Polk County Middle controlled play for much of Monday’s season opener at Madison Middle, but the Wolverines needed until the final three minutes to turn that pressure into a goal.
Colton Stahr provided it.
Stahr scored with 2:58 remaining to lift Polk County to a 1-0 victory in Marshall in a Blue Ridge Conference matchup.
Get PolkSports delivered to your inbox
Sign up for our free newsletter →
Polk outshot Madison 16-2, putting roughly 10 attempts on goal, but struggled to find a finish despite spending much of the match on the attack.
“We had a tough match in the final third,” Polk Middle coach Lennox Charles said.
The match remained scoreless through halftime and deep into the second half before Mathew Alvarez created the decisive opportunity. Alvarez fired from the top of the penalty area, with his shot hitting a Madison defender and deflecting to the right.
Stahr reached the loose ball first, took a touch and drove a right-footed shot into the upper left corner of the goal for the game’s only score.
The Wolverines (1-0) return home Wednesday to face Waynesville Middle.
