Falcons Nest - October 30
Falcons Wrap Up Fall Seasons in State Playoffs
Varsity Boys Soccer
O’Neal vs. Friendship Christian School: 1-2, Loss
The O’Neal School Boys Varsity Soccer team saw its season come to an end Friday night in Raleigh, falling to Friendship Christian School in a hard-fought NCISAA State Quarterfinal.
From the opening whistle, both teams played with the intensity expected from a postseason match. The Falcons were firing on all cylinders, and the game quickly developed into a back-and-forth battle with both sides creating opportunities and knowing a place in the state semifinals was at stake.
Friendship struck first after capitalizing on a poor O’Neal clearance, but the Falcons refused to let the early setback change the way they played.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Gabriel Marrero, returning from a broken collarbone, produced one of the biggest moments of the night. Marrero received the ball near the sideline, beat two defenders and delivered a dangerous cross into the box, where Captain Joseph Lucas was waiting to slot home the equalizer.
The goal sent the teams into halftime tied 1-1, with the momentum firmly in O’Neal’s favor.
The Falcons came out of the break looking ready to continue that momentum, but another failed clearance gave Friendship an opportunity, and they capitalized once again to take a 2-1 lead.
From that point forward, O’Neal pushed relentlessly for the equalizer. The Falcons continued to pressure, created opportunities and battled until the final whistle, but on this night the second goal simply would not come.
The 2-1 defeat brought an end to a season filled with both highs and lows, but the Falcons saved some of their best soccer for when it mattered most. After a dominant first-round playoff victory over Bradford Academy, O’Neal went toe-to-toe with Friendship Christian in the quarterfinals and finished the year playing some of its best soccer of the season.
The result may have ended the Falcons’ playoff run, but it did not diminish the fight, growth and determination they showed along the way.
O’Neal closes the 2026 season having proven that through every setback, the Falcons continued to compete, improve and, most importantly, finish together.
O’Neal vs. Friendship Christian School: 1-2, Loss
The O’Neal School Boys Varsity Soccer team saw its season come to an end Friday night in Raleigh, falling to Friendship Christian School in a hard-fought NCISAA State Quarterfinal.
From the opening whistle, both teams played with the intensity expected from a postseason match. The Falcons were firing on all cylinders, and the game quickly developed into a back-and-forth battle with both sides creating opportunities and knowing a place in the state semifinals was at stake.
Friendship struck first after capitalizing on a poor O’Neal clearance, but the Falcons refused to let the early setback change the way they played.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Gabriel Marrero, returning from a broken collarbone, produced one of the biggest moments of the night. Marrero received the ball near the sideline, beat two defenders and delivered a dangerous cross into the box, where Captain Joseph Lucas was waiting to slot home the equalizer.
The goal sent the teams into halftime tied 1-1, with the momentum firmly in O’Neal’s favor.
The Falcons came out of the break looking ready to continue that momentum, but another failed clearance gave Friendship an opportunity, and they capitalized once again to take a 2-1 lead.
From that point forward, O’Neal pushed relentlessly for the equalizer. The Falcons continued to pressure, created opportunities and battled until the final whistle, but on this night the second goal simply would not come.
The 2-1 defeat brought an end to a season filled with both highs and lows, but the Falcons saved some of their best soccer for when it mattered most. After a dominant first-round playoff victory over Bradford Academy, O’Neal went toe-to-toe with Friendship Christian in the quarterfinals and finished the year playing some of its best soccer of the season.
The result may have ended the Falcons’ playoff run, but it did not diminish the fight, growth and determination they showed along the way.
O’Neal closes the 2026 season having proven that through every setback, the Falcons continued to compete, improve and, most importantly, finish together.
Varsity Girls Tennis
O’Neal vs Wayne Country Day School: 0-5, Loss
The Lady Falcons traveled to Wayne Country Day School for the second round of the NCISAA State Championships. O’Neal came out ready to compete, battling hard from the opening serve and putting together a strong performance in doubles play to begin the match. Despite their effort and determination, the Falcons ultimately fell, bringing their postseason run to a close.
The loss marked the end of a strong season for the Lady Falcons, who showed tremendous growth, resilience, and commitment throughout the year. The team continued to improve as the season progressed, competing hard and representing O’Neal with pride each time they took the court.
O’Neal vs Wayne Country Day School: 0-5, Loss
The Lady Falcons traveled to Wayne Country Day School for the second round of the NCISAA State Championships. O’Neal came out ready to compete, battling hard from the opening serve and putting together a strong performance in doubles play to begin the match. Despite their effort and determination, the Falcons ultimately fell, bringing their postseason run to a close.
The loss marked the end of a strong season for the Lady Falcons, who showed tremendous growth, resilience, and commitment throughout the year. The team continued to improve as the season progressed, competing hard and representing O’Neal with pride each time they took the court.
The Lady Falcons will wrap up the season with their end-of-season celebration on Friday. Congratulations to the players and coaches on a fantastic season!
Cross Country
A few weeks ago, O’Neal proudly hosted the SAC Conference Championship on our home course! Abigail Schupp made an impressive conference debut, running a 22:05 and earning 5th place on the girls’ side. Tre Grabos also claimed 5th place for the boys with a season-best time of 19:13, while Nate Trujillo and Jaron Gainey both recorded season-best performances on the course. We’re proud of how this group continues to grow and compete, and we’re excited to close out the season at the State Championship at McAlpine Park on October 30th!
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