Irvine Valley's men's soccer team scored three goals in a row in the second half and roared back for a 3-1 Orange Empire Conference victory over Fullerton at home on Friday afternoon.
The win, which was the squad's fifth in a row, kept Irvine Valley in the lead in the race for the OEC title.
IVC improved its record to 8-4-3 overall and 6-1-2 in conference. The Lasers' lone loss in conference came at Fullerton on Sept. 19.
Irvine Valley sits a point ahead of Golden West for first place in the conference standings. Golden West has won four matches in a row. Santa Ana is right on the heels of IVC and Golden West.
All four goals on Friday's contest at IVC came in the second half.
IVC had the best chance early in the half. But freshman midfielder Alexis Campos' one-timer from 30 yards out hit the crossbar and bounced away.
Fullerton got on the board first in the 53rd minute. Tyler Grassi scored with a header on the back post off a cross from the right side from Joshua Barajas.
The Lasers answered and leveled the match in the 68th minute when freshman defender Juan Sebastian Olivares scored on a header off a perfectly-placed free kick taken by freshman forward Eder Olivas.
And IVC didn't waste any time taking the lead. Just two minutes later, freshman forward Alessandro Cabral headed in a cross by freshman midfielder Roberto Espino-Franco.
But the Lasers weren't done and put the game away in the 78th minute.
Olivares was at it again.
Fullerton goalie Daniel Zapata made a nice kick save on a shot by IVC freshman midfielder Julian Anaya, but Olivares was in the right spot to knock in the rebound for a goal and a 3-1 Irvine Valley lead.
The goals were Olivares' third and fourth of the season and second multi-goal contest. He scored his other two goals in a 2-2 tie against Orange Coast at home on Sept. 22.
IVC's defense, led by freshmen Michael Saba, Michael Davis and Olivares, sophomore Alfonso Quezada-Osorno and freshman keeper Braden Peters, held on after that.
Peters made three saves in the contest, which also featured nine yellow cards.
Irvine Valley gets back to action next Tuesday at Orange Coast, which was in fifth place in the conference standings, next Tuesday at 3 p.m.
The Lasers then have a huge match at home next Friday against Santa Ana at 3 p.m.
