Men's soccer player Cesar Ortiz suiting up for Hope International

Men's soccer player Cesar Ortiz suiting up for Hope International

Former Irvine Valley men's soccer player Cesar Ortiz will be suiting up for NAIA Hope International this season.

Ortiz signed with the university this past spring.

He was a key defender in Irvine Valley's run to a special season in 2015.

Ortiz was named first team all-Orange Empire Conference after helping the IVC defense allow just 26 goals in 24 matches. Irvine Valley recorded seven shutouts on the year.

Ortiz also contributed two assists this past season.

Irvine Valley won the fourth Orange Empire Conference title in school history and finished with a record of 16-3-5 overall. The team had a 16-match unbeaten streak and made the Southern California Regional finals.

The Lasers ended up being ranked ninth in the national and fifth in the state.

Ortiz, out of Pomona High, red-shirted at Irvine Valley during the 2014 season. He played his freshman year for the Lasers in 2013 and recorded one goal and one assist.

Hope International had a record of 9-11-0 overall last season. The Royals open up the 2016 campaign Aug. 23 against La Sierra University in Riverside.