Madelyn Davis and Jackie Chamberlain scored second-half goals to lift the O'Neal girls' soccer team to a 2-0 win over Fayetteville Christian Academy Thursday afternoon at Mauser Field in Southern Pines.

The Falcons outshot the Warriors 12-2 and dominated possession much of the game, but the game remained scoreless until 17 minutes remained in the second half.

It was then that Davis took a crossing pass from Kaitlyn Connor and worked her way past a defender to daylight about 25 yards from the Warrior net. She took one dribble and rocketed a rising shot toward goal. The ball sailed over the head of the Warrior keeper and into the net.

"That's that great eighth-grade talent," O'Neal head coach Ted Hassenfelt said of Davis' second goal of the season. "She made a great individual effort to beat that last defender and the shot was upper corner."

Seven minutes later Chamberlain took a pass on the Warrior side of midfield, weaved through the defense and found herself one-on-one with the keeper and beat her with a quick shot.

The win means the Falcons will have a pivotal home game with Village Christian Academy at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. A Falcon win could position them to capture second place in the conference.

"Finishing second in this conference is a guarantee to go to state," Hassenfelt said.

Defensively, at times, the Mustangs have had some breakdowns that led to goals, but Thursday the team was stout. The Falcons limited the Warriors' offensive attacks, often pressuring them into turnovers when they advanced the ball into Falcon territory.

"Our defense really stepped up today," Hassenfelt said. "They didn't give them that space to work behind us. I was really pleased with their effort."

The win improved the Falcons to 6-6 overall and 5-4 in the conference.