The Oak Forest Bengals girls' soccer team secured their first victory of the season on March 20 with a decisive 2-0 win over Bremen. This performance demonstrated resilience following their loss in the season opener.
Senior forward Maddie Walsh initiated the scoring, while junior Alexa Nava added a second goal to confirm the victory. Sophomore Lilly Everitt was instrumental in the attack, providing assists for both goals. According to head coach Mike DaLuga, "The girls came out and bounced back from our opening game loss." He noted that they played with physicality and speed, connecting passes effectively to create opportunities. DaLuga expressed his anticipation for the upcoming weeks before the conference schedule begins.
Oak Forest controlled the game's tempo early on by winning midfield battles and creating quality chances through organized ball movement and aggressive play. Walsh scored midway through the first half after receiving a through ball from Everitt. In the second half, Nava capitalized on another assist from Everitt, doubling the lead and securing the game.
Defensively, Oak Forest maintained discipline and compactness, preventing Bremen from having any clear shots at goal. The shutout represented a significant turnaround for a team seeking rhythm and chemistry in its initial games.
With this win, Oak Forest's record stands at 1-1 as they aim to build momentum ahead of two crucial non-conference matchups: March 26 at Marian Catholic and a home game on March 29 against Chicago Christian. The Bengals seem to be finding their form at an opportune moment.