Irvine Valley's women's soccer team battled back, but it wasn't quite enough in a 3-2 Orange Empire Conference loss to Saddleback on Tuesday night.
The defeat dropped Irvine Valley's record to 10-6-2 overall and 7-6-1 in conference.
The loss, which was IVC's second straight, moved the Lasers into fifth place in the conference standings.
Irvine Valley and Saddleback were tied for fourth heading into the match.
Danyelle Allen, who leads the state in goals, gave Saddleback a big lead in the first half with three goals.
She scored in the sixth minute, 22nd minute and then the 32nd-minute to give the Gauchos a 3-0 lead at the half.
IVC charged back in the second half, getting a goal from sophomore forward Yasmin Hart in the 49th minute off an assist from freshman defender Shantel Romero, to make it a two-goal game.
Freshman forward Tiana Salazar made things interesting and pulled the Lasers to within one goal in the 87th minute when she scored off a pass from freshman defender Celina Chang.
But that was as close as the Lasers got.
Irvine Valley takes on the top team in the conference on Friday, traveling to Santiago Canyon for a 3 p.m. match.
