Jimmy Kelly’s Leadership Fuels Oak Forest Soccer Success

Senior midfielder Jimmy Kelly plays a vital role for Oak Forest, consistently setting up goals for the Bengals with precision passes. Known for his ability to assist, Kelly finds joy in creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

“My shots are hit or miss, but my crosses tend to be effective,” Kelly admitted. “I’ve always been more of an assister than a scorer. I contribute a lot to playmaking, even if I don’t always get the assist.”

On Tuesday night, Kelly demonstrated his playmaking ability by assisting Ulysses Morales’s goal, helping Oak Forest secure a 1-1 tie against Bremen in a South Suburban Blue match. Goalkeeper Nate Dunaj made seven saves for the Bengals, who hold a 10-3-4 record.

Bremen’s Jose Cardoso found the net with an assist from Osvaldo Mata. “We played okay, but we’ve performed better,” commented Bremen coach Huber Saucedo. “Rivalry games are tough, and sometimes mistakes cost us.”

Bremen took an early lead, but Kelly soon helped Oak Forest equalize, providing a precise pass to Morales. Morales, committed to playing for Illinois’ football team, scored from 15 yards out. “Playing with Jimmy has always been fun,” Morales shared. “Our chemistry is strong, and we anticipate each other’s moves.”

Kelly’s contribution marked his seventh assist of the season, and he relished it. “It felt great,” he said. “Our fans celebrated loudly, adding to the excitement. Helping Ulysses score was rewarding.”

Kelly has been integral to the Bengals since his sophomore year. Oak Forest coach Alex Alvarez relies heavily on Kelly’s work ethic. “He gives everything on the field,” Alvarez said. “His collaboration with Ulysses is crucial for us, and they delivered with a goal.”

Kelly began playing soccer at age 4, following his brothers Mickey and Will, who also represented the Bengals. “Playing with Mickey as a freshman was great. He was a leader, always calming the team, and I learned a lot from him.”