The Irvine Valley women's soccer team pulled out its second Orange Empire Conference match in a row and kept its school-record unbeaten streak alive with a 3-2 victory over Golden West on Tuesday at home.
The Lasers improved their record to 5-0-1 overall and 2-0-0 in conference, while Golden West suffered its first conference defeat. The Rustlers are now 3-3-1 overall and 2-1-0 in conference.
The 5-0-1 record is the best start to a season in Irvine Valley women's soccer history.
"Everyone worked really hard today," IVC Coach Joe Supe said. "I thought our players that came off the bench like Celina Chang, Zuleyka Ruiz and Wendy Rendon did a fantastic job. Kelsi (Chrzan) did a great job defending in the middle and it was nice to see Kelly (Cox) get a goal. She had been so close this season. It was really good stuff for us."
Cox scored the game-winner for Irvine Valley in the second half after the contest was tied 2-2 at halftime.
It was the sophomore midfielder's first of the year.
She took a pass from sophomore forward Yasmin Hart and fired a left-footed shot from outside the top of the box that sailed over the head of Golden West goalie Olivia Bedard in the 58th minute.
IVC's defense led by Chrzan, freshmen Emely Portillo, Amanda George and Shantel Romero and sophomore Madisen Hammonds did the rest.
"We did a better job defending in the second half," Supe said. "We let in goals we shouldn't have in the first half. We need to be better on set pieces and clearing the ball. There is always work to do."
Golden West opened the scoring in the 18th minute on a goal by Daisy Guttierrez on a shot from the top of the box.
But the Lasers tied the score three minutes later when Hammonds played the ball ahead to freshman forward Tiana Salazar and Salazar found the lower right corner of the net.
IVC then took a 2-1 lead in the 30th minute on a goal by Chrzan from about 30 yards out. Her high, lofting shot was just over the out-stretched hands of Bedard.
Golden West tied the score in the 39th minute when Monserrat Garrido was able to knock in a loose ball after a corner kick taken by Jennifer Munoz.
The Lasers threatened early in the second half with Hart and Chang each having chances before Cox found the game-winner.
IVC has now had nine different players score goals this season.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday when it travels to Norco for a conference match at 3 p.m.
