Defense, Dow’s hat trick helps power Polk Middle to victory at Brevard

A solid defensive effort Wednesday helped spark Polk County Middle to a 4-1 win at Brevard Middle in Blue Ridge Conference soccer action.

The Wolverines upped their record to 6-1-1 overall with the win. The Blue Devils dropped to 2-4.

Ross Dow scored a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes to give Polk Middle a quick 2-0 advantage. Brevard began pressuring offensively, but the Wolverine defense turned aside those challenges.

Polk then increased its lead to 3-0 as Brennan Oates drew a foul in the penalty area, with Luke Garrison taking and converting the penalty kick.

The Blue Devils scored shortly before halftime to make it 3-1 at the break.

Dow completed a hat trick with a goal in the 54th minute, taking a shot from some 35 yards out that cleared the goalkeeper.

The Blue Devils outshot the Wolverines 10-7, but Polk Middle head coach Lennox Charles credited defenders Erik Ramirez, Matthew Jarrett, Ryan Blomeley and Grayson Clancy with keeping Brevard at bay. Clancy at one point headed away a Blue Devil shot bound for the net to help preserve a two-goal advantage.

The Wolverines are back home on Monday, set to face Rugby Middle in a key Blue Ridge Conference East Division match at 4:30 p.m.