Men's soccer team takes consolation title at Hartnell tourney

Irvine Valley's men's soccer team captured the consolation title at the Hartnell Tournament in Salinas on Sunday.

The Lasers won for the second straight day on penalty kicks.

IVC defeated Cerritos, 3-1, on penalties after the score was tied, 2-2, after regulation.

Cerritos was ranked fifth in the final state poll of 2012.

"The kids played really, really well," IVC Coach Martin McGrogan said. "We played some very good teams. Teams that usually win their conference every year. And were right there with all of them."

IVC led, 2-0, over Cerritos at the end of the first half on two goals by freshman Elam Nabi. Assists went to freshmen Bogarth Avalos and Israel Reyes.

They were Nabi's first two goals of the season.

Cerritos came back in the second half with goals in the 65th and 82nd minutes to tie things up.

But the Lasers prevailed in penalty kicks. Freshman goalie Juan Zamora made a couple of key saves in the shootout, including one where he dived and made a deflection.

Irvine Valley lost in the first game of the tourney in penalty kicks to Fresno City, 6-5, but then beat Rio Hondo, 3-2, and Cerritos in penalty kicks to end the event.

Freshman Alejandro Velasquez scored for the Lasers during regulation play against Fresno City off an assist from Avalos.

Fresno City was ranked 17th nationally to open the season by the NSCAA.

Irvine Valley, which record-wise has tied its first four matches of the season, doesn't play again until Sept. 10 when it hosts its first home match against Moorpark at 1 p.m.

The match is part of a doubleheader that day with the Laser women's squad. IVC women play at 3 p.m.