- December 14, 2025
Hailey Sammons (17) took over the center forward position in the Bulldogs' season opener, a 3-0 win against St. Augustine. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC defender Marlee O'Fallon boots the ball upfield. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC goalkeeper Natalie Neal recorded her 29th career clean sheet. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Autumn McGivney (12). Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Palm Coast’s first girls soccer game of the season is in the books with a 3-0 home win over St. Augustine on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Coach Pete Hald, starting his 35th season with the Bulldogs, recorded his 543rd career win.
Katherine Ouellette scored two goals. Lauralee Macleod, playing her first game in nearly a year because of a season-ending injury, also scored. And senior goalkeeper Natalie Neal produced her 29th career clean sheet.
“We won, but it was a battle,” Hald said. “They have some talented players that work hard and got some pace. I think the strength of our team is finding our wingers (Ouellette and Macleod), and I thought we did a pretty good job.”
Trying to compensate for the loss of Ivy Chen, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, Hald moved midfielder Hailey Sammons to center forward and center back Eva Sites to a holding midfield spot along with Skyler Strickland.
“Moving Hailey to the top is risky for us, but I think she gives us the best choice,” Hald said. “I pulled Eva forward, so I could put Hailey up top. And it worked out for the most part. Eva's kind of not used to that position, but I think she will be a really good holding mid because she's a dynamite center back. She's smart, she reads the play and she's got pace. I think she's going to have a really good year.”
Neal, a Daytons State College commit, made some outstanding saves in the first half to preserve the shutout.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised. They were very good shots, but I feel like I had it on lock,” she said. “I’m glad they were good shots, so it’s not like very boring the entire game.”
One shot across the box was a close call.
“The girl was right there,” Neal said. “I did handle it, but if I didn’t she was right there to tap it in.”
Neal is a four-year starter who has played in 67 games in her varsity career.
“She's just super consistent. She knows the position well,” Hald said. “She's a senior, and she’s playing like a senior.”
Macleod, a junior, scored the third goal of the first half and her first since her freshman season.
“It felt good to score,” she said. “Hailey played it through the middle, and I took two touches and then I shot it on the net. It was very nice. But I was upset that I didn’t score two other goals that were very easy.”
Hald said he is happy to finally get the season started and play some meaningful games.
“It's been a long few months. Since the first week of June, we’ve been trying to get ready for today,” he said. “We met over 70 times since June up to the Thursday before tryouts. A lot of kids worked hard. I’m relieved the season is here, but now it’s going to be a grind.”
The Bulldogs were scheduled to travel to DeLand on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and return home Friday, Nov. 7, for a game against Jacksonville Wolfson.”
