The Olentangy boys soccer team showed its bounce-back ability yet again — this time in convincing fashion — using a pair of first-half goals to open OCC-Cardinal Division play with a 2-0 win over Thomas Thursday night in Worthington.

It was the second time the Braves (6-2-1) responded after a loss in the past week, following up Tuesday’s 2-0 setback to host Pickerington North with a strong showing against the always-competitive Cardinals (5-3-2).

Thomas got the game’s first chance, but Alvin Michael’s shot, which was set up by a long throw-in, went just wide. The Braves nearly broke the scoring seal a few minutes later — Evan Byers sent a cross into the box to a waiting Lucas Brinkman — but Brinkman’s header went just wide with about 32 minutes left in the opening half.

Things didn’t stay scoreless for long, though, as Brinkman got another chance about seven minutes later. He used his speed to dribble past the Cardinals’ back line before chipping a shot over a hard-charging keeper and into the back of the net at the 25:35 mark of the half.

Olentangy kept the pressure on, too.

Brenden Eby’s strike went just wide midway through the first before a blast from Brinkman, taken just inside the 18 and seemingly destined for the corner of the goal, was deflected over the crossbar by Thomas keeper Paxton Bohnert to keep the spread at one.

A strike by the Cardinals’ Ashton Hoke deflected off a Brave defender then the post, but nothing came from it as Olentangy withstood a dangerous set piece to stay ahead with 10 minutes left before the break.

It was then, in transition, the Braves doubled their lead and scored what proved to be the final goal of the game. Eby sent a through ball to Chase Thorne, who beat the Cardinal back line before putting a move on Bohnert and depositing it into the goal with 8:38 to play in the half.

Olentangy keeper Alex Kerestan, hardly tested in the first half, made a few saves in the second, including snagging a handful of misfired crosses to keep the clean sheet.

Also: Olentangy Berlin 5, Hilliard Darby 1.

From Tuesday

Delaware Hayes got goals from Izeyah Boose and Abe Thompson, both off feeds from Chaz Sakala, but host Worthington Kilbourne used three second-half goals to snag a 3-2 OCC-Capital Division win on Tuesday night.

Also: Dublin Coffman 2, Olentangy Liberty 0; Olentangy Berlin 4, Columbus Academy 0; Olentangy Orange 2, Hilliard Davidson 1.

GIRLS SOCCER

Addison Davis, Josie Budic and Lanely Pannell all found the back of the net, all in the first half, to lead Olentangy Berlin to a 3-1 OCC-Cardinal Division win over visiting Hilliard Darby Thursday night in Delaware.

The Panthers got on the board in the second half, but couldn’t get any closer than the final two-goal spread.

Piper Davy, Gracie Dusenberry and Davis had assists while goalie Claire Walden finished with one save in the win.

Also: Granville 2, Olentangy Orange 0; Olentangy 5, Thomas Worthington 0.

From Tuesday

Delaware Hayes picked up a solid league win at home, edging visiting Worthington Kilbourne 2-1 Tuesday night in Delaware.

The Pacers got goals from Madeline Bruns and Molly Johnson.

Harlow Dye had an assist in the win while Chloe Skeens was solid in goal, collecting four saves.

Also: Big Walnut 2, Hilliard Darby 1; Olentangy Orange 1, Hilliard Davidson 1; Olentangy 3, Grove City 0; Olentangy Liberty 3, Dublin Coffman 2.