In leading up to the start of the 2017-18 athletics campaign at Irvine Valley, which starts on Aug. 25 with the men's soccer team hosting Rio Hondo and the women's volleyball team hosting Citrus, the Laser athletic department will count down the top 10 IVC sports stories from the 2016-17 school year.
The No. 4 story on the list was another standout season turned in by the Irvine Valley men's soccer team. The Lasers reached the CCCAA Southern California Regional Final for the second straight year and finished with a record of 16-5-3 overall. IVC took second place in the Orange Empire Conference, ended up ranked seventh in the state and 10th in the nation.
But for the second year in a row, Irvine Valley lost a heartbreaking match to Mt. San Antonio with a trip to the state tournament on the line.
The Lasers battled, but came up on the short end of a 3-2 decision in the rain at Mt. SAC on Saturday in November in a CCCAA Southern California Regional final contest. Rivera and Elder had goals for the Lasers.
Rivera was picked first team all-conference and also to the all-region and all-state squads.
He had 13 goals, 14 assists and 40 points for the squad. He led the conference in assists and ranked fourth in the state in the category.
The IVC staff also recognized its sophomore players. They included Marcos Cervantes, Jose Gamboa, Elder, Joseph Ferguson, Albert Chavez, Scott Clark, Rivera and Goode.
Goode was named to the all-region team as well.
And Goode and Chavez were picked first team all-conference, while Elder, Ferguson and freshman forward Daniel Segal were named second team all-conference for IVC.
Goode and Rivera both also signed with NCAA Division 1 Cal Poly.
