The Irvine Valley men's soccer team has won three matches in a row and will go after its fourth straight on Friday at San Diego Mesa at 2 p.m.
IVC's internatiional players have played a big part of the team's current three-game win streak.
Those players include freshman goalie Tygo Steenvoorden (Netherlands), freshman defender Lennart Granzow (Germany), sophomore midfielder Julian Svoboda (Germany), freshman midfielder Jacob Edwards (England), freshman midfielder Lukas Stark (Germany), freshman miidfielder Tijs Bemer (Netherlands) and freshman defender Akifumi Mikami (Japan).
Svoboda is in his second year on the squad with four points (one goal and three assists), Edwards has contributed two assists, Granzow has led the defense and also scored a goal and Steenvoorden has recorded two shutouts so far this year.
Stark also scored one of the best goals of the season for the Lasers in 2022 in a 7-2 victory over Southwestern last Friday, beating two defenders and then smashing a shot to the lower left corner of the net.
"Every player is very technical and wants to work hard," Irvine Valley first-year coach Conor Ward said. "I am happy that they have all hit the ground running."
Ward said Svoboda has been a star and a main reason the team has strived so far.
"He is the perfect example as a sophomore," Ward said. "Julian came into the program last year and fit right in. He is a team captain this season and always tries to help everyone on the team."
Irvine Valley has had several top international players throughout the years. And Ward wants to keep that going.
"The fun part is that the players bring their own identity and their style and the country that they are from," Ward said. "You see our local kids interact and the way that they all learn from each other. The best thing is bringing these players together from different cultures and walks of life. They will be friends for life."
And they will compete in more matches together, share memories and have a lot of fun on the pitch and around the Irvine Valley campus.
"The support, staff, counselors, administration and then the transfer rate here at Irvine Valley makes all the difference," Ward said. "And these players have chances to make a name for themselves and move on."
Irvine Valley's next home match is next Tuesday against Imperial Valley at 2 p.m.
