The Irvine Valley men's soccer team had four players named all-Orange Empire Conference in a recent vote by coaches.
Freshman defender Lennart Granzow and freshman forward Grant Miller were each named first team all-OEC and freshman goalie Tygo Steenvoorden and sophomore midfielder Julian Svoboda were selected to the second team for IVC.
The Lasers finished with a record of 11-7-5 overall, finished fifth in the OEC and were competitive against every team the side played against this season under first-year head coach Conor Ward.
Irvine Valley made the CCCAA So. Cal. Regional Playoffs and defeated Antelope Valley, 3-1, at home in a first-round match-up before falling to a tough El Camino squad, 3-0, on the road in the second round in mid November.
The El Camino game was close to the end with the Warriors scoring two late goals at the Lasers pushed forward to try and level the match.
Granzow was one of the best center backs in the state this season. The freshman from Germany helped IVC record six shutouts this season. He also recorded three goals for six points. All three of his goals were game-winners (against Southwestern, Santa Ana and Antelope Valley).
Granzow is set to earn more post-season honors.
Miller was the top-goal scorer in the conference. He finished with a conference-best 14 goals and added five assists for a league-high 33 points.
Miller, out of Tesoro High, had a hat-trick in an Irvine Valley 6-1 victory over Santiago Canyon at home on Nov. 1 and scored two goals in IVC's 5-1 win at home over Orange Coast on Oct. 25.
Steenvoorden was a stalwart in goal, recording the third-most saves (77) and the third-best save percentage (.755) in the conference.
He started all 23 of Irvine Valley's contests and recorded six clean sheets on the season.
The keeper from the Netherlands, made a season-high eight saves twice (at La Harbor and home against Golden West).
Svoboda was a leader and a heart and soul of the Lasers this year. He served meany roles in the midfield, pushing forward and holding back. Svoboda did whatever it took to help IVC.
He played in 23 games and made 22 starts and finished with two goals and 14 assists on the year.
Svoboda, from Germany, finished first in the conference in assists (he doubled the next player in the OEC) and had the fifth-most points in the conference with 18.
He had three assists in a 6-1 win over Imperial Valley on Sept. 20 and recorded two assists against both Southwestern and Cypress.
Ward was excited about his team and with so many young players coming back next season, he can't wait to get started with the group again.
