Women's soccer team battles for 2-2 tie at Cypress

Women's soccer team battles for 2-2 tie at Cypress

Irvine Valley's women's soccer team continued to play the top teams in the Orange Empire Conference tough.

The Lasers traveled to Cypress on Friday and earned a 2-2 tie.

Cypress was in second place in the conference standings heading into the match.

It was Irvine Valley's third draw in OEC play. The Lasers have tied Santiago Canyon, Orange Coast and now Cypress.

Irvine Valley's record moved to 0-7-4 overall and 0-2-3 in conference. Cypress' record went to 4-4-1 overall and 3-1-1 in conference.

Within the first minute of action, Irvine Valley sophomore forward Luci Bernal took a pass from freshman midfielder Cassandra Fuentes and scored the first goal of the game.

The Chargers made a quick recovery, answering with a goal by Margaret Zisk less than a minute later.

Both teams worked to get control back throughout the remainder of the first half, but the contest was tied, 1-1, at the break.

In the second half, both teams were head-to-head, firing shots at the goal.

Irvine Valley sophomore forward Brenda Chopin came in strong, firing a deep shot into the goal to give Irvine Valley a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute. Fuentes again earned the assist.

But just minutes later, Cypress knotted the score. The Chargers' Renae Francis fired a ball that was blocked freshman IVC keeper Marissa Banos. But Francis managed to find the back of the net on the rebound to tie it.

The battle continued with both teams looking to get ahead, Irvine Valley's Yvette Belman had a great look at goal that was saved by Chargers' keeper Melanie Hernandez to keep the game tied at the final whistle.

Banos finished with six saves for Irvine Valley, while Hernandez had seven saves for Cypress.

Irvine Valley plays again next Tuesday on the road at Golden West.