Falcons Nest - March 27
A weekly recap of O'Neal Athletics.
Varsity Girls Soccer
O’Neal vs Sandhills Classical Christian: 3-2 OT, W
The O’Neal Falcons Varsity Girls Soccer team battled through an intense, back-and-forth non-conference matchup against Sandhills Classical Christian School, earning a hard-fought victory in golden goal overtime.
From the opening whistle, both teams matched each other’s intensity. Every time the Falcons found the back of the net, the Lions responded, making for an exciting and competitive contest throughout regulation.
The Falcons struck first with a beautifully connected sequence. Sydney Davis delivered a perfectly timed through ball to forwards Haddie Habets and Jordin Reed. Habets quickly combined with Reed, who fired a shot off the side bar. Staying alert, Habets followed the play and finished the rebound decisively past the keeper to give the Falcons the early edge.
The Lions answered, but the Falcons regained the lead thanks to another impressive play from Davis and Reed. Davis once again threaded a through ball, and Reed showcased incredible speed to break free from the defense. One-on-one, she calmly chipped the ball over both an incoming defender and the goalkeeper, placing it into the upper left corner to put the Falcons back in front.
With neither side able to pull away in regulation, the match headed into golden goal overtime. Just six minutes into the extra period, the Falcons delivered the final moment. Davis connected once more with Habets, sending a perfectly weighted pass forward. Habets finished the opportunity with a composed shot along the ground, slipping it through the goalkeeper’s grasp to secure the victory.
It was a complete team effort and a testament to the Falcons’ resilience, composure, and ability to rise in big moments.
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy 6-1, W
The Falcons then delivered a commanding performance against the Berean Baptist Bulldogs, showcasing attacking firepower, midfield control, and defensive discipline in a decisive victory.
The Falcons wasted no time setting the tone. Just two minutes into the match, Reed found the back of the net off a quick assist from Davis, igniting an offensive surge that Berean Baptist struggled to contain for the remainder of the game.
Reed led the charge with an outstanding performance, scoring five goals and adding an assist in a display of clinical finishing and relentless attacking movement. Davis complemented the effort brilliantly, contributing one goal and three assists, consistently creating dangerous opportunities in the final third.
In the midfield, Kennedi Hamner made a pivotal impact after stepping up from her center back position. Acting as the team’s field general, Hamner dictated the tempo, controlled possession, and added an assist of her own. Supporting her were Abigail Schupp and Lily Austin, who played key roles in both creating scoring chances and shutting down Berean Baptist’s attempts to build attacks.
Defensively, the Falcons were just as dominant. The back line trio of Lainey Murphy, Beth Cordero, and Julie Wilson effectively neutralized the Bulldogs’ offense, maintaining structure and composure throughout the match. Goalkeeper Laura Schulze added to the defensive strength with several impressive saves, her aggressive presence in the box preventing multiple scoring opportunities.
The Falcons continued to press and increase the pace in the second half, stretching the field and creating even more scoring chances. Although Berean Baptist managed to score off a corner kick due to a brief miscommunication, O’Neal quickly regrouped and reasserted control.
From start to finish, the Falcons demonstrated a complete team performance—fast, organized, and relentless—solidifying their momentum as the season progresses.
The O’Neal Falcons Varsity Girls Soccer team battled through an intense, back-and-forth non-conference matchup against Sandhills Classical Christian School, earning a hard-fought victory in golden goal overtime.
From the opening whistle, both teams matched each other’s intensity. Every time the Falcons found the back of the net, the Lions responded, making for an exciting and competitive contest throughout regulation.
The Falcons struck first with a beautifully connected sequence. Sydney Davis delivered a perfectly timed through ball to forwards Haddie Habets and Jordin Reed. Habets quickly combined with Reed, who fired a shot off the side bar. Staying alert, Habets followed the play and finished the rebound decisively past the keeper to give the Falcons the early edge.
The Lions answered, but the Falcons regained the lead thanks to another impressive play from Davis and Reed. Davis once again threaded a through ball, and Reed showcased incredible speed to break free from the defense. One-on-one, she calmly chipped the ball over both an incoming defender and the goalkeeper, placing it into the upper left corner to put the Falcons back in front.
With neither side able to pull away in regulation, the match headed into golden goal overtime. Just six minutes into the extra period, the Falcons delivered the final moment. Davis connected once more with Habets, sending a perfectly weighted pass forward. Habets finished the opportunity with a composed shot along the ground, slipping it through the goalkeeper’s grasp to secure the victory.
It was a complete team effort and a testament to the Falcons’ resilience, composure, and ability to rise in big moments.
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy 6-1, W
The Falcons then delivered a commanding performance against the Berean Baptist Bulldogs, showcasing attacking firepower, midfield control, and defensive discipline in a decisive victory.
The Falcons wasted no time setting the tone. Just two minutes into the match, Reed found the back of the net off a quick assist from Davis, igniting an offensive surge that Berean Baptist struggled to contain for the remainder of the game.
Reed led the charge with an outstanding performance, scoring five goals and adding an assist in a display of clinical finishing and relentless attacking movement. Davis complemented the effort brilliantly, contributing one goal and three assists, consistently creating dangerous opportunities in the final third.
In the midfield, Kennedi Hamner made a pivotal impact after stepping up from her center back position. Acting as the team’s field general, Hamner dictated the tempo, controlled possession, and added an assist of her own. Supporting her were Abigail Schupp and Lily Austin, who played key roles in both creating scoring chances and shutting down Berean Baptist’s attempts to build attacks.
Defensively, the Falcons were just as dominant. The back line trio of Lainey Murphy, Beth Cordero, and Julie Wilson effectively neutralized the Bulldogs’ offense, maintaining structure and composure throughout the match. Goalkeeper Laura Schulze added to the defensive strength with several impressive saves, her aggressive presence in the box preventing multiple scoring opportunities.
The Falcons continued to press and increase the pace in the second half, stretching the field and creating even more scoring chances. Although Berean Baptist managed to score off a corner kick due to a brief miscommunication, O’Neal quickly regrouped and reasserted control.
From start to finish, the Falcons demonstrated a complete team performance—fast, organized, and relentless—solidifying their momentum as the season progresses.
MS Co-Ed Golf
The O’Neal Middle School Golf team competed against a very strong Sandhills Highlanders Homeschool team, gaining valuable experience against a seasoned group.
Hudson Nichols, Greyson Jones, Johnny Berry, Rafe Hardee, and Will Simmons represented the Falcons with great effort and determination. Simmons led the way for O’Neal with a score of 44, followed closely by Nichols with a 46.
While the Highlanders earned a decisive victory, their experience was evident throughout the match. Despite the result, the Falcons embraced the challenge, showing toughness, resilience, and positive attitudes from start to finish.
This is a young team that is improving quickly, and their growth is clear. With continued development, they are well on their way to becoming a competitive squad in the near future. The coaching staff was extremely impressed with their effort, mindset, and the way they represented O’Neal.
Varsity Boys Golf
The O’Neal Varsity Boys Golf team delivered an impressive performance on Thursday, March 26, earning a first-place finish in a four-team match at The Woods Golf Club.
O’Neal posted a team score of 114, finishing ahead of Trinity (124), Thales Academy (140), and Thales Rolesville (142). The match format featured nine holes, with each team counting the lowest three scores.
Leading the way for the Falcons was Samar Sandhu, who turned in an outstanding round of 35. Luke Valkovics followed closely with 36, giving O’Neal a strong one-two finish at the top of the leaderboard. The final counting score came from both Timothy Hu and Will Simmons, who each carded a 43.
Additional contributions included Charlie Monroe with a 44 and Andrew Hobbs with a 49, highlighting the team’s depth and consistency across the lineup.
Varsity Boys Tennis
O'Neal vs. Westchester Country Day: Final 3-6, Loss
The Falcons hosted a competitive squad from High Point on Tuesday in a tightly contested home match. At No. 2 doubles, Will French and Nathan Reifenstahl delivered a clutch performance, battling to an 8-8 game deadlock before pulling away with a 7-4 win in the tiebreak to secure the point for the team.
In singles play, French and Reifenstahl continued their strong form, each earning hard-fought victories. French showcased exceptional stamina and grit against a tough opponent earning a win in a decisive third-set tiebreak, while Reifenstahl fought through a first-set tiebreak and then continued elevating his play in the second set to close out the match 6-2.
O'Neal vs. Fayetteville Academy: Final 2-7, Loss
The Falcons traveled Thursday for a conference matchup against a strong Fayetteville Academy team, facing a tough test on the road. Doubles play did not go in the Falcons’ favor, putting the team in an early deficit heading into singles.
In singles, however, the Falcons responded with determination. At the No. 1 spot, Ethan Kim battled through a long, high-level match, splitting sets before capturing the win in a third-set tiebreak. His performance featured strong serving, aggressive net play, and several highlight-worthy tweeners that energized the match.
At No. 2, Will French continued his impressive run, coming from a 2-6 deficient in the second set tie break to an 8-6 tiebreak win. Johannes Pester also turned in a solid effort at the No. 6 line, contributing to a resilient showing from the Falcons in singles competition.
The Falcons will look to close out the week on a high note as they return home Friday for a matchup against Burlington Christian Academy.
The O’Neal Middle School Golf team competed against a very strong Sandhills Highlanders Homeschool team, gaining valuable experience against a seasoned group.
Hudson Nichols, Greyson Jones, Johnny Berry, Rafe Hardee, and Will Simmons represented the Falcons with great effort and determination. Simmons led the way for O’Neal with a score of 44, followed closely by Nichols with a 46.
While the Highlanders earned a decisive victory, their experience was evident throughout the match. Despite the result, the Falcons embraced the challenge, showing toughness, resilience, and positive attitudes from start to finish.
This is a young team that is improving quickly, and their growth is clear. With continued development, they are well on their way to becoming a competitive squad in the near future. The coaching staff was extremely impressed with their effort, mindset, and the way they represented O’Neal.
Varsity Boys Golf
The O’Neal Varsity Boys Golf team delivered an impressive performance on Thursday, March 26, earning a first-place finish in a four-team match at The Woods Golf Club.
O’Neal posted a team score of 114, finishing ahead of Trinity (124), Thales Academy (140), and Thales Rolesville (142). The match format featured nine holes, with each team counting the lowest three scores.
Leading the way for the Falcons was Samar Sandhu, who turned in an outstanding round of 35. Luke Valkovics followed closely with 36, giving O’Neal a strong one-two finish at the top of the leaderboard. The final counting score came from both Timothy Hu and Will Simmons, who each carded a 43.
Additional contributions included Charlie Monroe with a 44 and Andrew Hobbs with a 49, highlighting the team’s depth and consistency across the lineup.
Varsity Boys Tennis
O'Neal vs. Westchester Country Day: Final 3-6, Loss
The Falcons hosted a competitive squad from High Point on Tuesday in a tightly contested home match. At No. 2 doubles, Will French and Nathan Reifenstahl delivered a clutch performance, battling to an 8-8 game deadlock before pulling away with a 7-4 win in the tiebreak to secure the point for the team.
In singles play, French and Reifenstahl continued their strong form, each earning hard-fought victories. French showcased exceptional stamina and grit against a tough opponent earning a win in a decisive third-set tiebreak, while Reifenstahl fought through a first-set tiebreak and then continued elevating his play in the second set to close out the match 6-2.
O'Neal vs. Fayetteville Academy: Final 2-7, Loss
The Falcons traveled Thursday for a conference matchup against a strong Fayetteville Academy team, facing a tough test on the road. Doubles play did not go in the Falcons’ favor, putting the team in an early deficit heading into singles.
In singles, however, the Falcons responded with determination. At the No. 1 spot, Ethan Kim battled through a long, high-level match, splitting sets before capturing the win in a third-set tiebreak. His performance featured strong serving, aggressive net play, and several highlight-worthy tweeners that energized the match.
At No. 2, Will French continued his impressive run, coming from a 2-6 deficient in the second set tie break to an 8-6 tiebreak win. Johannes Pester also turned in a solid effort at the No. 6 line, contributing to a resilient showing from the Falcons in singles competition.
The Falcons will look to close out the week on a high note as they return home Friday for a matchup against Burlington Christian Academy.
Track & Field
The O’Neal Track & Field team continued their season with two strong meets, beginning at Pinecrest High School on March 14th. Competing in a larger, highly competitive environment, the high school athletes embraced the challenge and performed well across the board. The highlight of the meet came from Ashton Coon, who broke his own school record in the 400m with an impressive time of 48.65, continuing to raise the bar for the program.
The team then competed at Cary Academy on March 24th in a smaller meet against Cary Academy and St. Mary’s, providing a great opportunity for athletes in grades 7–12 to compete and develop. Out of 29 athletes, 19 recorded personal bests, showcasing the team’s growth and progress. A standout performance came from Matt Davis, who threw an 8-foot personal best in discus, reaching a new mark of 89-07.00. Overall, it was another successful stretch for O’Neal, highlighted by continued improvement and strong competitive efforts.
MS Baseball
O'Neal vs. St John Paul II: 9-5, W
O'Neal vs. St John Paul II: 9-5, W
On March 23, 2026, The O’Neal School secured a strong home victory over Saint John Paul II Catholic School behind an aggressive offensive and baserunning performance. Charlie Borland led the charge, going a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk, two singles, three stolen bases, and three runs scored. Bingham Winslow added to the momentum, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk, two stolen bases, and two runs. On the mound, William McGovern contributed two innings with two strikeouts, while Charlie Borland closed things out with one inning of work, striking out two and helping seal the win.
O’Neal vs. Village Christian Academy: 1-31, L
On March 26, 2026, Falcons faced a tough outing at home, falling to Village Christian Academy. Oliver Gabor provided the lone bright spot offensively, going 1-for-1 with a single, three stolen bases, and scoring the team’s only run. The game proved challenging defensively and, on the mound, as O’Neal issued 17 walks, allowed six hits, recorded two strikeouts, and committed seven errors in the loss.
On March 26, 2026, Falcons faced a tough outing at home, falling to Village Christian Academy. Oliver Gabor provided the lone bright spot offensively, going 1-for-1 with a single, three stolen bases, and scoring the team’s only run. The game proved challenging defensively and, on the mound, as O’Neal issued 17 walks, allowed six hits, recorded two strikeouts, and committed seven errors in the loss.
Varsity Boys Baseball
O'Neal vs. Berean Baptist: 19-0, W
O'Neal vs. Berean Baptist: 19-0, W
O'Neal Varsity Falcons jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the second inning after Shahir Batterjee drew a walk, scoring one run, Neelix McLaurin singled, scoring one run, Parker Fusonie drew a walk, scoring one run, Joseph Wade was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, Oliver Gabor drew a walk, scoring one run, Liam Enslin drew a walk, scoring one run, and an error scored two runs. The Falcons were lead by Gabor, Charlie Borland, and Joey Wade at the plate all with 2 hits. Liam Enslin stepped on the bump first for O'Neal Varsity Falcons. Liam surrendered zero hits and zero runs over four innings, striking out seven and walking none... A PERFECT GAME
O'Neal Varsity Falcons play at home on Friday against Village Christian Academy in their next game.
MS Girls Soccer
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 5-0, W
The middle school girls soccer week kicked off for on a high note with a dominant victory over Berean Baptist. The girls controlled the match from start to finish and demonstrated strong teamwork and finishing ability. It was a confident, complete performance that set a great tone for the week.
O’Neal vs Village Christian Academy: 1-1, 4-5 PK, L
The second match brought a much stiffer challenge in the form of Village Christian. The game was hard-fought from the opening whistle , and O’Neal maintained a slim 1-0 advantage throughout most of the game. Village was able to score a late goal from outside the 18-yard box, evening the score and sending the game to penalty kicks. Unfortunately, the girls came up just short in the shootout, losing 5-4. It was a tough loss and the coaching staff was proud of the heart and effort the team showed throughout the game. With upcoming games against Freedom Christian and Fayetteville Academy, the Falcons will soon have played everyone once and will be in a great position going into the second half of the season.
Hi Res Photos from Wendy Hodges | The Pines Media
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 5-0, W
The middle school girls soccer week kicked off for on a high note with a dominant victory over Berean Baptist. The girls controlled the match from start to finish and demonstrated strong teamwork and finishing ability. It was a confident, complete performance that set a great tone for the week.
O’Neal vs Village Christian Academy: 1-1, 4-5 PK, L
The second match brought a much stiffer challenge in the form of Village Christian. The game was hard-fought from the opening whistle , and O’Neal maintained a slim 1-0 advantage throughout most of the game. Village was able to score a late goal from outside the 18-yard box, evening the score and sending the game to penalty kicks. Unfortunately, the girls came up just short in the shootout, losing 5-4. It was a tough loss and the coaching staff was proud of the heart and effort the team showed throughout the game. With upcoming games against Freedom Christian and Fayetteville Academy, the Falcons will soon have played everyone once and will be in a great position going into the second half of the season.
Hi Res Photos from Wendy Hodges | The Pines Media
Falcons Athletics Next Week: 3/30/26 - 4/2/26
DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | SPORT | H/A | EVENT TIME |
MON | 3/30/2026 | Conference at Kings Grant | BGOLF | AWAY | 1:00PM |
MON | 3/30/2026 | Northwood Temple | MSBASE | AWAY | 4:00PM |
MON | 3/30/2026 | Northwood Temple | MSGSOC | AWAY | 4:00PM |
TUE | 3/31/2026 | Northwood Temple | BASE | AWAY | 4:00PM |
TUE | 3/31/2026 | Faith Christian | BTN | AWAY | 4:00PM |
TUE | 3/31/2026 | Northwood Temple | GSOC | AWAY | 4:00PM |
WED | 4/1/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | MSBASE | AWAY | 4:00PM |
WED | 4/1/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | MSGSOC | O'Neal | 4:30PM |
THU | 4/2/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | BASE | O'Neal | 4:30PM |
THU | 4/2/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | BTN | O'Neal | 4:30PM |
THU | 4/2/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | GSOC | O'Neal | 4:30PM |
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