Men's soccer team ends up with tough luck draw

Men's soccer team ends up with tough luck draw

Irvine Valley's men's soccer team looked like it had its second win of the season on Wednesday afternoon at home.

The Lasers took a 2-1 lead in the 78th minute when freshman forward Joseph DiCarlo scored from a tough angle on the left side.

But Southwestern spoiled Irvine Valley's joy just two minutes from the final whistle with a goal and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Irvine Valley's record went to 1-2-1 overall, while Southwestern's record moved to 0-2-2 overall.

Irvine Valley out-shot Southwestern, 20-14, in the game and was especially dominant in the second half.

The Lasers took seven more shots (10-3) than the Jaguars in the final 40 minutes. Many were from close range.

"We had chances galore today," IVC coach Martin McGrogan said. "But we did some silly things as well."

Southwestern took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute on a goal by Jose Sanchez on a long shot that skipped inside the right post.

The score stayed that way until Irvine Valley scored on a penalty kick in the 39th minute.

Freshman forward Eder Olivas was taken down in the box and sophomore forward Toby Waterman stepped to the spot and found the back of the upper right netting. It was Waterman's second goal of the season and second in two games.

Irvine Valley stepped up the pace in the second half. Olivas hit a free kick that went over the top, Waterman just missed on a hard, low left-footed shot that went just wide of the goal.

Freshman midfielder Kristian Sabatino had a header saved by Southwestern keeper Kentaro Matsuura, freshman midfielder Shahdon Shoga hit a shot wide and Olivas hit the left post with a shot in the 65th minute.

DiCarlo then hit a shot that went over the top in the 73rd minute and Waterman got in on goal a minute later, but had his shot saved by Matsuura.

IVC finally took the lead in the 78th minute on the tough-angle goal by DiCarlo.

But Southwestern tied the match for good in the 88th minute when, after IVC lost the ball, Ronald Beeson scored off a long cross from Armando Garcia.

Irvine Valley had one more good opportunity to win the match, but Waterman's header off a cross from freshman forward Grant Joyce just went over the crossbar.

IVC freshman keeper Braden Peters made eight saves in goal, including six in the first half. He made three in a row at close range, including an impressive one with his leg off a rebound, midway through the first half.

Matsuura finished with nine saves for Southwestern.

Irvine Valley plays again on Friday, traveling to El Camino for a 3 p.m. nonconference contest.