Women's soccer team drops another tough match by a goal

Women's soccer team drops another tough match by a goal

Irvine Valley's women's soccer team battled the heat and a tough Southwestern team before falling, 2-1, in a nonconference match at home on Friday afternoon.

Southwestern improved its record to 3-0-0 on the young season.

Irvine Valley's record dropped to 0-4-0, but the Lasers have competed and been in every match so far this season.

Friday's defeat was IVC's third one-goal loss of the year.

The teams traded shots in the early going. Sophomore defender Yvette Belman had a shot saved by Southwestern goalie Rose Hauser as did sophomore forward Emily Rodriguez.

Rodriguez later sent a shot just wide of the goal after she charged into the box from the left side.

Southwestern took the lead in the 32nd minute. Mitzy Ortega sent a ball into Damaris Aquila and she found the back of the net on a low shot to the left side.

Irvine Valley trailed, 1-0, at the half.

But the Lasers came out firing in the second half.

Sophomore forward Brenda Chopin sent a free kick just over the top of the goal before Rodriguez got the Lasers even three minutes into the second half.

Rodriguez beat a defender on the left side and then knocked a shot toward the net that bounced off a Southwestern defender and went in.

It was Rodriguez's third goal on the season.

IVC goalie Samantha Carter kept the game tied at 1-1 after making saves on shots by Ortega and Bianca Mora.

In the 60th minute, Chopin hit a line-drive shot from just outside the box that Hauser saved.

The match stayed tied until the 72nd minute. Aquila won the ball from an IVC defender and passed to Aleste Camacho on the right side. She had an open line to the goal and beat Carter with a shot to the right side to give Southwestern a 2-1 lead.

Irvine Valley tried to pressure late with shots by freshman midfielder Cassandra Fuentes, sophomore forward Luci Bernal, freshman midfielder Marissa Banos and Belman, but it wasn't enough.

Bernal got in behind the Southwestern defense and rolled a ball right across the front of the Southwestern goal, but no Laser player could get a foot on it.

Carter and Hauser each finished with seven saves in goal.

Irvine Valley plays again next Wednesday when it travels to El Camino for a 3 p.m. contest.