Trailing Patton 1-0 late in the first half and missing two starters Wednesday, Polk County soccer needed a spark.
They got one in a hurry.
A pair of goals in the final three minutes of the first half gave the Wolverines the lead, and a stingy defense made it hold up as Polk County took a 2-1 win over the Panthers in a rematch of last year’s state 3A quarterfinal.
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“We’ve got to go back to practice and realize that we have to be quicker than we were tonight,” Polk County coach George Alley said. “This isn’t the only team we’ll see like this. But it’s bend but don’t break, right? And they did.”
Jackson Blotner scored first for the Wolverines, making a nice move to get free and finishing with three minutes remaining in the half. The goal pulled Polk even after a penalty kick had given Patton a 1-0 lead.
“He’s scored a bunch of goals for us, and he’s dangerous,” Alley said of Blotner. “And when you combine him with some of these other guys, he just gets it done.”
With about a minute remaining in the half, Tallis Metcalf made the most of a free kick, blasting a shot past the Patton goalkeeper for a 2-1 lead.
“All of a sudden, just bang-bang there at the end of the half, showed a lot of character,” Alley said.
And that was all the Wolverines would need. Polk County withstood a fast, physical Patton squad in the second half, including four good chances in the final six minutes, to preserve the win.
“I thought we were gonna come out a little crisper in the second half, but we just couldn’t match their quickness,” Alley said. “All of the defenders and Charlie (Wagoner) did a great job. You know, we gave up a PK, but they didn’t score in the run of play.”
