Late goal lifts R-S Central past Polk County

R-S Central scored with seven minutes left in regulation Thursday to hand Polk County a 2-1 defeat in a Mountain Foothills 7 Conference girls soccer match in Rutherfordton.

The Hilltoppers (4-9, 2-6) grabbed a 1-0 lead with a goal late in the first half. That score held until just more than 17 minutes remained, when the Wolverines (2-9-2, 2-4-2) struck to end a scoreless streak that stretched more than three and a half matches.

Jocelynn Ramirez began the play with a throw-in, which Elena Carroll headed into the penalty area. Ella Waldman won the race there to the loose ball, which she tapped to Susanna Ashworth, who hit a perfect low shot that turned inside the near post to find the net and even the match.

But R-S Central responded in the 73rd minute as Carley Chapman redirected a long, looping pass deep into the penalty area, guiding the pass into the right side of the net for the go-ahead goal.

Polk County pressed hard in the final minutes and had a couple of scoring opportunities, but R-S Central denied all to preserve the win.

The Wolverines, who dropped a 6-0 decision to Hendersonville on Wednesday, are slated to return to the field on April 26, hosting East Henderson in a 6 p.m. matchup.