the winner for Pella.

Newton recognized its six seniors before the game. They are Chandler Sturtz, Nathan Moorman, Colton Hansen, Dillon Constant, Ryan Thompson and Mac Icenbice.

The Cardinals fell to 9-6 on the season and 4-2 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. Newton plays at Dallas Center-Grimes Thursday in their final regular-season and conference contest.

Newton opens Class 2A Substate 7 action next Tuesday at Prairie City-Monroe. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. in Monroe. PCM’s Mustangs are winless this season.