The Oak Forest Bengals overcame a sluggish start to secure a 2-0 victory over Thornwood on Thursday, extending their winning streak to three games.
According to the team's performance statistics, after a quiet first half, the Bengals (4-2) demonstrated their strength. The defense remained solid against Thornwood's early pressure, with goalkeeper Sydney Delgado making crucial saves to keep the Thunderbirds scoreless. "We came out a little flat, but we knew we just had to settle down and play our game," Oak Forest head coach Mike DaLuga said. "In the second half, the girls brought the energy."
Zdenka Majercak nearly opened the scoring with a powerful shot that hit the crossbar early in the second half. This moment seemed to ignite Oak Forest's momentum. Freshman Giana Cabrera broke the deadlock in the 70th minute with a long-range strike. Five minutes later, Alexa Nava doubled the lead by finishing off a well-executed team play.
The Bengals maintained control of possession and tempo as Thornwood struggled to respond. DaLuga noted that Oak Forest's increasing chemistry and confidence were evident throughout the match, indicating a team on an upward trajectory. "This group is starting to click," he said. "We’re building something strong."