Polk County’s girls soccer team continued its strong conference play Tuesday, rolling to a 5-1 victory over Patton in Mountain Foothills 7 Conference action in Morganton.
The Lady Wolverines (9-2, 6-2) built a comfortable 3-0 lead by halftime and added two more goals in the second period to secure their ninth win of the season.
Gabby Savaia led the offensive attack with two goals, while Jessica Baird, Charley Dusenbury and Hayden Blackwell each contributed one goal. Hurley Bell, Baird, Dusenbury and Reeve Carroll each recorded assists.
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Polk’s first goal came in the 16th minute as Carroll drew a foul in the penalty area. Baird converted the penalty kick to give the Wolverines a 1-0 edge.
Dusenbury set up the next goal in the 23rd minute, dribbling past a defender and striking a perfect cross to Blackwell, who tapped it in from close range. Some 10 minutes later, Savaia closed the first-half scorng, taking a long pass from Carroll and firing a shot that was saved, but richocheted toward the end line. Savaia won the footrace for the loose ball and directed it in for the Wolverines’ 3-0 halftime lead.
Dusenbury made it 4-0 in the 52nd minute, taking a pass from Baird and hitting a short left-footed strike inside the near post. Savaia then capped the scoring in the 53rd minute, driving a shot across the face of the goal following a pass from Bell.
Defensively, goalkeeper Cate Brown anchored Polk County’s backline with 15 saves, limiting the Panthers to just one second-half goal in the closing minutes.
The victory keeps Polk County firmly in third place in the conference standings behind Hendersonville, whom the Wolverines will host on Thursday. The Lady Panthers fell to 10-6 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
