Falcons Nest - August 28
Falcons Keep Pushing Forward
Middle School Boys Soccer:
O'Neal School vs Village Christian Academy 0-7, Loss
The Falcons faced a formidable Village Christian team, falling in a challenging matchup. The talented opposition provided an early test for an O’Neal squad still adjusting to Coach Ankit’s system and expectations.
While the scoreline was disappointing, the match offered valuable lessons in positioning, decision-making, and responding to adversity. Those experiences are an important part of learning to stay composed and compete through difficult stretches.
Throughout the opening stretch of the season, Zeke Strickland has stood out for his consistent defensive work, breaking up opposing attacks and providing the effort that often goes unnoticed in the highlights. Goalkeepers Anderson Cloninger and Knox VanScoyoc have also taken on important roles as the defense adjusts to a new system. The pair combined for a clean sheet in the season opener and continue to build their understanding with the players in front of them.
O'Neal vs Northwood Temple Academy 3-3, Win (4-3 shoot out)
The Falcons responded with a hard-fought victory over Northwood Temple Academy, earning the win in penalty kicks after regulation ended in a tie.
The team controlled possession for much of the match and held a 3–2 lead in the second half, with Grayson Wallace contributing two goals and Will French scoring to put the Falcons ahead. A late Northwood equalizer forced a shootout, putting O’Neal’s composure to the test.
O'Neal School vs Village Christian Academy 0-7, Loss
The Falcons faced a formidable Village Christian team, falling in a challenging matchup. The talented opposition provided an early test for an O’Neal squad still adjusting to Coach Ankit’s system and expectations.
While the scoreline was disappointing, the match offered valuable lessons in positioning, decision-making, and responding to adversity. Those experiences are an important part of learning to stay composed and compete through difficult stretches.
Throughout the opening stretch of the season, Zeke Strickland has stood out for his consistent defensive work, breaking up opposing attacks and providing the effort that often goes unnoticed in the highlights. Goalkeepers Anderson Cloninger and Knox VanScoyoc have also taken on important roles as the defense adjusts to a new system. The pair combined for a clean sheet in the season opener and continue to build their understanding with the players in front of them.
O'Neal vs Northwood Temple Academy 3-3, Win (4-3 shoot out)
The Falcons responded with a hard-fought victory over Northwood Temple Academy, earning the win in penalty kicks after regulation ended in a tie.
The team controlled possession for much of the match and held a 3–2 lead in the second half, with Grayson Wallace contributing two goals and Will French scoring to put the Falcons ahead. A late Northwood equalizer forced a shootout, putting O’Neal’s composure to the test.
The Falcons met the moment. Cloninger delivered a crucial save in goal, and Wallace converted the winning penalty as O’Neal secured the shootout 4–3.
Wallace’s performance added to an impressive start that already includes two hat tricks. Alongside him, Thomas has helped drive the Falcons’ attack this season, leading the team in assists while contributing three goals of his own. His ability to create opportunities and finish chances has given O’Neal another dependable offensive option.
The victory moved the Falcons to 2–1 on the season and provided an encouraging example of their growth.
Wallace’s performance added to an impressive start that already includes two hat tricks. Alongside him, Thomas has helped drive the Falcons’ attack this season, leading the team in assists while contributing three goals of his own. His ability to create opportunities and finish chances has given O’Neal another dependable offensive option.
The victory moved the Falcons to 2–1 on the season and provided an encouraging example of their growth.
Varsity Boys Soccer:
O’Neal vs. Village Christian Academy: 0-7, Loss
The Falcons opened the week against the Village Christian Academy Knights, and the game served as an early-season wake-up call.
O’Neal came out flat and never really found their rhythm. Village Christian took advantage, controlling the match and handing the Falcons a defeat.
It was a difficult result for an O’Neal side that had opened the season with two victories, but also an important reminder of the level of focus and intensity required every time the Falcons step onto the field.
O'Neal vs. Northwood Temple Academy: Final at halftime 0-2, Loss
The Falcons looked to respond later in the week against the Northwood Temple Academy Eagles, but this time the biggest opponent may have been the weather.
Heavy rain fell throughout the match, and conditions deteriorated rapidly as water began collecting across the field. O’Neal entered halftime trailing 2-0, but the score told only part of the story.
As the rain intensified, large portions of the Falcons’ attacking half became virtually unplayable. Several promising O’Neal attacks were stopped not by the Northwood defense, but by standing water that repeatedly slowed or completely stopped the ball.
The flooded surface became something of a metaphorical 12th player for Northwood, making it extremely difficult for the Falcons to play through the conditions and build the attacks they wanted.
Despite the deteriorating field, play continued through the first half before torrential rain and further flooding finally forced the game to be called at halftime.
It was an unfortunate way for the Falcons to end the week, but the two road games also provided valuable early-season lessons.
After starting the year with impressive victories over Sandhills Classical Christian and Lee Christian, O’Neal has now experienced both ends of the game—what happens when everything is clicking and what happens when circumstances, execution, or intensity do not go their way.
The challenge now is how the Falcons respond.
O’Neal will finally return home for its 2026 home opener on Tuesday, September 1 at 5:15 p.m., when the Falcons host the Fayetteville Christian School Warriors.
O’Neal came out flat and never really found their rhythm. Village Christian took advantage, controlling the match and handing the Falcons a defeat.
It was a difficult result for an O’Neal side that had opened the season with two victories, but also an important reminder of the level of focus and intensity required every time the Falcons step onto the field.
O'Neal vs. Northwood Temple Academy: Final at halftime 0-2, Loss
The Falcons looked to respond later in the week against the Northwood Temple Academy Eagles, but this time the biggest opponent may have been the weather.
Heavy rain fell throughout the match, and conditions deteriorated rapidly as water began collecting across the field. O’Neal entered halftime trailing 2-0, but the score told only part of the story.
As the rain intensified, large portions of the Falcons’ attacking half became virtually unplayable. Several promising O’Neal attacks were stopped not by the Northwood defense, but by standing water that repeatedly slowed or completely stopped the ball.
The flooded surface became something of a metaphorical 12th player for Northwood, making it extremely difficult for the Falcons to play through the conditions and build the attacks they wanted.
Despite the deteriorating field, play continued through the first half before torrential rain and further flooding finally forced the game to be called at halftime.
It was an unfortunate way for the Falcons to end the week, but the two road games also provided valuable early-season lessons.
After starting the year with impressive victories over Sandhills Classical Christian and Lee Christian, O’Neal has now experienced both ends of the game—what happens when everything is clicking and what happens when circumstances, execution, or intensity do not go their way.
The challenge now is how the Falcons respond.
O’Neal will finally return home for its 2026 home opener on Tuesday, September 1 at 5:15 p.m., when the Falcons host the Fayetteville Christian School Warriors.
Middle School Volleyball:
O’Neal vs. Village Christian Academy: 0-2, Loss (16-25, 11-25)
On Tuesday, the Middle School Girls Volleyball team traveled to Village Christian for another away game. The girls started the first set with great energy and confidence, showing strong and consistent serves from Olivia Hardee and Kaylee Wilson, along with some impressive hits by Kayla McWhinney. In the second set, Kennedy Morrow contributed with several good receptions, while Rylee Jones showed us some strong hits. Although the girls lost both sets, they were proud of their improved performance and the progress they have made since last week.
O’Neal vs. Village Christian Academy: 0-2, Loss (16-25, 11-25)
On Tuesday, the Middle School Girls Volleyball team traveled to Village Christian for another away game. The girls started the first set with great energy and confidence, showing strong and consistent serves from Olivia Hardee and Kaylee Wilson, along with some impressive hits by Kayla McWhinney. In the second set, Kennedy Morrow contributed with several good receptions, while Rylee Jones showed us some strong hits. Although the girls lost both sets, they were proud of their improved performance and the progress they have made since last week.
O'Neal vs Northwood Temple Academy: 1-2, Loss (16-25, 25-14, 7-15)
On Thursday, the team traveled to Northwood Temple for another exciting game. The match went three sets, with the Falcons taking the second set 25–14. Their hard work in practice throughout the week was evident as they played with greater confidence, communicated better, and showed more determination during serve receives and long rallies. The team also worked hard to correct mistakes from previous games, fighting for every ball, staying mindful of the net, and making great saves. McWhinney had an impressive streak of seven serving points, while Morrow added a streak of four. Evelyn Scogin made several strong saves, and Arya Stingle and Kayla McWhinney contributed with great hits. Overall, the team showed smarter play, stronger reactions, and clear progress on the court. The coaching staff reiterated their pride in the hard work the team is putting in and can see their improvement noticeable in each game.
Varsity Volleyball:
O'Neal vs. Mintz Christian: Final 0-3, Loss (11-25, 13-25, 16-25)
The Falcons hosted Mintz Christian on Monday, August 24th in their home opener. Defense was the story of the night, with the Falcons consistently keeping balls alive and extending rallies across all three sets. Serving continued to be a strength as well, as a number of players recorded aces and applied pressure from the service line. O'Neal jumped out to an early lead in the second set and closed strong in the third, showing steady progress in their third match of the young season.
O'Neal at Village Christian Academy: Final 0-3, Loss (8-25, 15-25, 9-25)
The Falcons traveled to Village Christian Academy on Tuesday, August 25th to face a strong opponent. Passing continued its steady improvement, building on the progress the Falcons have shown in that area over the past several matches. Serving remained a bright spot as well, with O'Neal consistently applying pressure from the service line. The young Falcons battled throughout, competing hardest in the second set and continuing to develop as a group in the early weeks of the season.
O'Neal at Northwood Temple: Final 0-3, Loss (16-25, 12-25, 12-25)
The Falcons traveled to Northwood Temple on Thursday, August 27th for their fifth match of the season. O'Neal served tough throughout the night, continuing a season-long strength and putting steady pressure on their opponent from the service line. Facing a Northwood Temple squad with several capable hitters, the Falcons' block and back-row defense disrupted the attack all evening and forced their opponent to work for points. The Falcons competed hard across all three sets and continue to build on the steady progress they've shown through the opening weeks.
The Falcons return home Tuesday, September 1st to host Fayetteville Christian School at 5:00pm.
O'Neal vs. Mintz Christian: Final 0-3, Loss (11-25, 13-25, 16-25)
The Falcons hosted Mintz Christian on Monday, August 24th in their home opener. Defense was the story of the night, with the Falcons consistently keeping balls alive and extending rallies across all three sets. Serving continued to be a strength as well, as a number of players recorded aces and applied pressure from the service line. O'Neal jumped out to an early lead in the second set and closed strong in the third, showing steady progress in their third match of the young season.
O'Neal at Village Christian Academy: Final 0-3, Loss (8-25, 15-25, 9-25)
The Falcons traveled to Village Christian Academy on Tuesday, August 25th to face a strong opponent. Passing continued its steady improvement, building on the progress the Falcons have shown in that area over the past several matches. Serving remained a bright spot as well, with O'Neal consistently applying pressure from the service line. The young Falcons battled throughout, competing hardest in the second set and continuing to develop as a group in the early weeks of the season.
O'Neal at Northwood Temple: Final 0-3, Loss (16-25, 12-25, 12-25)
The Falcons traveled to Northwood Temple on Thursday, August 27th for their fifth match of the season. O'Neal served tough throughout the night, continuing a season-long strength and putting steady pressure on their opponent from the service line. Facing a Northwood Temple squad with several capable hitters, the Falcons' block and back-row defense disrupted the attack all evening and forced their opponent to work for points. The Falcons competed hard across all three sets and continue to build on the steady progress they've shown through the opening weeks.
The Falcons return home Tuesday, September 1st to host Fayetteville Christian School at 5:00pm.
Varsity Girls Tennis
O'Neal vs. Village Christian Academy: Final 7-2, Win
The Lady Falcons faced Village Christian Academy on Tuesday and earned another convincing victory against a very strong opponent.
In singles play, Vivienne Rhue battled through an exciting three-set match that ultimately came down to a tiebreaker. Although she fell just short, it was one of the most thrilling matches of the day and showcased tremendous determination and resilience. The Falcons were dominant across the rest of the lineup, with Lines 2 through 6 securing impressive straight-set victories to give the team a strong advantage heading into doubles.
The doubles teams continued the momentum with excellent performances across the board. At Line 1 doubles, Sydney Davis and Valentina Roberts teamed up for a solid 8-5 win, displaying strong chemistry and consistency throughout the match. At Line 2 doubles, Olivia Hostler and Izzy Grotzke took control early and cruised to an 8-3 victory with confident and aggressive play.|
The Maddie/Maddie duo (Maddie Hostler and Maddie Wicks) at Line 3 doubles found themselves in a tightly contested match. They battled hard in a competitive showdown and showed great composure under pressure, helping cap off another outstanding team performance.
Overall, it was another outstanding outing for the Lady Falcons as they continued their strong season with a well-earned victory over quality competition from Village Christian Academy.
The Lady Falcons faced Village Christian Academy on Tuesday and earned another convincing victory against a very strong opponent.
In singles play, Vivienne Rhue battled through an exciting three-set match that ultimately came down to a tiebreaker. Although she fell just short, it was one of the most thrilling matches of the day and showcased tremendous determination and resilience. The Falcons were dominant across the rest of the lineup, with Lines 2 through 6 securing impressive straight-set victories to give the team a strong advantage heading into doubles.
The doubles teams continued the momentum with excellent performances across the board. At Line 1 doubles, Sydney Davis and Valentina Roberts teamed up for a solid 8-5 win, displaying strong chemistry and consistency throughout the match. At Line 2 doubles, Olivia Hostler and Izzy Grotzke took control early and cruised to an 8-3 victory with confident and aggressive play.|
The Maddie/Maddie duo (Maddie Hostler and Maddie Wicks) at Line 3 doubles found themselves in a tightly contested match. They battled hard in a competitive showdown and showed great composure under pressure, helping cap off another outstanding team performance.
Overall, it was another outstanding outing for the Lady Falcons as they continued their strong season with a well-earned victory over quality competition from Village Christian Academy.
High Res Photos by Wendy Hodges | The Pines Media
Falcon Athletics Next Week 8/31/26 - 9/1/26
O'Neal middle school and upper school students will be on class trips from 9/2/26-9/4/26
DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | SPORT | H/A | EVENT TIME |
MON | 8/31/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School Gates Four | GGOLF | Away | 1:00pm |
TUE | 9/1/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | GTN | Home | 3:30pm |
TUE | 9/1/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | MSBSOC | Home | 3:30pm |
TUE | 9/1/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | MSVB | Home | 3:30pm |
TUE | 9/1/2026 | Freedom Christian | MSXC | Away | 3:45/4:15pm |
TUE | 9/1/2026 | Freedom Christian | XC | Away | 4:45/5:20pm |
TUE | 9/1/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | VB | Home | 5:00pm |
TUE | 9/1/2026 | Fayetteville Christian School | BSOC | Home | 5:15pm |
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