Falcons Nest - Falcons enter tournament play
Falcons Nest
James Franklin, Athletic Director
Falcons enter tournament play.
Varsity Girls Soccer
With the regular season conference championship locked up last week, there was one goal for all of O’Neal’s matches this week: get ready for the playoffs. That preparation took many forms: working on the little things during a match against a team that posed little threat, playing an old foe from a higher division to prepare for much stronger competition, and beginning the conference tournament with a decisive victory.
O’Neal vs Northwood Temple Academy – Final Score: 9-0, W
Last Friday, O’Neal hosted Northwood Temple Academy and controlled the game from beginning to end. Up 6-0 at halftime, the Falcons set small goals throughout to practice different skills against a live opponent. By the end of the game, Charli Bunder had 4 goals, Gianna Maheu had 2, Jaleesa Eichel scored a bicycle kick, and the Falcons had two players score their first goals of the season: eighth grader Paige Fusonie and defender Kaylee Crow.
O’Neal vs Grace Christian of Sanford – Final Score: 3-3, Tie
On Monday, the skill level of the competition ratcheted way up as the Falcons hosted the only team that beat them last year, Grace Christian of Sanford. O’Neal rose to the occasion and played the best they’ve played all season. Maheu volleyed in a goal with her left foot in the 28th minute to take the lead. After half, Grace tied it, but Kennedi Hamner restored the lead with her first goal of the season on a penalty kick. A very brief lapse in defensive concentration allowed Grace to show their skill and score twice in two minutes to take a 3-2 lead. Jaleesa Eichel curled in a shot to tie it back up in the seventy-first minute, and both teams battled to a tie.
O’Neal vs Freedom Christian Academy – Win 4-0
Thursday saw the beginning of the conference tournament with O’Neal hosting Freedom Christian Academy in the semi-finals after a first-round bye. As happened when they played Freedom both times prior, the Falcons controlled possession the entire time and had to work to break down a packed defense with an excellent keeper. Twice O’Neal scored because of excellent positioning as Maheu and Victoria York tapped in shots that the keeper blocked but didn’t control. Bunder and Jordin Reed both also scored from Eichel’s passes to bring the final score to 4-0.
O’Neal Varsity Falcons won big over Northwood Temple Academy last Friday. The Falcons go on the board early when Will Slagle homered to left field scoring two runs and going 2 for 3 on the day adding a double in the middle innings. Jacob Bates went 3 for 5 at the plate and Ricky Mullis also had a multi-hit game going 2 for 3. Manning, Pavlovich, Shepherd, Thomas and Wade also collected hits. The Falcons stole 13 bases for the win.
Jackson Mullis started on the bump as he pitched to his brother, Ricky Mullis for O’Neal’s Senior Night. J. Mullis gets the win going 4 innings and striking out 3 batters. Joey Wade collects the save, pitching 2 innings and delivering 2 strikeouts.
The Falcons lose a high scoring slugfest in the second round of conference playoffs coming from a game one bye on Tuesday. The seven-inning game was full of excitement as the Falcons held the lead until a 9-run inning flipped the tides of the game. Jacob Bates hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to start a comeback rally from the Nest. But it wasn’t enough to keep their win streak alive heading into the state tournament next week.
Bates hit 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs accompanied by Will Slagle going 2 for 3 with a double, Jacob Shepherd went 3 for 4 with a double. Jackson Mullis, Camden Harrell, Sam Taylor, and Ricky Mullis collected hits on the day.
Joey Wade pitched a solid three innings striking out 5 before FCHS rallied. June Thomas finished the game striking out 6 of 13 batters faced.
Next week the Falcons will start the State Tournament for NCISAA 2A playing Tuesday TBA.
Varsity Boys Tennis
On Monday (4/29) the boy's tennis team demonstrated their skill with a visit to BCA, securing an exceptional 7-2 victory. Notably, they achieved success in the doubles matches and clinched four out of six singles points, showcasing exceptional leadership from senior co-captains Will Kitchens and Owen Williams.
In a heartening return to the lineup after an absence of over three weeks, Ethan Kim reclaimed his position at number 2 singles, displaying commendable determination despite his ongoing shoulder recovery. Kim teamed up with Kitchens to secure victory in the #1 doubles match, further exemplifying the team's collaborative spirit and resilience.
Looking ahead, the team eagerly anticipates the State team tournament next week, awaiting news of their opponent and venue, which will be communicated on Sunday evening.
Contributed. Photos by Wendy Hodges
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