Polk County’s matchup against North Buncombe on Thursday night felt more like a Bob Seger concert with the encore being “Against the Wind.”
In the first half, the Lady Wolverines were kicking against the wind. That is generally a good thing because it means the wind will be at their backs in the second half, giving them a slight advantage. That wasn’t the case Thursday.
After the half, the Lady Wolverines ran out onto the field only to find out the wind had switched directions.
The first five minutes of the match were a whirlwind for 3A North Buncombe. The Lady Blackhawks attacked the goal and less than five minutes in had goal number 1.
The Lady Wolverines, however, fought back the entire first half. After the quick strike by the Lady Blackhawks, Polk was able to hold the ball on its side of the field and get good shots on goal.
“We passed the ball well and that created some chances,” Polk coach Lennox “Rock” Charles said. “We were a little unlucky on some of (those chances).”
The biggest chance in the first half came with 22 minutes left in the half. Peyton Habenicht shot a ball off the cross bar and two follow-up attempts inside the goalie box were unsuccessful.
North Buncombe scored its final goal with less than five minutes remaining in the second half.
In the waning minutes of the game, Polk’s McKenna Callahan shot a ball across the goal into the left corner of the net, but it was too little, too late for the Wolverines, who lost 2-1.
“We kept hanging in there,” Charles said.