The Irvine Valley men's soccer team moved a step closer to a trip to the State Championships with their second straight overtime victory in the Southern California Regional Playoffs.
The Lasers, seeded fourth, defeated No. 5 Cuyamaca, 2-1, on Tuesday afternoon at Irvine Valley.
Irvine Valley will next play either No. 1 Chaffey or No. 8 Mt. San Antonio in the third round on Saturday with a state berth on the line.
Chaffey and Mt. SAC's game at Chaffey was slated for Wednesday afternoon.
Last Saturday it was freshman Scott Clark, who had the deciding goal in the second overtime session in Irvine Valley's 2-1 win over Victor Valley.
On Tuesday, freshman midfielder Sebastian Piema scored the game-winner for the Lasers in the second overtime period.
He got in behind the Cuyamaca defense, took a pass from freshman midfielder Albert Chavez and finished with a strong right foot to the upper right corner to give Irvine Valley a 2-1 lead in the 115th minute.
IVC sophomore goalie Manuel Zamora came up with back-to-back saves in the final minute after the Coyotes were pressuring in the Irvine Valley box.
Zamora was surely one of the stars of the match for the Lasers. He saved a penalty kick in the opening half, diving to his left to stop an attempt by Cristian Flores in the 34th minute.
Zamora made eight saves on the day.
The game was scoreless through the first half, although both teams had their fair share of chances. IVC freshman forward Toby Waterman had a one-one-one denied by Cuyamaca goalie Abner Alatorre in eighth minute. Freshman midfielder Jose Gamboa and freshman forward Connor Elder also had opportunities in the opening half.
Zamora saved a high shot by Cody Kygar in the 43rd minute and then knocked away the ensuing corner kick that was sailing toward net.
IVC took a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute when Ferguson sent a cross into the box that Rivera headed into the upper right corner.
But Cuyamaca answered in the 64th minute when Edward Azabo took a pass from Salvador Rivera and finished with his left foot from the top of the box.
It stayed, 1-1, until Piema's triumphant late strike.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 15-2-5 overall, while Cuyamaca finished its season with a mark of 15-4-4.
