Some rain, wind and lightning and a long delay couldn't slow down the Irvine Valley men's soccer team on Wednesday in its home opener.
Riding the momentum of an unbeaten tournament at Hartnell last weekend, the Lasers rolled past Moorpark, 7-0, at home in a match that took more than three hours to finish and featured a more than an hour delay because of weather concerns.
The seven goals were the most scored by Irvine Valley in a match since the Lasers defeated Santiago Canyon, 7-0, in an Orange Empire Conference match on Nov. 2, 2004.
"Strange day, but a really good performance," Irvine Valley coach Martin McGrogan said after the contest, which ended at a little past 6 p.m. "The best part of it was that we had so many guys contribute today and everyone played. I was really pleased with how hard everyone worked out there."
Irvine Valley got two goals each from freshman midfielder Jose Rivera and freshman midfielder Alan McTiernan, one goal and two assists each from freshman forward Toby Waterman and freshman defender Khalid Francis, a goal and an assist from freshman forward Joseph Ferguson and an assist from freshman defender Ethan Thrall.
Waterman got IVC on the board in the ninth minute, converting a penalty kick into the lower left corner after freshman Kendrick Nguyen was taken down in the box.
McTiernan then hit a rocket, one-time left-footed shot into the upper right corner from just outside the box in the 14th minute to put IVC ahead, 2-0. It was a 3-0 lead after Francis leaped above the Moorpark defense and headed in a long throw in by Thrall.
IVC led, 3-0, at halftime.
Six minutes into the second half, Rivera scored on the right side after Francis made a nice run down the left flank, faked a defender and sent a cross through the box.
Heavy rain started soon after and the game was then delayed more than an hour when lightning could be seen in the area. Teams were sent back to their locker rooms. Nearly 40 minutes remained on the clock.
When play resumed, Irvine Valley didn't waste any time getting back on the board. Rivera scored his second straight goal, knocking in a loose ball in the box in the 60th minute.
Eight minutes later, Ferguson finished a pass from Waterman to give Irvine Valley a 6-0 lead.
McTiernan closed out the IVC scoring in the 72nd minute by curving a right-footed shot into the corner of the goal from nearly 25 yards out.
"We had five different goal scorers today," McGrogan said. "It says a lot about the threats we have up front."
IVC's defense also stepped up. The Lasers recorded their first shutout of the season.
Freshman goalie Hagen Truniger and the IVC defense, including sophomore Cesar Ortiz and freshmen Marcos Cervantes, Francis and Thrall earned the shutout. Truniger made three saves in goal.
Irvine Valley doesn't play again until Friday, Sept. 18 when it takes on one of the top teams in the state. Hartnell will visit IVC for a 4 p.m. match.
