Two heads proved better than one Monday for Polk County.
Brennan Oates and Jasper Nespeca combined on the lone goal of the night late in the first half, and the Wolverines made it stand for a 1-0 Western Highlands Conference victory over Mountain Heritage at G.M. Tennant Stadium.
Polk spent much of the match in the Mountain Heritage end of the field, controlling possession and creating several promising looks at goal. The Cougars’ defense, though, repeatedly held firm and kept the Wolverines off the scoreboard for most of the first half.
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The breakthrough finally came in the 36th minute.
On a long throw-in from the Mountain Heritage side of the field, Oates reached the ball and flicked a header toward the goal. Nespeca, coming forward from his defensive position, raced onto the ball and headed it just past the goalkeeper and into the lower right side of the net.
Polk continued to spend much of the second half on the attack, but Mountain Heritage kept the margin at one. The Wolverines’ defense did the same at the other end, protecting the narrow advantage through the final whistle.
Mountain Heritage fell to 3-9-2 overall and 3-4-1 in Western Highlands Conference play.
The victory improved Polk County to 13-3-1 overall and 7-1-1 in the conference.
The Wolverines return to G.M. Tennant Stadium on Wednesday to face Madison in their final regular-season home match. The evening will also be Senior Night for Polk County.
