With a 4-3 win over their closest conference rival, Hendersonville, on Monday, Oct. 19, Polk County’s varsity soccer team took a bold step closer to a Western Highlands Conference title.

The Wolverines, 11-4-1 overall, and 7-1-1, put those marks on the line with home matches against Madison and Mountain Heritage on Oct. 21 and 22. Results were not available at press time. Hendersonville fell to 9-2 in WHC action before press time.

Polk’s Oct. 21 and 22 home matches were scheduled to be held at Polk County Middle School. This Thursday evening’s contest against Mountain Heritage will begin at 6:30. It’s Senior Night.

On Monday, Oct 26, the Wolverines visit Madison.

If the Wolverines win all three of these matches, the worst they can do is tie for first in the WHC. Owen, 6-3-1 in the WHC at press time, can finish no better than second in the conference, but Polk, Hendersonville and Owen can all qualify for the state tournament, which is set to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Polk wasted little time in taking charge on Monday evening, with Isaias Akers scoring a goal off a block, not quite a minute and one-half into the action. Wil Rimer got the assist.

Wil Rimer, who scored two goals, booted in his first with 27:13 left in the first half, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead. The match was held at Polk County Middle School.

Polk head coach Lennox Charles stated after the match that if Polk had managed a third goal in the first half, the Wolverines would have controlled the momentum. Instead, the Bearcats put two goals on the board to tie the game before the half.

Tanner Gilliam scored Hendersonville’s first goal; Matthew Mel booted in the second.

“We were up two; they were on their heels,” Charles remarked, noting that the Bearcats’ first goal buoyed their confidence.

“That’s what happens when you don’t put a team away,” Charles remarked during half time.

In spite of that, and in spite of Hendersonville controlling the ball early in the second half, the Wolverines did what they needed to do.

Though Charles considers that the Wolverines were a bit better than Owen (the Warhorses have edged Polk, 3-2, and tied the Wolverines, 2-2, Polk has not been able to take advantage of that against the Warhorses.

For whatever reason, however, the Wolverines are always charged to meet Hendersonville.

“I don’t have to say anything when we play Hendersonville,” Charles said. “You have to worry about them getting too worked up. We were able to hold our emotions in check.”

With their emotions in check, the Wolverines went up, 3-2, on Rimer’s second goal, with 26:42 left in the game (assist from Garrett Weickert); then scored an insurance goal on a penalty kick by Jeremy Allsbrook, to make it 4-2.

Shortly after that, Hendersonville scored its third goal (and Matthew Mel’s second), just after Polk goaltender Wilson Edwards leaped forward and upward, stopping a Bearcat shot. Edwards had distinguished himself through the match by making a number of difficult saves.