All that mattered was the Webster City boys’ soccer team turned it on when needed and that was enough to end a two-match streak of frustration.

Twenty-seven minutes — the final 20 of the first half and the initial seven of the second half — of solid play is all the Lynx needed to rally from an early deficit and knock off North Polk, 3-2, Monday evening at Lynx Field.

Truthfully, the Comets (3-8) dictated play for much of the match, but those 27 minutes were enough for WCHS (6-5) to jump back to the high side of the even-Steven line. All five of the Lynx losses are by a single goal.

“They were embarrassing us for a little bit (in the first half) and I told the guys that,” WCHS head coach Craig Signorin said. “But once we put a goal in the back of the net, we’re a totally different team. We’re having fun and the effort and energy are high.

Webster City’s Matt Perin (middle) takes the ball away from North Polk’s Alexander Tiedens (13) as Luis Montes (9) looks on Monday evening. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“It just feels good to get a win.”

A Reggie Postel goal off a Colton Sparks assist in the eighth minute staked North Polk to an early 1-0 lead and the Comets used their crisp passing, not to mention the wind at their backs, to keep WCHS reeling on its heels early on.

The Lynx finally settled in over the final 20 minutes of the first half, particularly the front line. Their first shot came from Dylan Rossing that floated just over the crossbar in the 25th and three minutes later Eduardo Perez put a shot on goal.

WCHS drew even just 44 seconds before the intermission on a free kick from midfield by Jon Magdaleno. He sent a towering shot into the box and Perez, a freshman midfielder, judged the wind perfectly. Perez got his head on the ball and redirected it just inside the left post and out of the reach of Comets’ goalkeeper Timothy Maier for the equalizer. It was his eighth goal of the season.

“Jon hits beautiful free kicks,” Signorin said. “(Perez’s header) was really good. To go backward like that and you’re not hitting it with any part of your head really. You just want it to skim off.”

WCHS junior Everado Hernandez grimaces after his shot on goal was denied midway through the second half against North Polk on Monday at Lynx Field. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

The floodgate opened from there.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, it took the Lynx just 57 seconds to jump in front to stay. Forward Martin Kasonga won a scramble for the ball 10 yards away and then was able to pop it over the head of Maier, who came out of goal in an attempt to corral it. Kasonga raced toward the goal and watched it bounce twice before it crossed the line to give WCHS a 2-1 lead.

Kasonga has a team-high 10 goals this spring.

The Lynx remained aggressive over the next six-plus minutes and increased the lead in the 47th. Perez was fouled in the box by North Polk’s Noah Blomquist, resulting in a penalty kick. Matt Perin got the honors and slammed it inside the left side — his fourth of the season — to increase the lead to 3-1.

North Polk answered just two minutes later on its own penalty kick after a foul on a shot from inside the box. Alexander Tiedens made the kick to trim the Lynx lead to 3-2.

WCHS senior forward Martin Kasonga (11) attempts to get around North Polk defender Kendall Twedt (14) on Monday. Kasonga scored his 10th goal of the season in the Lynx 3-2 victory. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

The Comets continued to apply pressure over the final 31 minutes and had several quality looks at a potential equalizer, but Signorin was happy with how his back line held up.

“We put Luis (Montes) back there from the middle and he was solid, and give credit to Dylan Rossing,” Signorin said. “This was his first varsity minutes in a way and he basically played the entire game. They were very solid back there for us.”

Tiedens had a golden opportunity in the final minute to force extra time. WCHS goalkeeper Gage Rossing came out of net, but the ball went to Tiedens. With an open look, his boot sailed wide right of the post.

North Polk owned a 13-9 advantage in shots and limited WCHS to just five on frame. The Comets peppered eight shots on goal at Gage Rossing, who collected six saves.

It will be Senior Night at Lynx Field on Thursday when WCHS hosts Boone (0-9) at 5:30 p.m. The Toreadors have been outscored 52-7 this season.

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WCHS 3, North Polk 2

Monday at Webster City

N. Polk 1 1 — 2

WCHS 1 2 — 3

Goals — NP: Reggie Postel (Colton Sparks assist, 8′), Alexander Tiedens (PK, 49′); WCHS: Eduardo Perez (Jon Magdaleno assist, 40′), Martin Kasonga (unassisted, 41′), Matt Perin (PK, 47′). Shots — NP 13, WCHS 9. Shots on goal — NP 8, WCHS 5. Saves — NP 2 (Timothy Maier), WCHS 6 (Gage Rossing). Corner kicks — NP 2, WCHS 3.