Warhorses battle to top of Western Highlands Conference in home win
Late Goal Lifts Owen to 1-0 victory over Polk
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 5, 2026
As the top two soccer teams in the Western Highlands Conference entered the final minutes of competition, Oct. 5, in Warhorse Stadium, Owen and Polk were locked in 0-0 tie. In two matches between the programs this season, neither team had managed a goal in 156 minutes of play.
That changed the moment the clock struck 4:00, when Ronnie Herrera-Sanchez maintained his footing while racing towards the net, covered by two Wolverine defenders for his first goal of the campaign. The junior clinched a 1-0 victory for the Warhorses, as the team claimed sole possession of the top spot in the conference.
“It all happened so quick,” Herrera-Sanchez said. “I saw the ball, ran through, and I was lucky the keeper came so far out. I just went past him and finished.”
The victory marked the sixth in a row for Owen, which has allowed only 2 goals in its last eight matches. A tough contest was what head coach Trei Morrison expected against Polk, which battled the Warhorses to a 0-0 tie when the teams faced off, Sept. 9.
“They were physical, and we were a little less physical, but when the moments really mattered, we showed up,” the coach said. “It was an interesting balance of what both teams are capable of. What a great game this was, and it really speaks for the competitiveness of soccer in Western N.C.”
Polk, which captured the conference title in 2025, presents a challenging rival for the Warhorses, according to Morrison.
“I think both teams know that this series will play a big role in determining the conference champion,” he said. “That tends to bring out maximum effort from the players.”
The coach praised the selflessness, patience and tenacity of Herrera-Sanchez.
“Ronnie did exactly what he does for us. He was scrappy and found a way,” Morrison said. “He does so many more things for our team than score goals, but I told him a couple of weeks ago that even though he wasn’t scoring, he was going to get a big one. You can’t get a bigger one than the one he got for us tonight.”
Owen, which improved to 7-4-2, overall, and 5-0-1 in the WHC with the win, has been playing its best soccer of the season throughout the last month, according to Morrison.
“Our ball movement, the movement of players off the ball and our defensive shape have really come together,” Morrison said. “As a coach working with teenagers, you’re always a little nervous about how their mental approach will be, but they’re always on top of it.”
The Warhorses will attempt to extend their winning streak at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, when they host Avery, before three straight road matches.
“We have to keep doing what we do,” Morrison said. “We go out and train hard everyday. This isn’t a flashy group, but they have the ability and they work and play hard.”
Photos of Owen’s 1-0 victory over Polk can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.