The rain cleared Thursday just in time for Polk County to unleash the storm.
The Wolverines opened their final regular season game with a torrent of goals, five in the first 16 minutes, en route to a 7-2 victory over Hendersonville Middle at Utz Field.
Four of those five tallies came off the foot of Kenley Savaia as she reached that total for the second straight match. Amberina Jenne had the other strike as Polk Middle (8-3-1) opened a 5-1 lead by the 16th minute.
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“I know they were missing something like six people the first game we played them,” said Polk Middle head coach Blair Ruth of Polk’s 6-0 win earlier this season. “After the game, I told said those would have to be the six best girls, and they really were.
“They’re pretty solid. They had a good team. Our girls played really well. They were excited for eighth grade night and it was good to get them all out there.”
Jenne and Savaia repeatedly caused issues for Hendersonville (2-10) on the outside, rushing past defenders on the flanks before angling toward the goal. Jenne did just that for her first goal, then did the same minutes later before crossing to Savaia for her first strike. Savaia then kept running past defenders to set up one-on-one opportunities with Hendersonville goalkeepers. She won almost all of them.
The Wolverines added two more goals in the second half from Rylie Klimstra and Leah Savaia, who helped anchor Polk’s defense before moving forward in the closing minutes and finding the net.
“She’s played defense her whole career and she never gets that opportunity,” Ruth said.
The Wolverines closed the season on a 5-0-1 run, the draw with Blue Ridge Conference East Division leader Brevard and one of the wins over a Rugby Middle team that was undefeated at the time. There’s still a chance that Polk Middle could finish second in the East and earn a first-round home game – Brevard Middle defeated Rugby Middle on Thursday, and the two teams will meet again Monday.
Pairings for the BRC postseason tourney will be announced Tuesday.
