The Irvine Valley men's soccer team battled back and tied Fullerton in the first round of Orange Empire Conference play.
IVC was looking for a similar result on Tuesday afternoon at home in the second time the team's met in a key conference match.
The Lasers pressed forward over the final 15 minutes and had chances in the end, including sophomore forward Grant Miller's header going just over the crossbar on the last play of the game.
Fullerton, ranked No. 1 in the state, held on for a 3-2 victory over the No. 12 Lasers and stretched its overall lead in the conference.
Fullerton improved its record to 15-1-1 and 8-0-1 in the OEC, while Irvine Valley slipped to 9-3-4 overall and 4-1-1 in conference play.
The Lasers were on the board first Tuesday afternoon after a handball by Fullerton was called in the box.
IVC sophomore forward Ivan Lopez calmly stepped up the spot and went upper middle with a left-footed strike to put the Lasers up, 1-0, in the 20th minute.
Fullerton got a penalty kick of its own in the 39th minute after Miseal Gonzalez was taken down in the box. He found the back of the net with his PK and the score was tied, 1-1.
It went that way into halftime.
But the Hornets struck quickly in the second half to take the lead. Gonzalez, the leading goal scorer and point leader in the conference, finished a shot off a pass from Hayden Kenny in the 48th minute to give Fullerton a 2-1 advantage.
And Fullerton made it a 3-1 lead five minutes later when Sean Callahan scored off a left-footed shot near post from a tough angle on the right side.
The Lasers kept attacking and in the 79th minute made it a one-goal game when Lopez held off a defender and struck a left-footed shot past the Fullerton keeper from the top of the box. Miller earned the assist.
IVC kept pushing forward and held possession for much of the final 20 minutes, but couldn't find the equalizer.
The Lasers are back in action on Friday at 3 p.m. at home against Orange Coast. It is sophomore afternoon for the Lasers with a pre-game ceremony.
