Polk soccer thumps Chase, falls at West Henderson

Polk County’s varsity soccer squad split a pair of road matches this week, downing Chase 9-0 on Wednesday before falling 4-1 at West Henderson on Thursday.

The results leave the Wolverines with an 8-8-2 record entering the final week of regular-season play.

Polk thoroughly dominated a Chase squad (0-16) still looking for its first win. Thomas Varnadore scored three goals to lead the Wolverines, who took a 5-0 lead at halftime.

Manny Albarran and Cooper Meyer each scored two goals, with Owen Highsmith and Cade Bright adding one. Bright moved out of his usual goalkeeper position in the final 10 minutes and scored on an assist from Meyer.

Nate Martinez had three assists, with Meyer and Harrison Ashworth each adding two and Riley Ballentine finishing with one.

Polk trailed 1-0 in the first half of Thursday’s match at West Henderson before getting an equalizing goal with 7:12 remaining in the half. The Wolverines had a flurry of shots blocked by Falcon defenders, with the final one bouncing out some 20 yards from goal before Tanner Osborn charged in and struck a perfect drive into the upper left corner of the net, tying the match.

But West Henderson (11-6-2) regained the lead just before halftime, then extended the margin in the second half while keeping Polk from scoring again.

The Wolverines will begin that last week of the regular season on Monday, hosting East Rutherford for a Mountain Foothills 7 Conference matchup.