Irvine Valley's women's soccer team held its own with powerhouse Cerritos for a while in a nonconference match on Friday at IVC.
But the three-time defending state champion Falcons had a little too much firepower.
The Falcons scored two goals at the end of the first half and went on to a 4-0 victory over Irvine Valley.
The defeat was Irvine Valley's first of the season and dropped its record to 2-1-0 overall. The goals were also the first given up by IVC this year. The Lasers had recorded shutouts in their first two contests.
Cerritos, which won the state title with a 2-0 victory over Santiago Canyon last December, improved its record to 2-0-1 overall.
IVC sophomore goalie Herminia Verduzco made four saves in the opening half before Cerritos scored its first goal. Verduzco didn't get a chance to stop the goal as it was knocked in the net as an own goal by an IVC defender. Cerritos defender Gabi Lamb was credited with the goal after sending the ball into the box.
Cerritos added a goal just before the halftime whistle. Whitney Strickland battled for the ball near the goal. It ended up on the foot of Leslie Walker on the back post and she found the back of the net.
Cerritos led, 2-0, at the half.
Five minutes into the second half, the Falcons made it a 3-0 game.
Natalie deLeon found Jamie Peters, who scored.
Irvine Valley didn't give in however and created some of its own chances in the second half.
Freshman forward Brenda Chopin had two shots that were saved by Cerritos back-up keeper Cyndie Trejo.
Freshman forward Alexandra Benedict, sophomore defender Marissa Perez and freshman defender Michele Rodriguez also created chances.
Cerritos capped its scoring in the 84th minute on a goal by deLeon as she lifted a shot over the hard-charging Verduzco. Adriana Velasquez picked up the assist for the Falcons.
Verduzco finished with seven saves in goal for IVC. Trejo had three saves for the Falcons in the second half.
Irvine Valley will play its first road match of the season next Tuesday as it travels to Mt. San Jacinto for a 4 p.m. game
