O’Neal defeated visiting Cape Fear Academy 3-2 in overtime Tuesday in boys’ soccer.

It was the second time this season the two teams had gone into overtime. Two weeks ago, the Falcons defeated Cape Fear in Wilmington for the first time since 2007. The win moved O’Neal to 2-0 in the Cape Fear Independent Conference and 4-1 overall.

Zack Eiserman provided the winning goal in the second overtime period off an assist from Rick Catania. Catania and Jacob Talbert had the Falcon goals in regulation.

The two teams used different formulas in Tuesday’s contest, with the Falcons working the ball around while the visitors attacked with a direct approach, according to Falcon coach David Wood.

After 60 minutes of scoreless play, Cape Fear struck first when Trey Moore placed a free kick in the upper 90s of the goal off a free kick.

Three minutes later, the Falcons answered when Mason Sullivan sent a corner kick into the box where it was tipped by Brian Subin and finished by Talbert. Six minutes later, the Falcons had the 2-1 lead when Catania dribbled through the Cape Fear defense and finished by putting the ball past the keeper into the corner of the goal.

Cape Fear continued to attack, and in the 87th minute, tied the game when Avery Mills scored for the visitors, knotting the score at 2-all and sending the game into overtime.

The first half of overtime saw both teams playing a direct approach, according to Wood, sending balls back and forth in the hopes of penetrating the other team’s defense. Both defenses held strong, and both Ryan Williams and Gates Moore did an incredible job holding down the O’Neal defense through the onslaught of Cape Fear direct balls.

In the second half of overtime, O’Neal got back to its indirect game, and after working the ball around on offense, Catania dropped off a pass to Eiserman for a wide open shot from about 25 yards out.

Wood said that Eiserman loaded the ball into his pocket rail gun and absolutely lasered it past the Cape Fear keeper with a one-time shot from distance for the winning goal in the 93rd minute.

The Falcons are at home again today when they take on Lee Christian at 4:45 p.m.