Irvine Valley's women's soccer team played hard and stayed right with College of the Desert on Friday afternoon in the 2023 opener.
But after tying the contest late, the Lasers came up just short in a 2-1 loss.
"I was pleased with our team's effort," IVC coach Tom Lancaster sid. "We definitely had our chances to win this game."
Desert got on the board first with a goal off of a corner kick in the 28th minute. Angelica Leal scored on a volley on the back post.
IVC sophomore keeper Andrea Gonzales kept the Lasers in the game through the rest of the half with several solid saves, including two at close range.
Desert took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Roadrunners had more shots in the second half than the Lasers (8-3).
But IVC made the most of on its opportunities.
In the 82nd minute, freshman forward Andrea Goana sent a corner kick into the box that freshman forward Jocelyn Quinonez headed in over the fingertips of COD keeper Perla Melcher-Hernandez.
The scored tied the match at 1-1.
College of the Desert answered right away. Just 90 seconds later, Dalaina Johnson went past two IVC defenders and then sent a ball to the back post where Ruby Segura found the back of the net to put the Roadrunners back in front.
IVC tried to push forward the rest of the contest and had a couple of chances, but could't earn a result.
Gonzales, who played in goal in the first half for the Lasers, finished with four saves and freshman keeper Sydnee Salamoff, who was IVC's goalie in the second half also had four saves.
Irvine Valley plays again on Tuesday, traveling to LA Harbor for a 6 p.m. match. The Lasers are back at home next on Friday, Sept. 8 against MiraCosta at 3 p.m.
