The Irvine Valley men's soccer team did everything it took to pick up points Friday at Orange Coast in an Orange Empire Conference match.
Except put the ball in the back of the net.
The Lasers fell at OCC, 2-1, and it broke IVC's seven-match unbeaten streak.
Irvine Valley out-shot the Pirates, 18-5, and had 12 shots on goal in the defeat.
"There were positives in the play through the whole 90 minutes from us today," IVC coach Conor Ward said. "It is frustrating, but that's the game. OCC took their goals well.
"We have to be better in front of the goal and improve the quality in the final third of the pitch."
Irvine Valley's record went to 6-4-1 overall and 1-1-0 in conference play. OCC improved to 3-6-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the OEC.
Orange Coast used two well-executed set pieces to win.
In the 38th minute, OCC's Will hooper sent a long free kick into the scoring area, where Carlos Alcantra one-hopped the ball with his foot and redirected the ball into the goal, putting the Pirates up, 1-0.
IVC kept applying waves of pressure on the Pirate defense, but Orange Coast still held a 1-0 lead at half.
It stayed that way until the 71st minute when Orange Coast's Steven Garcia sent in a corner kick that found the head of Velazquez, who put the Pirates ahead, 2-0.
Coast also fought off 11 corner-kick opportunities by the Lasers to stay in front.
IVC made it interesting in the 80th minute when freshman forward Grant Miller banked in a pass from sophomore midfielder Julian Svoboda past OCC goalie Collin Macha and into the net to make it 2-1.
The Lasers continued to apply the pressure, but Macha was up to the task with 11 saves, including several from point-blank range.
Irvine Valley will get back at it on Tuesday, hosting Cypress in a conference game at 3 p.m.
"The boys will be ready to put it right Tuesday," Ward said. "We can't wait for that opportunity. The OEC is a very competitive league and we have a long way to go until the end of the season."
