These Warhorses could be unforgettable

Owen soccer is taking the Swannanoa Valley on another memorable ride

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
November 6, 2023

Owen senior Elijah Caro leads the Warhorses with 20 goal and 13 assists this season, as his team looks to repeat as the NCHSAA 2A State Soccer Champions. Photo by Fred McCormick

Shared experiences can go a long way toward strengthening bonds in a community. There is a special kinship that can form when friends and neighbors come together to witness a magical moment.

For example, one of my fondest memories in a decade of covering Owen athletics played out right around this time last year, when the Warhorses put on an impressive show on their way to the first state soccer championship in school history. 

The energy emanating from the stands of Warhorse Stadium during that run was electric, and I distinctly remember how lucky I felt to be there to take it all in. 

So, when I look up at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 6, as No. 1 seed Owen hosts No. 8 Patton in the third round of the NCHSAA 2A State Playoffs, I hope to see the entire Swannanoa Valley there. 

The 2022 Warhorse title run was nothing short of spectacular. Owen emerged from the West Region triumphant after entering the postseason as the 10th seed, before dramatically dispatching Clinton, the No. 4 team in the East, in the title match. 

Coming into this season, based on conversations with head coach Trei Morrison, I knew the Warhorses were confident, but it was hard to guess how they would respond when star striker Davis Kendall suffered a knee injury early in the campaign. 

Writing this team off at that point, however, would have been a big mistake. 

It takes a team of dedicated athletes to contend for a title, and the Warhorses have an arsenal. Five Owen players, led by senior Elijah Caro, have posted double-digit goal totals this season, as the team has outscored its opponents by a combined 113-5. 

The fleet-footed Caro, whose 20 goals and 13 assists lead the team in both categories, has been instrumental in the success of the Warhorses, who haven’t lost a match since August. His fellow senior, Daniel Garcia, has also been a reliable scoring option for Owen, with 19 goals and 9 assists in 21 matches this season.

Owen senior A.J. Logan is one of five Warhorses with at least 10 goals in 2023, as the team enters the third round of the NCHSAA State Soccer Playoffs, Nov. 6, against Patton. Photo by Fred McCormick

If Caro and Garcia fail to get the ball in the net, there is a good chance sophomore Spencer Woolley (16 goals), senior A.J. Logan (14) or senior Josiah Wilder (13) will. Honestly, I would hate to be an opposing coach trying to figure out where the next Owen goal is coming from, because 15 Warhorses have scored at least 1 goal in 2023.

Much like last year, it’s an exciting brand of soccer that only seems to get more exhilarating as the postseason goes on.

At times, the Warhorses can make it look easy, but if you ask the head coach, playing championship-level soccer is anything but.

“Everyone looks at us as an attacking team,” Morrison said, following Owen’s 3-1 victory over West Caldwell in the second round. “But, the foundation of everything we do comes from solid defending.”

The No. 1 seed Owen Warhorses will host No. 8 Patton, Nov. 6, in the third round of the 2023 NCHSAA State Soccer Playoffs. Photo by Fred McCormick

Over the course of a season, work ethic translates into confidence, he continued.

“For a bunch of teenage kids, these guys are really business-like when they need to be,” Morrison said. “They don’t panic; they always seem to stay calm.”

That mentality has played a key role in the success of the Warhorses, who currently hold an 18-1-3 record after playing a grueling regular season schedule. Their performance earned them the top seed in the West Region and home field advantage through the postseason, and Owen responded by outscoring opponents 12-1 in the first two rounds.

Their 2023 playoff run will continue tonight against a familiar opponent, as Owen hosts Patton, which it defeated, 4-2, in a third round overtime victory at Warhorse Stadium 364 days ago.

“We know they’re a good team from a very strong conference,” Morrison said of the Panthers. “All we can do is keep trying to get better every night, and build off of the things we do well.”

While the Warhorses are cooking up another extraordinary season, they need one more ingredient to complete the recipe—you.

“We need people in those stands Monday night,” Morrison said. “We’ve got the best fans in N.C., and if we can pack that place and support these boys, it will be amazing.”

So, put on your maroon and white horseshoe memorabilia and make some noise for these Warhorses, as they take the Swannanoa Valley on another wild ride through the playoffs. It could be another truly unforgettable experience.