Warlassies strive to harness talent for conference battle
Owen combines youth and experience for balanced attack
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 13, 2026
Pieces were falling into place, March 11, when the Warlassies hosted Western Highlands Conference rival Polk. While the hard-fought contest ended in a 2-2 tie, the potential capabilities of the mixture of experience, talent and youth characterizing the 2026 soccer team were revealed.
Led by 2 goals from junior Lily Berry, the Warlassies kicked off a competitive campaign in the realigned conference, which welcomed the return of Polk and Hendersonville, while dropping Rosman, Draughn and N.C. School of Science and Math Morganton.
Owen lost three seniors from last year’s roster, which finished third in the conference and ended its campaign in the opening round of postseason play. The current iteration of the team, which features six seniors, three juniors and 15 sophomores and freshmen, boasts a “special group of players,” according to head coach Trei Morrison.
“We have all the pieces,” said the coach, entering his fourth season at the helm of the program. “We have a good bit of experience, with our seniors, and we have tremendous depth with our youth. I’m really excited about our new players who have come up from the middle school.”
Balancing the blend of young talent and veteran experience will be crucial for Owen, which last captured the WHC title in 2019. A return to the top spot will require navigating a competitive conference landscape, according to the coach.
“I think that game against Polk was a look at two teams who are going to be competing at the top of the conference,” Morrison said. “I think Hendersonville and Polk coming in provides a lot more depth and balance to the conference, putting more pressure on the teams at the top.”
The Warlassies feature a senior class of Ace Drake, Laela Griffin, Ryann Rodriguez, Riley Boures Natalie Orellana-Galdamez and Nin Yoosuf, complemented by Berry and fellow juniors Sadie Lyda and Julia Swann. Sophomores Carlee Grace Stewart and Willow Glenn Stewart are joined by freshmen goalkeeper Charlotte Pomeroy.
“Most of our experience is in the back, because all four of our defenders are seniors,” Morrison said. “But, we have a good number of younger players who can come in and play important minutes in those roles.”
The Warlassies have scored 5 goals on their way to a 1-2-1 record to start the season. They opened the campaign, Feb. 26, with a 2-1 victory over NCSSM, which won the conference championship last year, as a member of the WHC.
Although the Warlassies faced an early season test in a 2-0 loss against 6A Reynolds, Morrison was encouraged by his players’ response to the challenge.
“We played a great game against Reynolds, which is one of the standard-bearers for Western N.C.,” he said. “For us, being a small 3A school, playing a 6A school and remaining competitive in the match says a lot about the character of our players.”
While the Warlassies have “barely scratched the surface” of what they can accomplish on the field, according to the coach, their conference opener against the Wolverines, coming off a 13-5-1 mark last year, set the tone for an intriguing season ahead.
“I think there will be three or four teams in our conference battling for the top spot, and that higher playoff bid,” Morrison said. “But, I also think you’re going to see three or four teams from our conference make it to the postseason.”
With an offensive attack that emphasizes pressure in the midfield, Owen will rely the goal scoring and facilitating abilities of Berry, Carlee Grace and Willow Glenn. Firepower from the outside will be provided by Drake and Orellana-Galdamez.
“We have to stay focused on the end product and remember it’s a process, not something that will happen in one game, day or week,” Morrison said. “Whether we’re training or playing in a game, we have to get better everyday.”
The team’s trajectory is on course, he added, while the players have embraced a collective drive to continue improving. As Owen prepares to return home at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 13, to host North Buncombe, the coach is optimistic about the short- and long-term future of the program.
“I’m definitely excited for this year, because these players are extremely coachable and have a ton of talent,” he said. “But, I think the future is even brighter. These kids have already taken some big strides, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.”
Photos of Owen’s 2-2 tie at home against Polk can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.