Owen rolls over Madison for fourth straight victory
Warhorses remain hot with 8-0 win at home
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 28, 2023
An unrelenting offensive attack resulted in a slew of goals, Sept. 27, as the Owen soccer team extended its winning streak to four games in an 8-0 victory over Madison.
Six Warhorses, led by 2-goal performances from seniors A.J. Logan and Daniel Garcia, found the back of the net against the Patriots, securing Owen’s second straight shutout while the team maintained the top spot in the Western Highlands Conference.
Senior Elijah Caro put the home team ahead within the first five minutes of the contest, dribbling past a pair of Madison defenders on the left side and slipping a shot just beyond the reach of the opposing goalkeeper.
Early in the 11th minute of play, Logan floated a shot from around 40 yards out that landed in front of the goal before bouncing over the head of the goalkeeper to give the Warhorses a 2-0 lead. Garcia scored his first of the night less than three minutes later, creating space between defenders and unloading a powerful strike with his left foot.
Owen carried a 4-0 lead into the half, after Josiah Wilder guided a corner kick from Logan into the net in the 31st minute. Logan finished the contest with 2 goals and 2 assists.
The scoring continued for the Warhorses in the second half, as junior Liam Feste collected his second goal of the season to extend his team’s lead. Sophomore Nolan McTeague-Pospishil picked up his first goal of the campaign with just over eight minutes left in the match, while Garcia and Logan each added to the tally in the waning minutes.
Owen improved to 9-1-2 with the victory, remaining undefeated (5-0) in conference play.
“These boys are playing really well,” head coach Trei Morrison said after the game. “They’ve got a great rhythm, and we’re moving the ball well. We’re getting more players involved, so we’re getting deeper and deeper into our roster.”
The Warhorses have outscored opponents by a combined 29-1 in their last four matches, following back-to-back draws against Pisgah and Hibriten earlier this month. While Caro leads the team with 9 goals this season, Owen’s multi-faceted attack has created a wide range of scoring opportunities. Thirteen players have recorded at least one goal this season, while three — Garcia, Wilder and sophomore Spencer Woolley — have 7.
“We’re dangerous from a lot of areas,” Morrison said. “You can’t really focus on any single player, because if you overload on Elijah or Daniel then somebody else steps up. That’s why our outside backs are so important, and you saw that with Josiah, Spencer and A.J. tonight. They really give us something different from that position.”
Owen will play the first of three straight matches on the road at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 2, when it travels to Valdese to face Draughn. The Warhorses will head to Mitchell and Mountain Heritage before returning home, Wednesday, Oct. 11, to host Brevard.
“It’s not about the other team,” Morrison told his players after their victory over Madison. “It’s about us. We just need to focus on getting better every day and do the things we need to do to get better through the second half of the season. I’m proud of you guys.”
Photos of Owen’s victory over Madison can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.