Warlassies strike big win in playoff opener

No. 10 Owen blanks No. 23 Mount Airy in 10-0 home victory

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
May 11, 2026

It took less than 60 seconds for the first shot in Warhorse Stadium, May 11, to find the back of the net, as No. 10 Owen hosted No. 23 Mount Airy in the opening round of the 2026 3A NCHSAA Women’s Soccer Playoffs.

The early goal was followed by a series of successors, as the Warlassies topped the visiting Bears in a 10-0 victory.

Owen established an early lead with a goal from sophomore Carlee Grace Stewart, who added another in the opening seconds of the seventh minute. She was one of eight Warlassies to record a goal in the first half.

Senior Rilyn Boueres, junior Lily Berry, senior Laela Griffin and freshman Vallie Ward each scored a goal, while senior Nina Yoosuf added a pair to close out the half. The match represented a strong start to the postseason for Owen, which improved to 10-7-2 with the victory, according to head coach Trei Morrison.

“It’s exactly what we talked about last week, and in the pregame today,” he said. “We wanted to set the tone, jump on them and not let them get a foot in the game. It was about playing our game, and that means being relentless.”

The win, representing the program’s widest margin of victory this year, marked the fifth in the last five matches for the Warlassies, who finished the regular season in third place in the Western Highlands Conference. The roster boasts more than enough talent to be successful in the postseason, according to the coach.

“To be honest, I’m not sure there is a lot I can tell them, because I’ve been telling them all year,” Morrison said. “They have to continue to go out there and prove it to themselves, and I think you saw that happen tonight.”

Owen will travel to Bostic, at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 14, to face No. 6 East Rutherford in the second round.

“They’re slowly but surely starting to believe in their capabilities,” the coach said. “I think, at this point, it’s a matter of believing. If they believe in themselves, they’re capable. We know what our path is, East Rutherford, Hendersonville and then Polk. It’s what I wanted, because I want us to go back and prove ourselves.”

Photos of Owen’s opening round 2026 3A NCHSAA Women’s Soccer Playoff victory over Mount Airy can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.