Polk JVs upend Hendersonville, 2-1

Polk County’s junior varsity earned its first win of the season Wednesday, defeating Hendersonville 2-1 at Dietz Field.

The Wolverines (1-3-1. 1-0) won their Mountain Foothills 7 Conference opener by opening a two-goal halftime lead and keeping the Bearcats (0-6-1, 0-1) largely at bay in the second half.

Thomas Varnadore gave Polk County a 1-0 lead early in the match, taking possession of the ball some 40 yards out and dribbling between two Hendersonville defenders to set up a one-on-one opportunity with the Bearcat goalkeeper.

Varnadore slipped a left-footed point-blank shot past the keeper to give the Wolverines the advantage.

Polk then struck again just as the clock showed all zeroes to end the half. Wyatt Highsmith won the race to a loose ball deep in the penalty area and hit a hard drive that bounced off the Hendersonville goalkeeper and into the net for a 2-0 Wolverine lead at the half.

Hendersonville scored midway through the second half, but Polk’s defense held firm following that goal to preserve the win.

The Wolverines return home Thursday to face Owen in a non-conference match set for 5 p.m. The match will be shown live on NFHS Network.