Irvine Valley's men's soccer team needed a win in Orange Empire Conference play.
And the Lasers got it with a late goal on a penalty kick to beat Santiago Canyon, 1-0, at home on Friday.
Irvine Valley had tied one match and lost two others through its first three contests in conference action.
IVC had dropped its last two games by one goal each.
The Lasers handed Santiago Canyon a goal-goal defeat on Friday thanks to a goal on a penalty kick by Juan Gomez with time winding down.
Freshman midfielder Dowan Kim was fouled in the box in the 87th minute and shortly after Gomez was able to beat diving Santiago Canyon keeper Lucas Clarida with a shot to the left side for the game-winner.
Up until that point it was a game of near misses for both squads.
IVC freshman forward Max Kleinhammes had his shot in front of the net off a cross by freshman midfielder Joshua Lummis saved in the 19th minute.
Kleinhammes drilled a shot over the top from the left side severeal minutes later.
Kleinhammes had another shot in front of the net deflected by the defense after a cross by sophomore forward Benjamin Asabi.
In the second half, Santiago Canyon's Alexander Diego hit a shot wide and then IVC sophomore goalie Nathan King made another save on a hard shot in the box by Diego.
Asabi almost connected on a volley attempt of a corner kick by Gomez in the 75th minute, but the ball went wide.
King made another fine save off a shot by Enrique Reynoso and in the 80th minute the Hawks missed another shot wide of the goal.
Irvine Valley went ahead on the goal by Gomez and then the Laser defense withstood two Santiago Canyon free kicks sent into the box in the final minute to hold on.
The goal was Gomez's fifth of the season.
King finished with four saves for the Lasers, while Clarida had two saves for the Hawks.
It was King's fourth shutout of the season and improved his goals against average on the year to 1.23.
Irvine Valley plays again next Tuesday in a conference match at Santa Ana at 3 p.m.
