Irvine Valley's men's soccer team stayed in the top half of the Orange Empire Conference standings with a 1-0 win at Fullerton on Friday afternoon.
The Lasers improved their record to 6-7-0 overall and 2-2-0 in conference.
Fullerton, which was ranked No. 16 in the state, went to
It was the seventh state-ranked team that Irvine Valley has played in its 13 matches.
IVC got on the board just before the 20th minute on a goal off a free kick by Ivan Lopez.
And the Lasers made the lone score stand up the rest of the way with the help of some big-time defense.
Sophomores Garrett Hayes and Christopher Osuna and freshmen Domenyk Jara, Diego Llergo and Luke Steinbock on the back linewith help from freshman midfielders Dave Otoya and Max Stec kept Fullerton in check.
And freshman Thomas Hutchinson kept a clean sheet with five saves, making a couple of good saves, according to Laser coach Martin McGrogan.
He added that IVC had a couple of good opportunities in the closing minutes to add to their lead.
"We just missed on an open goal chance and a breakaway," McGrogan said. "But, collectively, it was a good win. Everyone worked really hard throughout the match. I thought, especially, that we defefended very well."
Irvine Valley plays at Orange Coast next Tuesday at 3 p.m.
